New Pattern: Gillywater

Every once in a while (or like every year... or 6 months) I decide that it's time for a re-read of Harry Potter. Sometimes it's just the sixth book (my favorite), sometimes it's 4-5-6-7, sometimes it's the whole series. This time it's the whole series, and I'm halfway through book 4. Harry Potter is possibly my most favorite thing in the whole world.

I had this pattern completely done and ready to publish, except for a name. This happens every. single. time. I am the worst at naming my patterns. I was racking my brain for a name, looking at maps of Louisiana for cool town names, translating random words into Gaelic, no luck on anything, when my brain said "hey wait! You're reading Harry Potter! What about Harry Potter stuff! How about Gillywater?" And I was like YES. Perfect. So Gillywater it is, and my obsession with Harry Potter only gets stronger.

Here it is: Gillywater.

This pullover is constructed with my favorite method: it's both bottom-up and top-down. The body is worked bottom up in the round to the armholes, then split and worked back and forth. The shoulders are shaped with a couple of short rows, then they're seamed together. Stitches are picked up around the armholes for seamless top-down set-in sleeves. The sleeve caps are worked with short rows, then it's just stockinette down to the cuffs.

I made my sample with 3/4 length sleeves because I was running out of yarn. After I had the whole thing done, blocked, ends woven in, and photographed, I found another ball of that yarn. What. I don't know how I lost one when I only had five to start with, but whatever, it's done. Instructions are given in the pattern for both 3/4 and full length sleeves because I'm a moron.

This pattern is a little more advanced than my usual; you need to work decreases within the lace pattern, which has patterning on BOTH even and odd rows, while maintaining the lace as much as possible. For that reason, I recommend this pattern for more experienced knitters.

From now until July 10th, get this pattern on Ravelry for just $4 with coupon code POTTER. After that it will be the usual price of $6.50.

Details!

Skills needed: Long tail cast on, increases and decreases, familiarity with lace, decreasing within lace, seaming, picking up stitches, short row wrap and turn.

Sizes: Ladies’ XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X)
Finished Measurements: High bust: 29.5 (34, 38, 42.5, 46.5, 51, 55) inches

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy with Cashmere; [70% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 200yd/183m per 113 g skein]; Color: Leprechaun Ballet; 4 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8) skeins for ¾ sleeve version, 5 (5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9) skeins for full length sleeve version

Needles: US 8 (5 mm) 32” circular needles for body US 8 (5 mm) 16” circular needles for sleeve caps US 8 (5 mm) needles for your preferred method of working in the round: DPNs, one long circular, or two short circulars

Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch in the round 17 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches in Lace pattern in the round