Ashland by Julie Hoover

• Pattern: Ashland by Julie Hoover
• Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Loft (5 skeins in Long Johns, 1 skein in Snowbound, 1 skein in Camper)
• Size: 2 ( bust measure 39″)
• Modifications: Added body length (shoulder to hem total 27″)

This pattern was issued by Brooklyn Tweed Fall 15. Part of the Peerie Collection. This pattern can also be made in Brooklyn Tweed’s Peerie. This pattern was rated advanced.

This yarn has a rustic feel to it before blocking. I know putting a finished work to water is very intimidating. But it’s really worth it. This yarn feels really nice once it has been soaked in water and dried. Blocking also helped with steeking. The cut came out very even.

I was tempted to steek and sew the pieces together before blocking. So glad I followed the instruction to block the pieces first, then steek, then sew. The steek turned out much nicer.

I steeked a few times before. My steeks always turned out caddywhompus. I was tempted to steek and sew the pieces together before blocking. So glad I followed the instruction to first block, then steek, then sew. The steek turned out much nicer. The instruction also recommended using a sewing machine to secure the steek. So I ran my sewing machine on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th and 5th columns of the steek. As you can see at the picture below, my stitches are not straight. But you can’t really see it on the right side of the sweater.

I found sewing four times on the steek useful because when I sew the pieces together, I put the thread between the two rows of stitches.

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The pattern is knit from bottom up. The sleeves are knitted separately. I wanted this more like a tunic than just a top. So I added two repeats at the top. The length turned out just to my liking.

I got kind of frustrated when knitting the decrease of the sleeves. I had a hard time keeping track of how many rows of double decrease and single decrease. Fortunately everything workout at the end. Whew!

Hope you enjoy reading and find my information useful! Happy knitting!