Thursday, August 28, 2014

Rocko's Modern Sweater

I just got back from Stout's Island. When I wasn't being entertained by loons, kayaking, or hydro cycling, I was knitting dog sweaters for Rocko. Rocko, as you might guess by the name of his sweater, is an Australian dog, and it's winter these days in Rocko's upside down land. He needs a sweater. Or two.

I started by using this easy pattern, and modified it somewhat, because Rocko is a classy dog. He deserves a bit more than simple.

The striped version was easy -- just knit the pattern using a different colour every four rows.

The red sweater with razorback cable (my husband calls it the "mohawk design") and ribbing took a bit more modification. For starters I used stockinette stitch. I added two inches of 3x3 ribbing at the beginning and end of each piece. I cast on 36 stitches for the back piece, and then worked a cable down the middle of the back, worked over 12 stitches. To do this I added markers after the 12th and 24th stitches, and proceeded thusly:

Row 1 (RS): Knit
Row 2 and all even (WS) rows: Purl
Row 3: Slip 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle. Slip 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle.
Row 5 and 7: Knit
Row 8: Purl

I used size 13 needles and Lion Brand Thick and Quick yarn.

These dog jumpers are heading to down under, but now that I've mastered the pattern I'll try making a few more to donate to a local dog shelter.

4 comments:

  1. Hi there, what do you mean by worked over 12 stitches for the cable? I would like to try this pattern on straight needles. Do you have another version of this pattern? I love the cabled sweater!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Once you have selected where in the garmet you want the cable to be located, it is best to mark the beginning and ending of where that will be by putting stitch markers on your needles. In this case there would be 12 stitches between those markers. (Slip 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in back, k3, k3 from cable needle. Slip 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in front, k3, k3 from cable needle...12 stitches)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Where is the rest of the pattern for this sweater!! Love it!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't see where the directions are for the neck,legs or belly. Can you please tell me how to make these? TIA

    ReplyDelete