Smocket

I like a garment with useful pockets. I’ve created several sweaters with pockets over the years: set into the side seams (Northmavine); horizontally inset (Warriston) or even, back in the 2009 mists of time, a patch pocket shaped like a cloud.

I have a sort of Ur pocketed-sweater though, and that is Kaari – an all-stockinette pattern for Berocco by Norah Gaughan, which I knitted for myself in 2008. I wore Kaari throughout a summer which Tom and I spent walking and camping here in Argyll, where a cosy outdoor garment is required at all times of the year. Because my Kaari was knitted in cashmerino, and pilled terribly, it sadly didn’t last much longer than that summer, but I often think of this sweater fondly in the context of months spent happily and comfortably outdoors.Today’s design is a sweater intended precisely for that purpose and is a definite Kaari homage with its roomy, simple smock shape, and vertically-knitted pocket band. It also features another nod to Norah Gaughan in the interesting woven motif I’ve chosen, of which you’ll find a slightly different version in the Twisted Stitch Sourcebook.

Today’s Making Light design is, then, a smock, with a pocket: in other words a Smocket!

A smocket is a great accompaniment to any outdoor adventure!

Out for a walk?

Bird or wildlife watching?

With handy pockets for gloves and lenses, your Smocket is ideal!

Feeling peckish? Fear not!

For your Smocket will provide!

And when your hands are chilly, your Smocket will really come into its own.

This is a sweater with its roots in simple, functional workwear, a sweater to just throw on and get outside.

But it’s also a garment that’s fun and intuitive to knit, with many nifty details.

I worked on developing the Smocket pattern with Claire – who many of you will know from our Ravelry group. Claire’s help is often invaluable when I’m trying to hone instructions for maximum knitterly-ness and clarity.

Claire and I worked hard on the instructions for creating – and joining – the Smocket pocket. In the pattern, this step may look detailed, but it is also (trust me) really straightforward . . .

Just take your time, and you’ll create a super-satisfying Smocket pocket!

If the first aim of this sweater is utility, its second is comfort.

The fit is easy, and intentionally oversized. Kate C is wearing her Smocket here with around 20 inches of positive ease in the first size.

This is by no means a shapeless garment, though: short rows form gentle slopes along the shoulders, the back neck is worked differently to the front (for a good fit), and the scyes are shaped for ease where the underarm meets the sleeve.

12-20 inches of ease works just fine for this style of sweater, which looks great, I think, on every body. If you look at the 339 beautiful finished sweaters on Ravelry that are knitted from my Smookie pattern (which I designed with similar proportions) you’ll get some sense of this.

The accessory that accompanies this sweater features (like all the others in the Making Light collection) the same motif, used a little differently. Can you guess what it will be?

I’ll be back tomorrow to show you that. Meanwhile, enjoy your Friday!