Tegna

One of my favourite sweaters that I’ve knit is Tegna designed by Caitlin Hunter.

I also think that it is one of the most flattering sweaters that I have knit. It is definitely, my sweater of choice when I want to look great but be comfortable as well!

I knit the 2XL size. This was mainly because I couldn’t get gauge, which is not unusual for me when I’m knitting a pattern by Caitlin Hunter. No matter what needle size I swatched with, it wasn’t the same. So in the end, I just took the risk and I cast on that size in the hope that it would fit when it was finished. I knit the Tegna using 3.5mm Lykke Interchangeable needles.

With a bottom-up sweater, you can’t try it on to see how it is looking until you have the whole body finished and the shoulder seams joined, so I was delighted and a little relieved when I first tried it on and swirled around! It also means that I couldn’t put it on the mannequin to see how it was looking as I was working on it.

A lot is given to trusting in the designer!

I didn’t particularly enjoy knitting the lace section. It looks beautiful now that the sweater is finished and blocked so it was worthwhile persevering. When I was working out my yardage for this pattern in my size, I needed 1134m of yarn, the Malabrigo Sock has 440yds per skein so I reckoned 3 would suffice. It is not lost on me that I was halfway up the front when I realised that I was definitely going to need a 4th skein. My first skein ran out about 5cm (2″) above the lacework.

I used old stash of Malabrigo and although 2 skeins were the same colourway, I had bought them at different times and they were very different in colour. So different, that I opted to create a gradient (fade) of my Tegna.

One of my skeins of Candombe 870 looked more like my skein of Eggplant 811 so I made the decision to create a very subtle fade. I used a skein of Indiecita 416 for the 4th skein, when I realised I need an additional skein to complete the sweater. Also, I wanted to have some of the Candombe to use in the sleeves.

I’d have liked to see how it would look with long sleeves, but I knew I’d not have enough yarn and I didn’t want to add a 5th colour at this stage. As I’d joined the shoulders by that point, and if I’d intended to use 5 colours, I’d have changed colours differently throughout the body.

I used helical knitting while changing colours in the body of Tegna. It means there isn’t a seam running up the side edge on the inside. Helical knitting is easy to do and makes a great job of blending the colours into one another.

I cast on with the Eggplant as I thought the darker colour would show off the lacework nicely. I was glad that the skein lasted for all of the lacework and a bit above it before I needed to introduce the next colour.

The neckline is lovely and elegant with just a simple garter stitch edge.

This is one of the most beautiful sweaters that I own and I know that one day I will definitely knit a second Tegna in a different combination of colours. I just wish I had kept better notes of exactly what I did because I would absolutely love to have the same outcome with my next Tegna!

A change in yarn will make a change in the drape of the next Tegna and I hope it will be every bit as beautiful.

We photographed Tegna on the Moat or Motte. It is a very prominent feature in Donaghadee, Co Down, with wonderful views across the town and seawards towards the Copeland Islands. The original mound was of Norman origin when a motte and bailey stood on the site. The present Moat was built in 1818 and housed the explosives needed for constructing the harbour.