All finished

Here she is, Ruth, my Knitting Olympics project, finished up just as the last seconds were ticking off of Yarn Harlot's timeclock.

(For a printable PDF of the Ruth and Ruthie patterns, Click Here!)



Phew! My hands feel a little weak today, but she's done! Now, it's time to start on Heather's baby girl's stuffies!

Please visit http://lothruin.com/perfectshrug.html to read about the genesis of Ruth and some additional sizing notes!

And here's a pattern of Ruth (and Ruthie, a shrug version) for anyone who'd like it.

Materials:

For Ruth, a bolero jacket, use 7 balls (522 yds) Joann's brand Sensations Licorice yarn. You can substitute 5 balls of Yarn Bee Highland Thistle.

For Ruthie, a shrug, 4 balls are used.

1 pair US 15 straight needles
1 pair US 15 circular needles
yarn needle
Optional: A worsted weight yarn in matching color for sleeve seams.

Gauge: 11 stitches and 14 rows = 4"

For Ruth and Ruthie

Sleeve (make 2):

Cast on 26 stitches, work 2x2 rib for 4” (14 rows).
Row 1: K
Row 2: P
Row 3: K 2, M1, K to 2 stitches from end, M1, K 2 (28 sts on needle)
Rows 4-8: St st, starting with WS row.
Rows 9 – 14: Repeat rows 3-8 three times more. (36 sts on needle)

Work even in St st until sleeve measures 21” from beginning, ending RS row.
At beginning of next row, BO 3 stitches. P to last three stitches. BO 3 stitches. Put live stitches on holder or waste yarn.

Body

With circular needles, cast on 50 stitches. Starting with a knit row, work in St st for 3 rows, back and forth as though on straight needles.

Row 4: P first 4 stitches. BO 4 stitches. P across row to last 8 stitches. BO 4 stitches. P last 4 stitches.

Row 5: K across first 4 stitches. PM. K across all live stitches on one sleeve. PM. K across back. PM. K across live stitches of second sleeve. PM. K across last 4 stitches.

Row 6: P across row.

Row 7: Begin raglan shaping. K in first two stitches, *K2tog, slip marker, slip 1 purlwise, K 1, PSSO, K across to 2 stitches before next marker*, repeat from * to * to two stitches before last marker. K2tog, slip marker, slip 1 purlwise, K 1, PSSO, K last two stitches. (8 decreases this row.)

Row 8: P across row.

Row 9: K first stitch, *K2tog, slip marker, slip 1 purlwise, K 1, PSSO, K across to 2 stitches before next marker*, repeat from * to * to two stitches before last marker. K2tog, slip marker, slip 1 purlwise, K 1, PSSO. (8 decreases this row.)

On next and all following odd rows, continue raglan shaping as above, except knit first and last two stitches even, making only the ssk decrease after first marker and K2tog decrease before last marker. P all even rows. (6 decreases this and all following decrease rows.)

Work in raglan shaping as established until 22 stitches remain on needle, ending on a K row. (If you've made sizing adjustments, add or subtract the number of stitches you altered.)

For Ruthie, the shrug

PM. Pick up 29 stitches down left front, 50 stitches across bottom edge and 29 stitches up right side and join with live stitches already on needle. If you've made sizing adjustments, the only thing you really need to know is that you should pick up one stitch for every row down the sides and one stitch for every stitch along the bottom, making any adjustments neccessary for there to be a multiple of 4 + 2 (when added to the 22 stitches on the needle, this will make a multiple of four).

Work in the round in K2 P2 ribbing for 2.5 inches. If you feel like removing all markers except the one marking the beggining of your picked-up stitches, feel free. After 2.5", BO loosely.

For Ruth, the jacket

PM. Pick up 29 stitches down left front, PM, 50 stitches across bottom edge, PM, and 29 stitches up right side, PM and join with live stitches already on needle. If you've made sizing adjustments, the only thing you really need to know is that you should pick up one stitch for every row down the sides and one stitch for every stitch along the bottom, making any adjustments neccessary for there to be a multiple of 4 + 2 (when added to the 22 stitches on the needle, this will make a multiple of four).

The first row in the round will be a knit row. *As you work, remove the markers from the decrease work, leaving only the four markers you placed while picking up stitches.* In all 22 live stitches along the neck, K1 F&B in each stitch, bringing the number to 44. K 1 in each picked-up stitch down the edge until 4 stitches before marker. K1 F&B in each stitch until marker. K 1 in 50 bottom-edge stitches. K1 F&B in the first 4 stitches after marker, then K 1 in each remaining stitch to first marker. There should be 160 stitches on your needles.

Work in the round in 2x2 ribbing until ribbing measures 11" long. BO loosely.

Finishing Ruth and Ruthie

Your jacket is almost finished! All there is left to do is sew the sleeve seams and graft the bound-off stitches under the arms. I did not block mine. I'm not sure how you'd go about it, actually. Mine didn't need it.

Hope you like it. It is my first attempt at writing a pattern, so there may be some conventions I missed. If you have any questions, let me know. I'll be happy to make any clarifications neccessary.