I’m glad the early mornings are becoming lighter, otherwise I (or rather, Tom) wouldn’t have been able to take these speedily snapped shots of my new sweater. Spring is definitely on its way . . .
Did I mention that, undoubted tweeness notwithstanding, I heart this sweater? I love the velvety braf yarn (particularly the semi-solid pale blue colourway I used for the corrugated rib). I love the ridiculous dancing doll figures (a modified version of a chart in the 1950 edition of my trusty Odham’s Encyclopedia of Knitting). I love the icord edging (O the wonder of producing that edge from those three knit stitches!). I love the light feel of the sweater (the yardage of bowmont braf is pretty amazing — even with the doubled-layers of the stranding and corrugated rib, this sweater weighs just 160 grams); I love the colourwork (wot fun it is) and, well, you probably know already that I love anything with a yoke. . .
In fact, the only shortcoming of this sweater (for me at least) is that there are a couple of places where my blue weaves show slightly through the cream fabric on the front. The legs of the dolls are 11 stitches apart — too far to carry the yarn — but if I knit the yoke again, I think I may manage to avoid this by alternating the spots where I place the weaves, rather than stacking them up (silly me). Still, I am really pleased with the general structure of the yoke, and with the effect of the colourwork overall.
The basic design of the yoke is a bit like the owl sweater, in that there are no decreases until 4 inches have been worked. But the back of the neck (which you can see here) is more structured and shaped than the owls, using a gazillion short rows, which I have hopefully calculated correctly. There is also some gentle waist shaping, but no bust darts. I am going to wear this lots this Spring! Now I just have to write up the pattern. . . .
Pattern: Paper Dolls (by me)
Yarn: Bowmont braf 4 ply in natural, indigo, and ‘ocean mist’
Needles: 3mm circ
Ravelled here
Oh, and here’s some obligatory throwing of shapes. . . .
EDIT! Pattern is now available here
KDD & Co 
you are really something. These are lovely. I would like to suggest a little more breathing room where the sleeve meets the body. Wow !!
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*wistful sigh* I am so in awe of your knitting skills. That yoke is absolutely gorgeous, and not annoyingly twee at all (I think because the colors are nice and solid). I would love love love a sweater like that.
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What a super lovely design!! It looks absolutely beautiful! It’s definitely in my queu, but first the Owls!!
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About the stranding of yarns…. when I used to do a lot of “fairisle” on a knitting machine I used to use a crochet hook to chain up a batch of floats on the back of the work and then tie the chain in with main colour , or hitch it to a convenient place in the pattern. I thik I’ll try it on this bee-ootiful sweater.
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I am sold. This sweater is amazing!!!!!
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so beautiful!!! When will have the pattern available??
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Completely charming. It looks fantastic on you.
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Kate just come back from Islay and seen your paper doll sweater. Absolutely love it. Keep up the good work with your designing.
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So cute and adorable! I love Paper dolls!! I would love to make it.
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What a fabulous top….. I love it and my 4 year old daughter loves it too..X
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unbelievably frakkin awesome.
i’m stunned.
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Yeah, it’s true that the weaves are rather visible in some of the photos (is it an angle thing?), but I honestly thought it was a cute design feature before you mentioned it! I haven’t done much with color work in my own knitting, but to this untrained eye, it looks decorative.
Love the sweater, and I’m glad to hear you’re writing up a pattern. I haven’t had time to try your “Owls” yet, but now I WANT THIS ONE TOO!!! :-D
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Unbelievably adorable! The pictures are very fun too! I would love to make this.
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Precioso.I love it. I hope to make this
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Oh man…I love it. I am working on the OWLS right now…but I may have to make this next….
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Ooooooooh, your paperdolls are fanTAStic! I love, love, love them :) They are so very heartable.
Brilliantly good job!
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muy bonita!
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Wow – that sweater is incredible. I am speechless. Now I have to finish owls so I can make it next! I love love love your sweaters. Thank you for the inspiration!
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That’s lovely. Well done. The photos are gorgeous (especially the last 3!)
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The colorway of the dolls fits so well on the sweater!
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I *heart* your dancing dollies too!
Brava!
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Kate, I just love this design! I think this will have to be pattern # 2 of yours that I will make. I love the corrugated rib! So cute and perfect for spring. Looking forward to the pattern and I hope you charge for this one, I want to support your efforts!
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You are cute as can be in this amazingly pretty sweater! Fantastic job!
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your paperdolls are just beautiful, love the color blue … thanks for the inspirations
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Sweet! It looks so good on you!!!
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Such great details and it looks beautiful on you
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Another wonderful sweater! A lovely storybook quality to it. I really love the corrugated rib…
On another note, I love the look of that skirt as well – full but not bulky. (Assuming you made it, if it’s from a pattern I’d love to know which)
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You are so cute and springy! Your outfit showcases the sweater perfectly. :)
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I’m jealous our your adorable sweater and your weather. Truly a wonderful pattern.
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Nice! Nice to see your face too.
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I love it! I have got to get me some of that Bowmont braf – I can hardly believe how light it is. Gorgeous pattern, great pictures.
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lovely and unusual. and beautifully styled. you have the magic touch
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Fabulous!!
When I was little I had a red sleeveless knit vest with a man and a woman on the front, just like your ladies. One of those childhood items of clothing I yearn for in a grown-up size. Can’t wait for your pattern.
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You are probably my favorite sweater designer. This sweater is beautiful! If only I had the courage to actually knit a sweater, lol. 2010 will be my year to try that. And I think your owl sweater will be my first. I do hope you write a pattern for this one as well!
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Cool sweater Kate. The yoke/shortshort sleave combo is really neat.
