I understand the reservations and observations you have about the Ranunculus. I’m currently working on my 3rd. The attraction and success of this pattern (I believe) is its build-a-sweater concept. Basically it boils down to: Desired collar + yoke + desired body length + desired sleeve length = finished sweater My grandmother used to knit sweaters without a pattern. I’m not really a sweater knitter, more of a lace scarf/shawl knitter. Perhaps seeing how Grandma approached knitting sweaters helped me because mine came out exactly the way I wanted them. The reason is that at every stage, I tried it on (or had my daughter try it on for hers). Cast on stitches for neck, try it on. Don’t like the fit? Start over because you’re at the start: ripping out doesn’t hurt. For the neck I wanted I used the wide neck but knitted it on 5 mm needles (1 size down). Finished the yoke, pop it on waste yarn and try it on. Make sure you’ve got the stitch markers in for the sleeves (before adding the raglan increases). Need more length before starting the raglan? Add a couple of rows. Don’t want more ease caused by the raglan? Leave them out and reposition your stitch markers. See if you just add a few rows of knitting or not. Want wider sleeves and less room in the body? Reposition the stitch markers. Want skinnier sleeves but more ease in the body? Reposition stitch markers. Generally though, the arm stitch count seems pretty good. Playing with your needle size goes a long way. That means knowing if you’re a loose knitter or a tight knitter. If you want something to be a bit smaller, to have less ease, drop a needle size. Especially with the Ranunculus. Of the yoke ends too high on the sweater, the easiest fix is to knit a few more rows before starting sleeve separation. Especially if you want less positive ease. The measurements for sleeve length, body length and borders are all in cms/inches anyway. Just keep track of how many rows you’ve knitted. I wanted mine a lot longer, wanted the sleeves well past the wrists, wanted a bit of a trumpet sleeve effect. So I used stretchy ultrafine lace weight yarn held double, basically knit with a needle one size down, omitted the short rows and decreases at the sleeve cuff and did wat I pretty darn well pleased where body length and sleeve length were concerned. Now I’m working on my 3rd with thicker yarn, which I want as a turtleneck. Cast on 60 stitches, did 1:1 reversible twisted ribbing for about 22-24 cms, then proceeded as described in the pattern for the increases to the 90 stitches. Used 50 mm needles again. Sleeves will be long, so will the body: I don’t feel I’ve got a figure suitable for cropped sweaters.
Watched a number of TH-cam videos about this pattern. Many knitters seem to use this pattern as a recipe and use different yarn gauges to get the fit and look they want, especially after the original one-size pattern took off a number of years ago in popularity. Currently knitting my 3rd Ranunculus with 4 mm and 3.75 mm needles in a sport weight yarn, so have changed gauge drastically for a denser fabric and look - - this meant changing the stitch/row counts to get ‘my fit’ of about 4” of ease. I am a sweater knitter and track 12 different measurements for each FO (before and after blocking). I know how each sweater fits and my FO s/s measurements enable me to block to ‘my’ finished size each time I wash. My s/s also gives me the ability to compare how a new pattern will likely fit me compared to a current FO and decide if that is the look I want. Interesting episode. I find Ranunculus is a delightful pattern template that is very adaptable for yarn substitutions and fit.
I feel like "recipe" is a great word to describe this pattern. The amount of unique versions of this sweater I've seen is amazing! And I'm impressed by your thorough work with your sweater measurements!! That's something I think I'd like to aspire to. 😊
Spot on with your advice...and I have to say "I too have some hate for the sizing of this monster", lol! The collar is ridiculously complicated and unneccesarily so... I skipped both patterns suggestions and just made my own twisted rib and it was so much easier after that. Thank you for your input!
Thanks so much for your video and tips. Especially about the sizes of needles and sizes of the pattern that you used. I have started mine, using size 10 needles and sport weight yarn. I've chosen the size 4 of the pattern, as I want a good amount of positive ease. This is my first sweater ever!! I am fairly 'busty', so I don't want my sweater to be too tight there. Hoping I don't have to frog back too many times!!! I'm using lifelines...for sanity's sake!
