Class - Reuben

Join Stephanie on select Monday evenings this summer to make Reuben, an easy capped-sleeve open-front cardigan. Visit the shop to see our sample in Malabrigo Rios 128 Ivy and Malabrigo Rios 027 Bobby Blue (same colors as the class image).

Slip-stitch knitting techniques are low effort and high impact! This is a perfect summer project for relaxing with just enough interest to keep you excited. You will appreciate wearing your finished piece year-round.

Want extra credit? See the optional pre-class homework for overachievers at the bottom.

Skills Required

This project is suitable for an adventurous beginner. More advanced knitters will enjoy the meditative rhythm of the slipped stitches. Participants must be able to knit, purl, cast on, and bind off. Experience reading a knitting pattern is recommended.

Materials

Pattern: Reuben by Mari Lynn Patrick. Pattern not included in class. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or at Cloverhill Yarn Shop via an In-Store Ravelry Purchase. If you need assistance with printing, please purchase the pattern at Cloverhill Yarn Shop so that we can print it for you. (You only need pages 2-5 of the pdf printed.) We are unable to print patterns that you purchase independently.

Yarn: Malabrigo Rios - 100% superwash merino, 210 yds per 100g, or other worsted weight yarn in 2 colors. You are welcome to choose yarn and colors before class or wait until our first class meeting for a brief discussion about yarn and color selection. Use stash yarn or get 10% off any regular priced yarn purchased for your project.

Have your seen our wall of Rios lately? We have so many colors of Malabrigo Rios for you to choose from. Other great choices in the shop include Plymouth Worsted Superwash Merino, Sirdar Jewelspun and Jewelspun Ombre, Berroco Vintage, Plymouth Galway, Juniper Moon Cotton + Merino, Plymouth Encore, and many others.

NO ALPACA YARN PLEASE! – Stephanie is allergic and may not be able to teach after a reaction.

Finished Measurements:

Bust: (closed) 47 (49, 50 ½, 52, 54, 55 ½)“ / 119 (124.5, 128, 132, 137, 141)cm
Length: 22(22 ½, 23, 23, 23, 23 ½)” / 56(57, 58.5, 58.5, 58.5, 59.5)cm
Width at upper arm: 11(12, 13, 14, 15, 17)“ / 28(30, 33, 36, 38, 43)cm

Yardage:

3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5) hanks or 630 (630, 840, 840, 840, 1050)yds in #138 Ivy (A)
3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5) hanks or 630 (630, 840, 840, 840, 1050)yds in #27 Bobby Blue (B)

Needles: US 8 (5.00 mm)

•  24” circular for body.
•  short circular, dpns, or long circular for sleeve trim. Length depends on sleeve size.

Gauge:

•  Slip-Stitch Border: 20 sts and 40 rows = 4” on US 8
•  Textured Stripe Pattern: 19 sts and 28 rows = 4” on US 8

Gauge is less critical than it would be for a close-fit item. Gauge, however, will dictate finished size and the quantity of yarn required to complete the project. For best results check your gauge. Stephanie recommends making a gauge swatch but she won’t make you do one for this project if you don’t want to. It’s summer after all; we can cheat a little. You could also start with the Left Front instead of the Back so there will be less work lost if your gauge is way off.

Other Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends. Scissors for cutting yarn. Stitch markers are not called for in the pattern, but you may find stitch markers helpful to stay on track. A row counter or counting chain may also be helpful to stay on track.

Target Schedule

This class meets 6 times. Attend any or all.

The first class sessions will focus on making sure you understand the pattern, enjoy the yarn (or colors) you've selected, and feel comfortable with your size selection. Stephanie can help you refine sizing to upsize or downsize, crop or lengthen, etc. She can also help you make yarn substitutions and gauge adjustments if you want to use different thicknesses of yarn.

Note that class will not meet on July 20, Aug 3, and Aug 10. We also suggest reserving Aug 31 in case there is an unexpected impact to the shop schedule.

June 29 - Introduction. Pattern Overview. Yarn and Color Selections. Size questions. 
July 6 - Revisit gauge and sizing questions as needed. Demo Sleeve CO as needed.
July 13 - Demo sleeve CO, neck shaping, and shoulder shaping as needed
July 20 - NO CLASS MEETING - continue working at your own pace.
July 27 - Progress check in and troubleshooting. Demos for front border as needed
Aug 3 - NO CLASS MEETING - continue working at your own pace.
Aug 10 - NO CLASS MEETING - continue working at your own pace.
Aug 17 - Demo seaming and front bands. Troubleshooting and demos as needed
Aug 24 - Demo sleeve and neck trims. Troubleshooting and demos as needed.
Aug 31 - Reserve for possible emergency make-up.

Extra Credit for Overachievers (Optional Pre-Class Homework):

Make a swatch using the yarn and colors you’d like to use for the project. You can start your swatch at the first class if you need assistance – or you can wing it without ever doing a swatch.

You must own the Reuben pattern to follow the instructions below.

Stephanie’s Recommended Swatch For Reuben:

• Cast on 30 sts with Color A.
• Work 17 rows of Slip-Stitch Border Pattern (page 2) ending after completing Row 1. 
• Work 32 rows of Textured Stripe Pattern Stitch.
• Bind off.
• Cut yarns.
• Weave in yarn tails. (optional – don’t weave in ends if you think you might need to unravel your swatch to complete your project.)
• Block or launder you swatch the way you plan to care for your finished item. If you are hand-washing, do not pin to dry – lay flat, reshape the swatch for tidy edges, and let dry naturally. If you pin it now you’ll need to pin the finished item every time you wash it in the future – who wants to do that?

This swatch will be useful to assess if you like the fabric being created - ask yourself, “Do I want to wear it?”  This swatch will also be very useful to determine finished size if your gauge does not match the stated pattern gauge. Stephanie will help pick a size based on your gauge so there will be no need to remake a swatch if you liked the fabric. Please don’t unravel your swatch until you are sure you need the yarn in your project. Keep your swatch handy throughout your project so we can refer back to it over the duration of the project.

The usefulness of your swatch will depend on whether you’ve blocked or laundered it. Most yarns change to some extent once they’ve seen water. Some change little and some change significantly. These changes will impact gauge over the stitches required for any adult sized sweater. Blocking and laundering can also impact the behavior of the cloth and the way it feels too. Stephanie won’t make you block your swatch but she will want to know if you did or didn’t.