The Simple Lace Pullover
Do you tend to consider your knitting projects based on the making process or the functionality the piece will have after it’s made? Does it vary by project or do you give thought to both sides equally?
While I find enjoyment in knitting projects even with the most minimal amount of variety in the construction, I’d say the majority of my knitting project considerations depend on functionality. Pullovers with an easy, pull over (!) and be done (and warm, and look good) quality are what I’m reaching for when the need for a sweater arises. It’s late September and while we haven’t turned the heat on in our house yet, the mornings and evenings are a little chilly so light layers are necessary.
Mohair blends have definitely been enjoying a long moment as a secondary yarn to be used together with finer yarns to create lofty, lightweight pieces. A mohair blend with the most excellently thermal properties of silk held together with a lace weight or fingering weight natural fiber adds up to a whole greater than the sum of its’ parts.. It wicks moisture; it’s breathable; it’s warm when you need it to be and not when you don’t (an absolute MUST at my middle age) and it’s blissfully lightweight.
The Simple Lace Pullover is comprised of an uncomplicated lace stitch that creates a bias-like open fabric that’s surprisingly thermal due to the hazy characteristic of the silk/mohair blend yarn. Columns of stockinette stitch provide structure to the raglan, side and sleeve “seams” and add a grounding element to the lace along with single rib neckline, cuffs and hem.
Knit from the top down at a worsted weight gauge, the yarn requirements can be either a fingering wool blend and lace weight mohair blend yarn held double throughout or a worsted weight mohair blend held single. The skill level for this pattern is Easy/Intermediate.
In the end, whichever side of the making process we favor, it always spills over to the other and that is the magic and joy of knitting and what keeps us coming back for more : )