I have a pattern calling for Classic Elite ‘Montera’ in color camelid and Classic Elite La Gran in otter. Both are to be knitted together to make a jacket on the cover of Knitter’s Magazine No. 44 Fall 1996.
I’ve searched Ravelry however the colors I need don’t exist. I have not had luck getting anyone to give up anything that’s available in individual stashes. Went through Yarn Substitute without luck. Any assistance as to two yarns that I could substitute would be greatly appreciated.
Yarn Substitution
Is this the jacket?
On that link there is a list of the patterns included in the magazine, it’s not obvious which is the designer and pattern name for the jacket but if you know it could help in finding a substitute.
I can’t really offer advice on a yarn sub, I don’t have enough experience with different yarns, but if I was making it I’d look at Drops Nepal in colour camel mix, and drops brushed alpaca silk in light beige. I’d probably go for drops Nepal medium brown mix for the darker trim.
Hope you find something you like.
Have you looked at the yarn suggestions on the Ravelry page (up at the top next to Details under Yarn Ideas)? It lists the yarns others have used for the jacket.
Very pretty project!
Can I upload a screen shot so I can clarify where you’re referring to on Ravelry?
Creations YES, That is the Jacket.
Yes, that’s one of the recommended yarns. See my post above with the link to the Ravelry page and the screenshot highlighting the Yarn Ideas topic (blue circle).
There aren’t that many projects so relatively few suggestions but maybe some ideas. If you click the yarn photo it takes you to the yarn description page. If you click the “used 1 time” it takes you to the project using that yarn for the jacket.
Ok I bought the Drops brushed Alpaca Silk and the Drops Nepal. Upon swatching a 4 inch square, it takes me 13 sts and approximately 19 rows to achieve this on size 10 needles.
Original pattern which called for a different yarn but same size needle and it took 11 sts and 18 rows to get a 4 inch square.
Pattern is done with the L and R front sides, back and sleeves all done seperately, then sewn tog. I’m trying to figure out how many sts to cast on: original asked for 52 sts for the back with both yarns held tog, 30 sts for the L and 30 sts for the R fronts. I’ve tried doing some of the math but not sure what I’m coming up with is correct as these are seperate types of yarns fro the original. I thought I might try doubling up on the Drops brushed Alpaca Silk thus there would bee 2 skeins of that to one of the Drops Nepal. Any information or assistance would greatly be appreciated. Thanks again!
Try a swatch with the Brushed Alpaca Silk doubled and see how ot comes up. (I think it may overshoot, but only swatching will tell.)
Otherwise, you can recalculate the stitch count with your own gauge if you are happy with the fabric you got in your first swatch.
There are tutorials and brainy folks here if you need help with calculations.
Did you make your swatch larger than 4 inches so that you could measure over the center 4 inches? That gives an accurate measure of the gauge. And are you happy with the feel and drape of the knit fabric? Did you try going to a larger size needle to see if you could get closer to 11sts/4 inches in the stitch pattern from the chart? Another possibility is to knit the next larger size. Will that work?
If you’re happy with the measurements and feel of the knit fabric then you’re good. There’s a bit of tailoring to work out for this jacket but if you up for that, then ok. Read through the rest of the pattern to see where you will need to make adjustments.
(30x4) divided by 11=11 inches across each front. (52x4) divided by 11=19 inches across the back.
If you are getting 13sts/4 inches in pattern then for the fronts (13x11) divided by 4 =36 sts cast on for the fronts and (13x19) divided by 4=62sts cast on for the back.
My initial count was done using one of the brushed alpaca and one of the Nepal which took me 20 sts and19 rows to get a 4 inch square. So I did what you just suggested and that’s where I came up with 13 sts and 19 rows to get a 4 inch square. I think doubling the Nepal would be too heavy. Not sure what to do! Thanks for responding! MK
I didn’t go that far for the 4 inches as you explained.
I was wondering if I should go to the next size up on the pattern! It asks for you to cast on 56 sts for the back. I just tried taking the 56 stitches ( for the next size up) and dividing it by the number of stitches it’s taking me to get the 4 inches across and it comes out to 4.3. Am I calculating the amount incorrectly?!
At your gauge, you need closer to 62sts for the back rather than 56sts. The details page says that the sizes go up to 57.5" so what about the next size that cast on closer to 62sts?
I’m not sure where the page you’re talking about is at. I don’t see anything mentioning about details. Here’s a picture of the instructions for the beginning of the back
What about the 3rd or 4th size?
Sorry to leave out the reference. I meant the Ravelry entry.
One question just to be sure, what is the measurement of your gauge swatch across the width in inches, 4", 5" …?
I was able to get 4 by 4 inch square. As I stated earlier I did not go to much further past that point as you were suggesting I might try.
I got this by doubling the brushed alpaca with one of the drops Nepal yarn. That’s what gave me the 13 stitches by 19 rows to achieve a 4 inch square.
I know this pre-knitting stage is painful when all you want to do is knit the jacket but it would be best if you cast on 20-24sts and work in pattern from the chart. Then you can measure gauge over the middle 4inches of the swatch. You’ll be able to avoid the small end sts that way.
I’m sorry to take up so much of your time. I want to make sure I understand what you’re saying….I should cast on 20 to 24 stitches and just work the pattern. Then measure how many stitches it will take to do the pattern for a few rows? Correct?