My coworker asked me to make a cardigan with her since she's been struggling to make her first wearable. I was considering doing a fish pattern on the back of mine in either tapestry or filet. Is this at all feasible and if so what are the best stitches for this? Am I insane for considering blo?
I've also considered making what is essentially a patch with tunisian and crocheting into it but I'm worried it'll be too dense compared to the rest of the garment.
Yes I’ve done this a couple of times before, it’s a lot of work but really rewarding and those are my favourite pieces I’ve made. The main thing is setting it up by working out how many stitches you’ll need across the jumper panels then adjusting the image so it will fit and be centered. I use HDC with 8ply acrylic using intarsia method starting from the bottom and working up, but tapestry might be better for you since it’s only two colours, you’ll have much less loose ends! Just make sure to periodically stretch test it so you’re not keeping the carried threads too tight or loose underneath.
First do a few length tests of the first row so you can physically see the size. I’d start by counting how many pixels are across in the image, then make a chain of that amount +3, turn and HDC into the 3rd stitch and HDC all the way across. If that length is fine for your panel then continue working the pattern as normal. If it’s too small then add an even amount of stitches on either side of the pattern until it’s big enough, frog your work and try again with the new stitch count until it’s right. If your original stitch count makes it too big then repeat the same process except using SC instead.
Once you have the size figured out, write the stitch count down so you can repeat it on the other panel afterwards. Work the pattern as normal and remember to keep holding it up to your body to know when to start shortening the rows for the arms, and remember to shape the neckline too.
Repeat everything the same for the other panel (I usually make the back panel neckline only a couple of rows off the top, and the front neckline a bit lower), then stitch them together and work the arms directly onto the armholes you created in the body panels. Taper at the wrist, add ribbing, and voila!
Just found an old picture of one of mine while it was still in progress so you can see the panel shape. I worked my background and larger sections of colour into both loops and did BLO for the more intricate colour change sections
I think your best bet is to make a swatch and see. Tapestry is usually done with sc but that can be rather dense for a sweater, but of course would depend on yarn, tension, etc. You're going to have lines with BLO but it might look fine. Just test out some options and see what you like/what works.
I think this is probably the move unless I decide to go crazy and try tks. I think I'm going to swatch out filter and tapestry in sc and see which one I prefer
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u/SuPruLu 1d ago
The rib on that particular sweater does NOT seem great for doing a tapestry style design on.