I started Boxy by Joji Locatelli as my first ever sweater back in September last year. I love the look of it, it's perfect for my wardrobe and I decided the simple construction would be good for a first - it's not fitted, a simple neckband, really basic sleeves and lots of simple knitting in the round. What's that you say? Lots of simple knitting in the round? Wow, was that an understatement!!
What my inexperience didn't alert me to was that this is knit from fingering weight yarn and that the box part of Boxy was a rectangle of gigantic proportions. Yes the pattern included schematics clearly showing a 34" x 21" rectangle, I guess I just didn't think what that meant in terms of the number of stitches. Or knowing me I just jumped into a challenging project head first and worried about my actually ability later. Where's the fun otherwise?
Don't let me lead you into thinking I wish I hadn't started this or didn't enjoy knitting it because I did and I know full well I will go back for more fingering weight sweaters in the future :)
Step 1 took me 6 months, although a lot of that time was spent languishing while I favoured other projects. Step 2 involved purl rows. I've changed from English to continental knitting and purling is giving me a hard time. Generally my continental purl stitches are too loose and erratic, especially in lighter weight yarns so I've been changing hands and going back to English for any purl rows. This sweater is a pretty loose gauge anyway so I made myself stick to purling. There are certainly sections that leave a lot to be desired but I figure it's loose and flowy so hopefully won't be noticed too much.
The yarn is Madeline Tosh Merino Light in Georgia O'Keefe. It has beautiful variegation of greens from a bright green to a bottle green and bits of brown thrown in too. It has a gorgeous depth to it like so many Tosh colours. I didn't alternate my skeins and I should have. When it's laid flat it's really obvious where each skeins is as the middle section has a lot more brown in it. Again, I'll be relying on the loose, flowy aspect to disguise this.
The pattern is written with 3/4 length sleeves but I always get cold in 3/4 so I decided to do mine full length. For me the key to this sweater is that the sleeves have to be fitted. If they're not then it looks like a tent. I only picked up 44 stitches on the sleeve to keep them tight on my arms and did the decreases as per the pattern. I knit the sleeves on the longish side and just did some garter stitch rows on a smaller needle at the end so the curl back like the neckline does.
Blocking was really challenging. It's the first time I've blocked something that needs to be a certain size. With shawls I can take the attitude that it's the size it is and a bit bigger doesn't matter. I was really surprised at how heavy this sweater is too. After soaking it I lay it out on the towel to block and it was massive! I spent about 20 mins trying to massage it all into place and it just wasn't happening. So…into the dryer! No messing about here. After about fish minutes it was much more manageable and I was able to lay it out at the size it should be. There were still some puckered sections so then I resorted to the iron on full steam and miraculously it worked! The puckered sections shrunk back into place. Phew, the whole process took me over an hour.
So, do I love it? I really don't know. I think it's too big? I know it's meant to be big and well…boxy, but it's really big on me. It feels wonderful and is so gorgeous and soft. I can't help but think if I were taller and thinner…I know, I know!
Ravelled here.
So, do I love it? I really don't know. I think it's too big? I know it's meant to be big and well…boxy, but it's really big on me. It feels wonderful and is so gorgeous and soft. I can't help but think if I were taller and thinner…I know, I know!
Ravelled here.





