Adult Surprise Jacket

With the help of Marilyn on knitbabysurprise group, I am participating in a "knitalong" on the Adult Surprise Jacket.


I had been putting off making this because of the thought of the 'math" involved - what a baby I am!
It really is not difficult at all - once I made a swatch, and worked out the number of stitches to 10cm , then asked my daughter for the width of the most comfortable sweater she wears. The rest was easy! But without Marilyn's clear explanation to go along with Elizabeth Zimmermann's pattern instructions, I doubt if I would have braved it !



I am nearly at the part where I place stitches on a holder for the front neckline. I am making it in Cleckheaton Mousse, 60% wool, plus mohair, and viscose, which is very soft and light, but also warm.

The colours are lovely - sort of "brown-y heather-y" mixtures The stripes are fairly random and will, I hope, be quite muted when the jacket is finished.
I am now coming to the front part of the sweater, so will now start to make the stripes smaller, probably one garter ridge only in each colour. I am hoping my daughter likes the colour combinations, and/or the stripes - because I am planning on giving this to her for her birthday in June!!
In the picture below, the left hand edge is the cuff edge, on which I shall pick up and knit down to increase the length of the sleeve. The bottom cast on edge is actually the back neck edge!
If you stand on your head to view this, you will see what I mean LOL!















These two pictures explain just how this finished sweater will look. The stripes will be vertical at the front and horizontal across the back and the only seam will be the shoulder to cuff line. I may take my courage in both hands and use an applied i-cord for this - another first for me! Fortunately for me - I have lots of help and encouragement from knitters who have done this before on this wonderful group! I am thoroughly enjoying this knitalong!

It is amazing that a shapeless blob can suddenly start to become a recognizable garment! The construction is so ingenous - is it any wonder I have joined the ranks of the Zimmermaniacs???
I have knitted dozens of the Baby Surprise Sweater - so I guess the Adult version is not as daunting to me as it could have been!

I would therefore recommend that the Baby version should be tried first !!