Thank you for your video. You’ve made me feel I’m not the only one struggling with this pattern. My ranunculus is half done, in a bag somewhere in a dark corner of my wardrobe, don’t want you to see it for a while….one day I shall re-visit it, but I’m not ready yet for it. Thanks, you’ve made me feel better. Greetings from the UK.
I ripped mine 3 times as well. 3 years ago. It went to donations because I blew the center back, have no idea how, and I’m a lace knitter! I prefer the Love Note.
I like how your sweater turned out. The color is beautiful too. I just ordered the yarn to make this sweater. Thanks for sharing your yarn. With so much going on I wanted to use a tried and true yarn.
Thanks for your thoughts. I have knit one and am not sure how I feel about it. I prefer the yoke fit of the Love Note as well. I am going to knit it again but with mods for sure.
Thanks so much Emily. I am hoping to knit this for my daughter who is size 8 Australian which is tiny. Listening to your modifications has really helped. I will also check out your Ravelry project page. I am worried that the yoke will be too deep for her but will persevere with changing the maths as you suggest. One keen new subscriber who loves your patient and easy to follow explanations xx
Funny to hear your recollections tonite, I am just restarting a R. I ripped back a year ago, it was so big, its been in a bag and now I want to see if I can salvage it , the yarn is lovely and its going to be winter soon...I share a lot of your opinions. I followed all of SunDragon's videos, they were great, she only shares technique, not info direct from pattern, and she often stated that folks need to purchase the pattern ..it made the yoke more fun to knit watching someone execute the stitch, it was all new to me. Thanks for interesting discussion.
I wish you did this video a few months ago 😅… I knitted this pattern and made numerous adjustments. I knitted it for someone. I basically made it in to a blouse and instead of doing the I-cord I just did a ribbing and it turned out just fine. I will be knitting another one for me this time around and plan using larger size needles and making a 3/4 sleeves. I think the pattern is pretty easy to follow considering the number of pages; it was well written… Thanks for sharing! Your video has been very informative ❤
I found this helpful, thanks. I'm really intrigued by the pattern but a little overwhelmed as to where to start with so many yarn options and possible variations in sleeve lengths and finishings etc. Might try a short sleeve in some alpaca silk that's been waiting sitting around for ages.
@@wronggeometry that sounds like a really fun combination! The amount of different ways to work this up is definitely a little overwhelming, but I've been fascinated by how unique every single one comes out!
I am just finishing this sweater. It is my second sweater ever. I appreciate your insight. Perhaps because I am a fly by the seat of my pants knitter and in even larger part because I knit it in two strands of mohair, I too have found it very quick and easy to make modifications as needed, plus because of the mohair it hides a multitude of sins. lol. I like the look of yours as a more substantial sweater and will make one in that weight next time. thanks.
Good video. Makes me not so scared to undo all my work. I'm using a dk weight with 6 mm (10 for you guys). I did the small neck first and it was tiny so did the large. It still fits snug around my neck. More like a crew neck. I must have counted those stitches 4 times. I'm now at the sleeves, and they don't look like they have alot of ease. At least not according to the pattern. Looks like I may be knitting this for my 98 lb daughter.
well, I did not find any problems with the pattern, on the contrary: I found it extremely clear and straightforward... I do wonder if it is your vs Japanese knitting pattern standards - what kind of a pattern is perfect in your opinion?
I think the perfect kind of pattern is the one where the knitter finds the directions easy to understand and follow, but that is going to vary from person to person. I do not have any experience with other Knit Cafe Midori patterns so I have nothing to compare this one to. I didn't particularly find anything about the pattern difficult, but I had difficulty where length measurements were concerned. But I think a big thing that throws some things off with that is the option of using practically any yarn weight without changing the pattern 🤷♀️ I could be wrong though. Any other patterns you'd recommend?
