The Big Bad Noro is done.
Like a year ago. In fact here it is making its debut at last year’s Thanksgiving.
Since then it’s seen a lot of wear. My intent was to make a sweater that was warm and blankety enough for lounging and pretty enough to class up the pyjama pants and soup stained t-shirt that is my standard around-the-house ensemble. After all, as lovely as it is to actually be a sloppy, sedentary lump on the couch, it sucks to look like one. I think I succeeded, so well that it’s become my standard grocery store/movie theater/airplane/restaurant (and anyplace else that’s inexplicably OMG freezing!) sweater.
That right there is the look of love. Comfy, cozy, yet totally OK to wear in public, sweater love.
Anyway, around January I took some pictures, threw them up on Rav, and proceeded to ignore my blog, kinda ignore Ravelry, and not knit all that often either. Then my mood changed, I came back, and found that a few people had said some really kind and flattering things about the Big Bad. They were also asking for a pattern, and that is a problem, because try as I might I can’t seem to write one.
Writing a pattern for a sweater is way harder (to me) than designing one. I have no idea about sizing, or other people’s proportions. I don’t know if the way I write out instructions would be clear enough, or maybe patronizingly too clear. Every time I sit down with my notes, my calculator, Ysolda’s sizing charts, graph paper, a lap top opened to this article, every pattern book I own to use for wording reference, and a strong cup of coffee - my brain shuts down. The whole thing just makes me wanna go “AAAAAGGH!” like a Muppet monster.
Eventually I gave up and made this announcement: “It’s a pretty simple design though, and I’m sure many of you are capable of improvising your own sweater that would look pretty much like this one, so please feel free. I’ll be flattered.” Some people took me up on it (yay!) and emailed a few questions. A lot of the questions are understandably repeats, so in order to save me, and maybe you, some time I thought I’d just put up some general notes here. If your specific question doesn’t get answered feel free to email me, leave a comment, or contact me on Rav.
- The general idea was to keep the color repeats a consistent size by making each piece of the sweater about the same width. In my case this meant that each front side is 6″, the collar is 6″, each side of the back is 9″, and the sleeves start off at 9″ around the wrist and end up being 13″ around the top of the arm.
- The main body is worked in reverse stockinette.
- The collar is 1×1 rib, with a slip st selvage on the outer edge, and the lower edges of the body are 3 rows of 1×1 rib as well.
- The collar is worked separately then attachedafter the rest of the sweater is all sewn together.
- The cuffs are also worked separately in 1×1 rib (with slip st selvage,) grafted to form a ring, then attached to the sleeves.
- The seams down the center of the back, attaching the collar to the sweater, and attaching the cuffs to the sleeves are all worked so that they are visible on the public side of the sweater. Although I think if I had it to do over again I’d just work the cuff to sleeve seams normally.
- All other seams are worked traditionally.
If you do make your own Big Bad Noro good luck, and be sure to send me a picture:)
