• The majority of you like the idea of a top-down Aran.
• Most of you would like either raglan sleeves or picked-up-and-knit down sleeves.

But I would like to do one in the future -- perhaps next fall -- because that is exactly the kind of cardigan I would like to make for myself to wear around the house. I can see it in my head.

A Word About Steeks : A few have expressed interest in working this with steeks, and a few of you have expressed anxiety about steeks. One of the things I try very hard not to be is dogmatic -- I try not to go around saying, "Thou shalt do this in thy knitting" or "Thou shalt not do that in thy knitting." I have found that in knitting there are usually 50 ways to get the desired end result. Some of them are better than others, but none of them is "wrong." (Or at least, very few of them are.)

Having said that, I am now going to offer My Opinion Regarding Steeks. I am not convinced of their usefulness in working Arans, unless it is to avoid completely the possibility of having to work a wrong-side row. Every Aran I have ever seen steeked had very bulky and unattractive facings where the steek had been cut open. In a Fair Isle sweater, I would steek without hesitation! I don't like working purl rows with two colors. Steeking is not going to prevent you from having to work purl stitches in an Aran, however. However, if you like steeks and want to work them in this sweater, by all means go ahead and do so! All I'm saying is that I won't make it a requirement of the design (we can write it as an option into the final pattern, certainly). And no one should feel embarrased or self-conscious if they like steeks or don't like them. Personal preference reigns in my knitting universe. :-))

So may I suggest that we do a top-down Aran with slightly set-in square sleeves? This style alleviates the problem of the Dreaded Dropped Shoulder Seam that makes me look more well-endowed than I already am. Again, as with everything in life, there are a bunch of different ways to do this. My favorite way is to knit saddles for each shoulder (and we can make them optional if you don't like them), knit the front down to the base of the armhole, the back down to the base of the armhole, then the body and sleeves downward in the round. There will be some back-and-forth knitting, but we can eliminate ALL seams a la Barbara Walker if you will trust me. :-))) I think that a design such as this will incorporate the majority of everyone's wishes and desires, yet still be easy enough for the first-time Aran knitter.

So if you are all with me on this, watch for SOA Part 1: Measurements For Everyone (Fluffies Included!)

Oh, and for those of you who want to make a cardigan instead of a pullover, not a problem! We can do that, too.

Janet
jknitter@digisys.net