Back to “dolls” and “sinister” – I think I get what you mean; would the “sinister” aspect be diminished if facial features (eyes+mouth particularly) were not included?
Thanks so much for “needled” : )
maman
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That is one seriously cute sweater.
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whoaaa!!!
I can’t decide which one I like more!
Beautiful work!
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I absolutely love the sweater! It is wonderful.
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I really love this original sweater, that dolls are dancing… (excuse my english, I am french)
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That sweater is absolutly wonderful…. i just adore it! great job.
Did you design it?
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Oh I simply loved the Owls sweater, I am about 10 rows from finishing, and I simply cannot wait for this pattern! This blog is the only one I read and I recommend it to everyone I know.
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That is the most awesome sweater design I have seen in a long time. I would totally make one of those if you offer the pattern up for sale. In fact, my daughter would also love it! Great job!
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What a beautiful jumper!!
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This reminds me of the sweaters my mom made for me when I was little. I love it. So charming!
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A gorgeous, gorgeous jumper, so beautifully modelled.
Mazel tov! Auguri!
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you really are one clever lady. How the hell does one ever get this good at knitting? I’d love to make this for my daughters, so will certainly be buying this when you’ve worked up the pattern, but really is there any hope that I’ll manage it? What would you recommend as a good starter pattern for someone who has never done any colour work beyond stripes for a pair of very basic wrist warmers? A question for ravelry probably, but if you, or any other readers here, do have a suggestion I’d be pleased to know.
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Wow! I love it and cannot wait for the pattern.
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It is a really beautiful sweater, I love it! I actually also like the way the weaves show through the white, because it seems more like a design feature than a mistake!
btw: still LOOOOVE the Owls, am on my 2nd now ;)
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So fun! Very excited for the pattern – I better get sweater knitting as I want to make Owls first!
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Your sweater is so cute and girly I can’t stand it!
:-) It looks like the perfect Spring sweater too. I’ll look forward to the pattern release.
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i don’t think it’s twee at all. the multiples are always witty and craftly and humans in the fabric of a garment is big mojo, i think. i liked the other examples you illustrated in your previous post, and i like this, and the lovely little snowflake figures underneath the army of grrls as well.
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Brilliant brilliant brilliant!
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I cannot say it better than everybody else has already done – it’s a beautiful sweater and I’m in love with it. Perfect for spring…
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Just adorable!
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so amazing… I really love how you have combined the idea of paper dolls with the idea of a yoke. The braf is superbly sexy and I love the details in the design, and the colourwork.
It is superb.
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this is so cute! great job!
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this is cutest sweater I have seen!!! really graphical and at the sime time not a too much drawing, I mean I like it as well fropm far away than closer look! LOVE!
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oh my goodness, i love this so much. beautiful work, and i love the colors! can’t wait to make it!
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Holy mackerel! I love it. I cannot wait for this pattern to come out. Fantastic!
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Oh, that’s beautiful!
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I have also had trouble weaving in over long floats. Actually, my solution has been to not weave at all. I just take a bit of extra time to be sure the float is the right length, even if it is very long.
Of course, I feel that I should revisit this in my own knitting, and find a better way. I’ve been too lazy to learn how to do it right, if there even is a right way. I think your plan to not stack them is a great idea.
Here’s the other thing, if you had not mentioned the weaving issue, I wouldn’t have noticed the peeking spots. But I know that’s not the point.
Lastly: Great sweater!
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Love it! I am also becoming a big fan of colourwork and yokes. Absolutely blooming gorgeous!
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I agree with everyone – the jumper is fabulous! And it’s been warm enough for a short-sleeved top this week; just in time :)
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fantastic!
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This has to be one of the most adorable sweaters ever. love the paperdolls.
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Lovely sweater made by a lovely girl!! I like your braids! And the pictures are so sweet!
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superbe pattern, work!
And the last photo’s are the best :)
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That is so cute!
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I also *heart* your sweater!
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I love it! And 160g!!! Really? That’s insane, it’s almost as light as my laceweight cashmere hoodie!
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Charming.Can’t wait for pattern. Love the colourway.
Well done again.
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So cute! I’ve been planning for a sweater of a similar construction for a while now (short-sleeved, stranded yoke) and I’ve been thinking about ways around the decreasing problem and the back of the neck problem. It’s great to see one similar version out there for me to add to my thinking banks!
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I am never quite sure about the value of adding to a long list of ‘well done’ comments on a blog, but I love this top so much that I just have to say so! Even if i don’t have time to knit it at the moment, I’ll be buying the pattern just so i can get it out and drool from time to time. It is a sad fact (from a knitterly point of view) that my work is much busier in autumn and winter than in summer, but this one looks like it could be made over the summer without my collapsing into a sweaty heap – and there’d still be time to wear it before the really cold weather sets in again.
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Is the throwing of shapes when modelling a new sweater *actually* obligatory? ‘cos at the moment the only shape I can throw involves a grimace and my hand pressed to my lower back. Hopefully the physio will have sorted me out by the time I’ve finished my next sweater!
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This is such a spectacular sweater. Brilliant.
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Great pictures – love the knitwork!
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It’s beautiful!!! I love it!
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Amazing dolls! Funny! Love it!
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what a fun little sweater! you look absolutely adorable.
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Beautiful! I can’t wait for the pattern!
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LOVE the dolls – reminds me very much of the dolls that adorned the Clothkits pinafores I used to wear in the 70s. Clever you!
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love the sweater and the dolls are adorable
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its’ fantacca Kate – I think I like it more than the owls.
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Lovely sweater! I can’t wait for the pattern…
Teresa
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