Ok, then I misunderstood your comments. I thought you were complaining about clarity due to English translation etc. Imho, this particular pattern cover image clearly shows a shorty and boxy whimsical shirt on a skinny skinny body - and unless this is right up your alley, you should be able and willing to do some easy adjustment, or just choose some other pattern.
The cast ons are to keep the neckline really loose. The neck sits better if you leave out the front short rows. The wool you wanted was Aran weight. I'm just starting my second, feeling excited,
I've been feeling the itch to try this all again and I like the suggestions you've made. I think I may try these as well, but modify the neckline to be a somewhere relaxed/loosed and fitting.
I have debated on this one because it is so oversized and didn't look like modification to make it more fitted would work. I ended up doing the Ilha by Tete Beche and I love it, also the love note is lovely and a quick knit
I plan on making my first, tried a gauge swatch….already struggling 😄 I mainly like the look of SOME samples. Now starting to realize a lot of people have used their own gauge which is less helpful to me. Did you ever get gauge? Also how much yardage did you use for what size? The low yardage also drew me in, but now realizing it may not be accurate 😕
The first time around I technically got gauge with US10/6mm and the fabric was much denser than my finished object. In the end I settled on us11/8mm and was barely over gauge but the fabric was more breathable so I stuck with that and stopped to the first size. Used most of 5 skeins of patons classic wool worsted( 100g/194yards per skein) so somewhere just under 970yards for me.
Why so negative? It’s a beautifully clear pattern with no confusions about number of repeats etc. Every pattern I have ever knitted needs adjusting for your own length of sleeves/body so that’s hardly a reason to grumble. There are 2 neckline options for you to choose from and any knitter with some experience will automatically adapt cuffs from an i cord bind off to a rib etc or add/shorten the length of rib. For the neck, I just use a long tail cast on, making sure it’s not too tight, and I’ve never had any problems with that. It is clearly shown as an oversized jumper so it seems weird to complain about that feature. Also, when talking about needles it would help considerably to mention sizes in mm not just us sizes. Try it in a fingering weight with mohair… I think it looks great 😊
Not meant to be negative, and when flipping through the hashtag on IG or project pages on ravelry (which is where many may learn about this pattern) a great deal of the finished objects are not shown as oversized at all. True, adjustments are typically made for everyone's own measurements when knitting a garment, but I think with this one measurements are just easily thrown off and that greatly affects the yardage of yarn required. Yes any knitter with experience can handle these things, but wouldn't you have liked a heads up on how to trouble shoot some of these things if you were just starting out? It can also just get a little finicky when a pattern suggests using such a wide variety of weights but is only written up with one set of directions. The pattern itself is pretty clear, yet so many people still stumble over it. Not trying to grumble, just trying to help those who may be having trouble and not quite knowing why. This has personally turned into one of my absolute favorite sweaters and I absolutely plan on making it again in a lighter weight yarn, but I'm also glad that I now have a reference for how this pattern fits my own body. I'm glad you enjoy this pattern so much, it really is a nice one. :)
I didn't interpret this video as negative at all. I'd consider myself an advanced beginner/heading to intermediate knitter and fou d a lot of the info in this video helpful.
I understand the reservations and observations you have about the Ranunculus. I’m currently working on my 3rd.
The attraction and success of this pattern (I believe) is its build-a-sweater concept. Basically it boils down to:
Desired collar + yoke + desired body length + desired sleeve length = finished sweater
My grandmother used to knit sweaters without a pattern. I’m not really a sweater knitter, more of a lace scarf/shawl knitter. Perhaps seeing how Grandma approached knitting sweaters helped me because mine came out exactly the way I wanted them. The reason is that at every stage, I tried it on (or had my daughter try it on for hers).
Cast on stitches for neck, try it on. Don’t like the fit? Start over because you’re at the start: ripping out doesn’t hurt. For the neck I wanted I used the wide neck but knitted it on 5 mm needles (1 size down).
