help needed to decide how much yarn I need for a silk slipover

Hi there!

I am a new knitter who wants to make a slipover for my grandma.
I want to use the pattern of Purlsoho’s Summer Breeze Tank Top, but perhaps changing the stitches to stockinette.
For yarn I am thinking using Knitting for Olive Pure Silk, but holding 2 or 3 strands together so that I can use size 4 or 5 needles.
Here are my questions:
Would you think using stockinette stitches with pure silk yarn would be a good choice for this pattern? I just don’t think garter stitches would look that good for my grandma. Is there anything I should be looking out for when using stockinette for this pattern?
I don’t have enough experience with determining how much yarn I would need for this project, especially for the changes I am making. Help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all and happy holidays!

Welcome to the forum!
The 100% silk yarn (28sts/4") is gorgeous. If you’re going to substitute it for the cotton (4.5-5sts/4") that the pattern uses, you’ll have to experiment with the doubled yarn.
Buy a ball of the Knitting for Olive yarn to test it out before you buy the quantity for the top. Then knit a swatch in both garter and stockinette stitch to see how the knit fabric feels and drapes. And try different needle sizes too. Both the cotton and silk are not going to have the elasticity or forgiveness of wool.

Once you’re happy with the yarn and needle size, we can help with an estimate of the yardage needed.

These are big changes to the original pattern and it might be better to search for a different yarn or use the yarn Purl Soho calls for especially if you are fairly new to knitting.

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Thank you so so much!
I will get started! :slight_smile:

This seems like an easy change to make, but as @salmonmac said, it’s actually quite significant. Garter stitches are almost square, stockinette stitches are taller than they are wide. It’s very slight, but over the size of the garment it will affect your row gauge. And THAT means you’ll have to change things when you get to the armholes and neckline. You may have to decrease at a different rate than specified in the pattern.

Definitely do several gauge swatches!

I think it would be easier for you to use a pattern that doesn’t require so many changes, especially as you are a new knitter. You can go to Ravelry and do a pattern search, then put in the gauge or needle size you want. Here’s a slipover in stockinette, in several lengths:

There are a ton more, with various necklines and other details.

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Thank you! It’s just hard to find a pattern that makes a slipover with pure silk. My grandma lives in a place where there are 3 summers and 1 winter a year, so I thought a silk piece would actually be most useful and ideal for her. I also just realized that she would probably prefer a vest, so that she doesn’t need to lift her arms to wear it, she’s turning 97 next month (but in very good shape for her age).

That’s very thoughtful and kind of you. If you can find something in the gauge range of this silk or another silk it would probably be best. A worsted or aran weight would be heavier in warm weather. Think also about a silk or cotton blend which can be lighter weight and nicer to work with. Maybe a simple lace pattern?

Ravelry is a good source for both free and paid patterns.

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The pattern doesn’t need to specify silk. It’s the thickness of the yarn that matters. Anything written for cotton or linen should work for silk as well…all are less stretchy than wool.

Just to add to the advice already given, if you are changing to stocking stitch, you will need to pick up the wrap in the short rows as it won’t be hidden by the garter stitch.

Also, I have made a t-shirt with this yarn before - it’s very thin and inflexible, ( and doesn’t bloom with blocking) so swatching is essential to get the density of the fabric that you like.

It also wants to bias in stocking stitch ( like many plant fibres) That shouldn’t be too much of an issue as your pattern is not knit in the round ( which accentuates the bias) but plant yarns don’t bias in garter stitch (or patterns that include some purls).

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I think a front opening vest or short sleeve cardigan sounds good. I have some mobility difficulties myself and find it so much easier with either a front opening or larger armholes which are easier to get into.
This is an example of a slipover with a side opening and larger armholes if you haven’t seen this style

When you have swatched with your yarn held double you can find a pattern that fits well with your gauge.