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AUTUMN
2012
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Abbreviations
beg
begin(ning)
BL(s)
back loop(s)
dbl
double
dc
double crochet
dec
decrease
ch
chain
hdc
half double crochet
lps
loops
rem
remaining
rep
repeat
rnd(s)
round(s)
sc
single crochet
sc2tog
single crochet 2 together
sl st
slip stitch
st(s)
stitch(es)
tog
together
YO
yarnover (wrap yarn around hook)
SIZE:
Instructions are given for
a extra large-size man’s sweater,
with a chest size of 24 inches
across the front, sleeve length
is 22 inches.
MATERIALS:
America’s Alpaca from AFCNA’s
Classic Alpaca yarn collection
11 skeins DK weight 0410
Oregon Timber Brown
11 skeins DK weight 0211
Rodeo Rose Grey
Size h crochet hook (or size
to match gauge)
Size 7 crochet hook for ribbing
Stitch markers
GAUGE:
6sc = 2 inches
5 rows = 2 inches
I have always felt that a lot of what was
out there had to do with style. Not just the
style in clothing, but the style of crochet
itself. When my mother first taught me
to crochet, it was with what was called
“Knit-Cro-Sheen.” This is a polished
cotton thread, and everyone was making
doilies or edgings for hankies or collars.
Even big projects, like tablecloths and
bedspreads, were made with
threads.
There were a few pieces of clothing being
made, but most of the people that used
yarn
were the knitters.
As the sixties rolled around and acrylics
made synthetic yarns more affordable, the
trend moved toward afghans, vests, a few
sweaters (mostly ladies’), and a variety of
dolls and toilet paper covers. It may have
been me but I think there was a drop in
popularity in the eighties and early nine-
ties. Now, I’m happy to say, there appears
to be a renewed interest in the craft—there
are even quite a few Hollywood stars who
enjoy crocheting. And I couldn’t be more
delighted. Crocheting is “cool” once again.
As so many things do when there is a
renewal in interest, there is an expansion
in the craft itself. People make changes to
meet the needs of the times. In crocheting,
we have seen an expansion in technique as
well as style. The use of crocheting in the
back loop only, which we did for the sock
pattern, gives us the opportunity for rib-
bing and adds stretch to our fabrics. People
have come up with ways to do cable and
other stitches that give sweaters a different,
more modern look, instead of looking like
rows and rows of double crochet.
By utilizing some of these techniques,
I came up with an idea that has worked
into a fun crewneck. I did not want a
lightweight sweater so I worked with a
double strand of DK weight Classic Alpaca
yarn from the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative
of North America (AFCNA). I combined
one strand each of ‘Oregon Timber
Brown’ and ‘Rodeo Rose Grey’. This gave
me a heathered, tweedy look when it was
worked up. And the combined weight
of the two strands has a gauge similar
to worsted weight yarns.
Back
Holding both threads as one, chain 82.
Row 1:
With smaller hook (#7) hdc in
3rd ch from hook and next 7 chs. With
larger hook (h), dbl crochet in next 72
chs. (80 sts) ch 1 turn.
Row 2
(wrong
side): With larger hook, sc in 2nd st from
hook (1st dbl crochet) and next 71 dbl
crochet (72 sc). With small hook, hdc in
BL of next 8 sts. (80 sts) ch 2 turn.
Row 3
(right side): With small hook, hdc in BL
of next 8 hdc. With large hook dc in BL
of next 72 sc. Ch 1 turn.
Rows 4 thru 60:
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until piece measures
24 inches. Finish off.
Front
The front works the same as the back for
the first 8 inches (20 rows) ending with
row 2 of pattern st.
Decreasing for neck shape
Next row
(right side): With small hook
hdc in BL of next 8 hdc, switch to the large
hook, dbl crochet in BL of next 68 sts.
5 sts left on row. Sc2tog, 3 stitches left.
Ch 1 turn.
Next row
(wrong side): Sc2tog
in next two sts. Sc in next 67 sts, switch
to small hook, hdc in BL of next 8 sts.
Ch 2 turn.
Next row:
Hdc in BL of next
hdc 8 times, switch to large hook. Dc in
BL of each sc to last 2 sc. Sc2tog in last
2 sts ch 1 turn.
Next row:
Sc2tog in next
two sts, sc in each st to last 8 sts, switch
to small hook, hdc in BL of last 8 sts, ch 2
turn. Repeat last 2 rows once more. Work
even in pattern (71 sts) for 8 rows.
Next
row:
Hdc in BL of next 8 hdc, switch to