Finished the yoke, pop it on waste yarn and try it on. Make sure you’ve got the stitch markers in for the sleeves (before adding the raglan increases). Need more length before starting the raglan? Add a couple of rows. Don’t want more ease caused by the raglan? Leave them out and reposition your stitch markers. See if you just add a few rows of knitting or not. Want wider sleeves and less room in the body? Reposition the stitch markers. Want skinnier sleeves but more ease in the body? Reposition stitch markers. Generally though, the arm stitch count seems pretty good.
Playing with your needle size goes a long way. That means knowing if you’re a loose knitter or a tight knitter. If you want something to be a bit smaller, to have less ease, drop a needle size. Especially with the Ranunculus. Of the yoke ends too high on the sweater, the easiest fix is to knit a few more rows before starting sleeve separation. Especially if you want less positive ease. The measurements for sleeve length, body length and borders are all in cms/inches anyway. Just keep track of how many rows you’ve knitted.
I wanted mine a lot longer, wanted the sleeves well past the wrists, wanted a bit of a trumpet sleeve effect. So I used stretchy ultrafine lace weight yarn held double, basically knit with a needle one size down, omitted the short rows and decreases at the sleeve cuff and did wat I pretty darn well pleased where body length and sleeve length were concerned.
Now I’m working on my 3rd with thicker yarn, which I want as a turtleneck. Cast on 60 stitches, did 1:1 reversible twisted ribbing for about 22-24 cms, then proceeded as described in the pattern for the increases to the 90 stitches. Used 50 mm needles again. Sleeves will be long, so will the body: I don’t feel I’ve got a figure suitable for cropped sweaters.
Watched a number of TH-cam videos about this pattern. Many knitters seem to use this pattern as a recipe and use different yarn gauges to get the fit and look they want, especially after the original one-size pattern took off a number of years ago in popularity. Currently knitting my 3rd Ranunculus with 4 mm and 3.75 mm needles in a sport weight yarn, so have changed gauge drastically for a denser fabric and look - - this meant changing the stitch/row counts to get ‘my fit’ of about 4” of ease. I am a sweater knitter and track 12 different measurements for each FO (before and after blocking). I know how each sweater fits and my FO s/s measurements enable me to block to ‘my’ finished size each time I wash. My s/s also gives me the ability to compare how a new pattern will likely fit me compared to a current FO and decide if that is the look I want. Interesting episode. I find Ranunculus is a delightful pattern template that is very adaptable for yarn substitutions and fit.
I feel like "recipe" is a great word to describe this pattern. The amount of unique versions of this sweater I've seen is amazing! And I'm impressed by your thorough work with your sweater measurements!! That's something I think I'd like to aspire to. 😊
Spot on with your advice...and I have to say "I too have some hate for the sizing of this monster", lol! The collar is ridiculously complicated and unneccesarily so... I skipped both patterns suggestions and just made my own twisted rib and it was so much easier after that. Thank you for your input!
Thanks so much for your video and tips. Especially about the sizes of needles and sizes of the pattern that you used. I have started mine, using size 10 needles and sport weight yarn. I've chosen the size 4 of the pattern, as I want a good amount of positive ease. This is my first sweater ever!! I am fairly 'busty', so I don't want my sweater to be too tight there. Hoping I don't have to frog back too many times!!! I'm using lifelines...for sanity's sake!
Yesss! Definitely use lifelines!! I wish you all the luck 🤞
Thank you for your video. You’ve made me feel I’m not the only one struggling with this pattern. My ranunculus is half done, in a bag somewhere in a dark corner of my wardrobe, don’t want you to see it for a while….one day I shall re-visit it, but I’m not ready yet for it. Thanks, you’ve made me feel better.
Greetings from the UK.
I honestly don't know why in reality so many of us have struggled with this one, but it's not just you. Definitely don't give up on it ❤️
@@aramblingyarn Yes reading all the replies I also am very hesitant to start the Ranunculus and I consider myself a good knitter.
You’ve made some important observations. As someone similarly shaped t, I really appreciate it!
