Ahhhhhh....the downward slope from summer! It's just a slope and we're still on the top of the hill so need to fret just yet! You know the season is nearing the end though when you start to see the commercials for back to school....for some moms the most wonderful time of the year and for the other half the worst time of year. What group am I in? I hate to admit it, but the commercial where the mom is literally swinging on the cart throwing school supplies in with the famous holiday tune "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" blaring in her head....totally me LOL
Its okay, we're only on a slope. Still lots of warm weather ahead and I plan to continue on with a few summer knits that have been on my list. I thought it very appropriate in this situation to make Slope by Shellie Anderson. It's been in my very over stuffed pattern binder since last summer. I'm making it and determined to wear it before this season comes to an end! I find that since our summer here on the rock starts so late that we get lovely weather sometimes right up until October before you feel that first chill in the air when you know fall has hit.
Slope is one of those awesome little versatile tanks that can be worn in fall and even dare I mention the word....winter! If you look at the pattern on Ravelry and scroll through the pattern's pictures, there's a sample where it’s worn over a long sleeve tee. I LOVE that look!!
I'm knitting my Slope tank in Cheval Blanc's Symbiose in Flanelle 058. This is a lovely little yarn made with 57% cotton and 43% merino. It will be comfortable to wear in warm weather but still makes a great transition piece into the cooler months especially when paired with a tee underneath.
It started off with a Twisted German Cast On which made me very happy because I had never tried this cast on before and I LOVE learning new techniques! This will be my new go to for top down socks without a doubt! Here is a video to show how it's done. I always use a long tail cast on and this one is similar, so if you're used to that method you shouldn't have much difficulty with this method.
The Slope tank starts off with short rows so the back scoops down lower than the front. It also provides instructions for a short and long version. The long version would be so nice paired with leggings as the back would keep you covered. I chose the shorter version simply because I fell in love with the cover photo where the model is wearing it with flowy pants. It's such a simple, timeless look.
When doing short rows, wrapping the stitch is easy. It's picking up wraps I find to be the most important part. When wrapping a stitch whether on the knit side or on the purl side, always remember to move your stitch to the right hand needle first. If you're on the knit side you will then move the yarn to the front, place your stitch back to the left hand needle and then return your yarn to the back and turn your work ready for a purl side. If you're on the purl side, place the stitch over to the right hand needle first, move the yarn to the back, return the stitch to the left hand needle and then the yarn to the front, turn your work, ready for a knit side. Just remember that you always move your stitch first and you won't forget a wrap and turn again!
Picking up wraps, however, is very important to how your work will look if not done properly. On the knit side, you can see where the wrapped stitch is; there's a horizontal bar. In the photo I'm one stitch away from the wrap.
Step 1: Knit to the wrapped stitch and then without knitting into it, move it to the right hand needle.
Step 2: Insert the left hand needle into the wrap and place it up on the right hand needle.
Step 3: Push the wrap over the stitch so that it looks like two separate stitches.
Step 4: place the two stitches back to the left hand needle purlwise, without twisting them.
Knit the two stitches together as you normally would and as you can see in right side of the photo, the wrapped stitch is invisible!
Picking up wraps on the knit side of your work is easier than picking them up on the purl side. If you pick up a wrap incorrectly on the purl side of your work it will most definitely be noticeable on the right side of your work. Follow the instructions below and you will have perfect looking short rows.
First off, the wrap is a little more difficult to spot on the purl side. I have the wrapped stitch circled in the photo above. One way to tell that you've reached your wrapped stitch is you will always have a gap between your wrapped stitch and the stitch AFTER the wrap. To play on the cautious side you could always place a marker on the wrapped stitch to ensure you don't go passed it.
Step 1: Slightly turn your work so you can see the wrap from the front. Insert your right hand needle into the wrap from front to back as if you were going to purl it.
Step 2: Place the wrap up on your left hand needle.
Step 3: The two stitches are now up on the left hand needle ready to work.
Step 4: Purl the two stitches together as normal.
If you turn your work and look at the right side, you can't even tell which stitch was wrapped. It's completely invisible!
After the short rows are complete the tank is fairly straight forward. It's a really quick knit and the design is simple and classic. The edges are left raw by slipping the first stitch of every row, so there are very little finishing techniques once the tank is knit besides weaving in the ends and blocking. I can see why this is a popular summer knit and I'm happy that I've finally made some time to add this one to my wardrobe.
Symboise was a nice yarn for the project; however I think that if I make this one again I'll use a yarn that will have even more drape to it. Biscotte's Latte would be an absolute beautiful yarn for this project as well!
Here's my finished Slope and I have to say I'm very pleased with the turnout! Have you made this adorable little tank yet?
