{"id":10164,"date":"2023-10-28T07:44:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T05:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/waltin.se\/josefinwaltinspinner\/?p=10164"},"modified":"2023-10-28T07:44:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T05:44:02","slug":"stash-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/waltin.se\/josefinwaltinspinner\/stash-top\/","title":{"rendered":"Stash top"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Several coincidences led me to knitting this stash top \u2013 a weekend in need of a knit. A stashed handspun yarn in need of a project. Hands and mind in need of wool on long work meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea for this sweater project started quite a while ago, but was sparked by a weekend in need of a knitting project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yoga practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I practice yoga asana every morning and evening. Towards the end I want to put something on to avoid getting cold, but nothing too warm. I started to look for patterns for a cropped top, something to just throw on before the final relaxation of my practice to keep my chest warm. I found the Ursina<\/a> pattern by Jacqueline Cieslak and saved it for later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In need of a knit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks ago I went with my wool traveling club to our annual wool journey<\/a>. I realized I needed a knitting project for both the train ride and for our hours and hours of chatting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"A
Photo by Dan Waltin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Skeins<\/figure>\n
I had some handspun singles left from knitting the Telja sweater, a lopi style singles yarn from Icelandic wool, that was perfect for the top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After browsing Ravelry for a while I found the saved Ursina pattern and decided it was time for it. I had some low twist lopi style handspun yarn left after knitting a Telja<\/a> sweater by Jennifer Steingass and it was the perfect fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colour scheme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I had five colours left of the yarn \u2013 the natural white, light grey and dark grey and some light blue and medium blue that I had dyed. Stripes was my choice for the project. I picked the smallest yardage for the neckline and changed into increasingly larger yardages as I knit. I added a thin white stripe between each colour shift to avoid a gradient feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
To optimize the colours in the stashed yarn I decided to make the stash top striped.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I have knit stripes with stashed yarn like this before in my Bianka<\/a> sweater, and the fiddly part is always after separating body and sleeves. both times I ended up with live stitches on cables in body and sleeves, knitting a couple of rounds at a time to end up in an even stripe across sleeves and body. In the end it’s worth it, though, for a smart striping and efficient use of stashed yarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knit reknit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to optimistic measures of gauge I ripped and reknit the top. Twice. But I didn\u2019t mind, it gave me something to knit on meetings at work. I remember some of my colleagues looking at my knitting and wishing they had something to do with their hands too to avoid falling asleep in a stuffed conference room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ursina and Jacqueline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I want to tell you about this pattern. Of course I fell for the design \u2013 the cropped body, the brioche stitch triangle at the hem, the brioche stitch faux seams and the sweet V-neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ursina has brioche stitch faux seams and hem and a sweet V-neck.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But after having bought the pattern and cast on I was astounded by the pattern description. I have never seen a pattern description with such a well-planned structure! Not only does Jacqueline Cieslak accomodate for different body sizes, bust sizes, body shapes and yarn weights, but she has structured the description in a unique and very clear way to make it easy and effortless to find where you are in the pattern. She is a true pattern construction and pattern designer star and I want to knit all her patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My new post-yoga stash top does exactly what I wanted it to do \u2013 it keeps me warm after my practice and is cozy to wear. I may knit another one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy spinning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can find me in several social media:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n