I ripped mine 3 times as well. 3 years ago. It went to donations because I blew the center back, have no idea how, and I’m a lace knitter! I prefer the Love Note.
The love note is on my list to try soon!!
Good commentary, and food for thought.
I followed Subdragon's tutorials and found them very helpful. I kn it two versions using Coboo and love them.
Sundragon's tutorials were so incredibly helpful! I'd definitely point anyone needing help in their direction.
Yes! Her tutorials are great!!
I like how your sweater turned out. The color is beautiful too. I just ordered the yarn to make this sweater. Thanks for sharing your yarn. With so much going on I wanted to use a tried and true yarn.
Thanks for your thoughts. I have knit one and am not sure how I feel about it. I prefer the yoke fit of the Love Note as well. I am going to knit it again but with mods for sure.
Thanks so much Emily. I am hoping to knit this for my daughter who is size 8 Australian which is tiny. Listening to your modifications has really helped. I will also check out your Ravelry project page. I am worried that the yoke will be too deep for her but will persevere with changing the maths as you suggest. One keen new subscriber who loves your patient and easy to follow explanations xx
Funny to hear your recollections tonite, I am just restarting a R. I ripped back a year ago, it was so big, its been in a bag and now I want to see if I can salvage it , the yarn is lovely and its going to be winter soon...I share a lot of your opinions. I followed all of SunDragon's videos, they were great, she only shares technique, not info direct from pattern, and she often stated that folks need to purchase the pattern ..it made the yoke more fun to knit watching someone execute the stitch, it was all new to me. Thanks for interesting discussion.
Thank you for your advise.
I wish you did this video a few months ago 😅… I knitted this pattern and made numerous adjustments. I knitted it for someone. I basically made it in to a blouse and instead of doing the I-cord I just did a ribbing and it turned out just fine. I will be knitting another one for me this time around and plan using larger size needles and making a 3/4 sleeves. I think the pattern is pretty easy to follow considering the number of pages; it was well written… Thanks for sharing! Your video has been very informative ❤
Thank you. Your video really was helpful.
Im so glad you found it helpful! 💗
I found this helpful, thanks. I'm really intrigued by the pattern but a little overwhelmed as to where to start with so many yarn options and possible variations in sleeve lengths and finishings etc. Might try a short sleeve in some alpaca silk that's been waiting sitting around for ages.
@@wronggeometry that sounds like a really fun combination! The amount of different ways to work this up is definitely a little overwhelming, but I've been fascinated by how unique every single one comes out!
Thanks so much. Thought I was the only person having issues with it
I really like the color of your sweater. Thanks for your honest review. 🧶
Thank you! I've been very drawn to greens lately 😁
Thank you so much, you are a gem!
😊
I am just finishing this sweater. It is my second sweater ever. I appreciate your insight. Perhaps because I am a fly by the seat of my pants knitter and in even larger part because I knit it in two strands of mohair, I too have found it very quick and easy to make modifications as needed, plus because of the mohair it hides a multitude of sins. lol. I like the look of yours as a more substantial sweater and will make one in that weight next time. thanks.
I've been curious about knitting this in a lighter weight yarn myself!
I made mine with elbow-length sleeves, and the diagonal sleeve detail curves around my elbows and it sits really nicely.
I think I might do that next time. I didn't realize this one would end up getting such daily wear!
Good video. Makes me not so scared to undo all my work. I'm using a dk weight with 6 mm (10 for you guys). I did the small neck first and it was tiny so did the large. It still fits snug around my neck. More like a crew neck. I must have counted those stitches 4 times. I'm now at the sleeves, and they don't look like they have alot of ease. At least not according to the pattern. Looks like I may be knitting this for my 98 lb daughter.
well, I did not find any problems with the pattern, on the contrary: I found it extremely clear and straightforward...
I do wonder if it is your vs Japanese knitting pattern standards - what kind of a pattern is perfect in your opinion?
