Alright, so I finally tackled that rugby sweater project I’ve been eyeing forever. Wanted something classic, tough, you know? Like the old-school ones. Started simple: I hit up my local craft store.
The Hunt Begins
Wandered the yarn aisles for ages. Needed something bulky but sturdy. Found this chunky acrylic wool blend in deep green and white stripes – classic rugby colors. Grabbed size 10 needles too, felt hefty enough.
Casting On Disaster
Okay, thought I remembered the gauge. Nope. Measured wrong. Cast on 40 stitches thinking “yep, chest size”. Knitted a whole 4 inches of the ribbed hem. Held it up… looked like a tube top for a toddler. Brutal. Had to rip the whole darn thing out. Felt like crying.
Round Two – Sizing Up
Learned my lesson. Actually swatched this time. Did a 6×6 inch test patch. Counted the stitches properly. For my size, needed 60 stitches to start for the bottom rib. Used a k2, p2 rib for about 2 inches. Looked way better, nice and stretchy.
The Body Grind
Switched to stockinette stitch for the main body. Just knit every row, easy peasy. Except it wasn’t. Keeping those stripes even? Total nightmare. Changed colors every 8 rows. Every time I switched, the yarn ends got tangled like spaghetti. Took forever weaving them in neatly later. The body felt like it took years of my life. Click click, row after row after row.
Sleeves – The Devil’s Spawn
Hate. Seamless sleeves? More like endless torture. Picked up stitches around the armhole – way too many first try, puckered like crazy. Had to drop half of them. Knitting in the round on double-pointed needles? Felt like wrestling an octopus. Dropped stitches constantly. Had to restart the first sleeve twice. Second sleeve went a bit smoother, but this bit sucks. Tapered them down slowly, decreasing stitches every few inches.
Neckline Nearly Broke Me
For the neck, did a simple crew neck. Picked up stitches all around. Knitted a few rows of ribbing in the round. Should be simple, right? Nope. Pulled it way too tight the first time. Looked like a turtleneck strangling me. Ripped back, picked up more stitches this time. Knitted a wider rib – k2, p2 again – for about 1.5 inches. Folded it over and slip stitched it down inside for a cleaner finish. Finally.
Grafting the Underarms
Only part left was closing the tiny gaps under the arms where the sleeves meet the body. Used the kitchener stitch. Watched like three different videos trying to remember how it goes. Stabbed the yarn needle in wrong directions a bunch of times. Got it eventually, even if it’s not totally invisible.
Wearing the Beast
First try-on? Heavy. I mean, it’s warm. Ridiculously warm. Definitely not a spring sweater. Sleeves are maybe a tad long, could’ve decreased faster. But overall? Feels solid. Like you could wrestle a bear in it. Weird sense of accomplishment wearing something you literally built stitch by painful stitch. Would I do another one? Ask me again next winter. My hands need a break!
