12: Sunrise Circle

Mom in her Sunrise Circle
Originally uploaded by Big Sister.

I started Sunrise Circle last year over my spring break. Rather quickly I had the first sleeve/front done, then I put it aside. A few months later I picked up and started the second sleeve/front. I finished fairly quickly. Then sometime in the late fall I started working on the back. That piece was also done with some speed. Then holiday knitting cropped up and Sunrise Circle was set aside yet again.

When Jackie finished her SRC, I was again inspired and started seaming. I vowed in January to spend 15 minutes a day seaming so that I would be finished in no time. Alas, that promise did not keep. I finished sewing down the last hem over my spring break this year, the day before mom showed up to help me with a household project (more on that another time).

Even though this sweater took 12 months for me to finish, please do not construe that to mean that I did not enjoy knitting it. It was a rather exciting knit. The construction is genius--you knit the sleeve to the raglan and then make carefully placed increases and decreases to create the raglan AND the front. The only reason I might say that this is a difficult pattern is because you have to read each pattern line once you get to the raglan/front section and you have to do a lot of counting. Despite the time I took with it, when I worked on it everything went pretty quickly.

The specs
Pattern: Sunrise Circle (pdf), Kate Gilbert an IK extra Spring 06
Yarn: Peace Fleece, Shaba Green, 5 skeins and maybe a smidge more
Gauge: As usual my gauge was off from the called for 18.5 st/28 rows over 4". I think the stitch gauge was on, but the row gauge was off--26 rows over 4".
Needles: Addi, US 6s

Modifications: Normally, the problem in row gauge would be easy to adjust for, however for this pattern row gauge determined the width of the fronts. To adjust I used the numbers for the 41" up until I finished the raglan and then switched to the directions for the 37." This resulted in a sweater that met directly in the middle instead of overlapping, which I think looked really cute. Also, I didn't add a closure, but mom said that she had some ideas using a silk flower and creating a pin closure.

I loved this pattern and am really thinking about making one for myself. I might even use Peace Fleece again. I have some in Moldova Burgundy, but I am pining over some Zarya Fog or Kamchatka Seamoss. For now, it's back to the stash.

Comments

[Daphne]

Your mom is cute and it's a great knit.

Also: I miss your podcast. But I like your posting. Oh the conundrums I face...

[Karma]

Your mom looks fabulous in that sweater! I've admired that design from day one but have feared the unusual construction a bit because it would be hard to modify to fit me well. But you made it work so well. I think it looks great meeting in the middle like that, better than some I've seen where the buttons close awkwardly.

[adrienne]

IT looks fantastic!!!! You did a great job!

[alison]

Fabulous!! I love the colour, and it looks wonderful on your mom. And now I'm looking over at my own SCJ progress: one sleeve/front that I really enjoyed and then put aside soooo long ago. What's that about?

[Gina]

Your mother is adorable! I love the haircolor. The SRC Jacket looks smashing, and you couldn't have chosen a better color for your mother.

[monica]

I love the modifications. Great color on your mom!

[Bonnie]

I love, love, love this pattern. But I have nothing in my stash, if I want to make it I must buy. So it is great to hear from a fellow knitter about this pattern.

The color is amazing and your mom is adorable!

[Melissa]

I love it. This pattern never appealed to me before, but now I want to knit it! I'm totally missing the show, I can't wait until next week. :)
BTW, I spied an Executive bag on Knitty Gritty last week in the blue color I was considering. I'm so glad I stuck with the green, I can't wait until it comes in. Should be another week or so.

[HibiscuitsGirl]

Awww, it suits her so well! Perfect color choice.

[Diana G]

Hi wonderful and silly ladies - I have a quick question regarding the sunrise circle jacket. Usually, patterns say to fit a bust size x then you have an idea of how much ease to use in the pattern. How can you figure out which one to knit if you don't know these dimensions also?

So...how did you decide?

Thanks! D

[Juls]

she looks great in it! I have some Cascade 220 that I have been saving for this pattern but it's too hot to knit wool now!!