I think the perfect kind of pattern is the one where the knitter finds the directions easy to understand and follow, but that is going to vary from person to person. I do not have any experience with other Knit Cafe Midori patterns so I have nothing to compare this one to. I didn't particularly find anything about the pattern difficult, but I had difficulty where length measurements were concerned. But I think a big thing that throws some things off with that is the option of using practically any yarn weight without changing the pattern 🤷♀️ I could be wrong though. Any other patterns you'd recommend?
Ok, then I misunderstood your comments. I thought you were complaining about clarity due to English translation etc. Imho, this particular pattern cover image clearly shows a shorty and boxy whimsical shirt on a skinny skinny body - and unless this is right up your alley, you should be able and willing to do some easy adjustment, or just choose some other pattern.
Very helpful thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
The cast ons are to keep the neckline really loose. The neck sits better if you leave out the front short rows. The wool you wanted was Aran weight. I'm just starting my second, feeling excited,
I've been feeling the itch to try this all again and I like the suggestions you've made. I think I may try these as well, but modify the neckline to be a somewhere relaxed/loosed and fitting.
I want to make it. I'm an experienced knitter but it seems like a lot of stuff around
I have debated on this one because it is so oversized and didn't look like modification to make it more fitted would work. I ended up doing the Ilha by Tete Beche and I love it, also the love note is lovely and a quick knit
I've had so many people suggest the love note! I'll have to check both of those patterns out ☺️
I plan on making my first, tried a gauge swatch….already struggling 😄 I mainly like the look of SOME samples. Now starting to realize a lot of people have used their own gauge which is less helpful to me. Did you ever get gauge? Also how much yardage did you use for what size? The low yardage also drew me in, but now realizing it may not be accurate 😕
The first time around I technically got gauge with US10/6mm and the fabric was much denser than my finished object. In the end I settled on us11/8mm and was barely over gauge but the fabric was more breathable so I stuck with that and stopped to the first size. Used most of 5 skeins of patons classic wool worsted( 100g/194yards per skein) so somewhere just under 970yards for me.
Stockholm Syndrome!! 🤣. Would be interested to see how you do your modified stretchy bind off.
Way to persevere.
Why so negative? It’s a beautifully clear pattern with no confusions about number of repeats etc. Every pattern I have ever knitted needs adjusting for your own length of sleeves/body so that’s hardly a reason to grumble. There are 2 neckline options for you to choose from and any knitter with some experience will automatically adapt cuffs from an i cord bind off to a rib etc or add/shorten the length of rib. For the neck, I just use a long tail cast on, making sure it’s not too tight, and I’ve never had any problems with that. It is clearly shown as an oversized jumper so it seems weird to complain about that feature. Also, when talking about needles it would help considerably to mention sizes in mm not just us sizes. Try it in a fingering weight with mohair… I think it looks great 😊
Not meant to be negative, and when flipping through the hashtag on IG or project pages on ravelry (which is where many may learn about this pattern) a great deal of the finished objects are not shown as oversized at all. True, adjustments are typically made for everyone's own measurements when knitting a garment, but I think with this one measurements are just easily thrown off and that greatly affects the yardage of yarn required. Yes any knitter with experience can handle these things, but wouldn't you have liked a heads up on how to trouble shoot some of these things if you were just starting out? It can also just get a little finicky when a pattern suggests using such a wide variety of weights but is only written up with one set of directions. The pattern itself is pretty clear, yet so many people still stumble over it. Not trying to grumble, just trying to help those who may be having trouble and not quite knowing why. This has personally turned into one of my absolute favorite sweaters and I absolutely plan on making it again in a lighter weight yarn, but I'm also glad that I now have a reference for how this pattern fits my own body. I'm glad you enjoy this pattern so much, it really is a nice one. :)
I didn't interpret this video as negative at all. I'd consider myself an advanced beginner/heading to intermediate knitter and fou d a lot of the info in this video helpful.
My neck is to tight. I call it my rediculas. Thanks
Bear with me.
I will never knit that pattern, they are better patterns that. 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
Wow 😂😂😂