The Answer Lady Innovative Ideas for Machine Knitters Return to Home Page MICROSPUN(tm) MOCK CARDIGAN If you need a new summer top, this is the perfect choice. It LOOKS like a smoothly buttoned cardigan but is actually a pullover so it can't gap. Make a skirt in the color of the optional contrasting stripes on collar and sleeve hems for a stylish summer suit! Designed specifically for mid-gauge machines with ribbers, it can also be knitted on bulkies by using a smaller stitch size, on the Bond with keyplate 2 and on single bed machines by hand-latching the ribbing. 4 sizes range from a finished garment measurement of 32-45" at the bust and 24-27" long. Yarn is the easy-care/easy wear Lion Bran Microspun. Find out more about the yarn by reading the free article on this page. Then use up your left-over yarn by knitting the dishcloths in the free pattern (link below). $4 as an instant download click here for a dishcloth pattern using Lion Brand Microspun yarn CLASSIC TWINSET WITH LOTS OF CHOICES in Microtamm microfiber yarn. Sized to fit 32 bust through 52 bust. Make the shell with short sleeves or sleeveless. Trim the neckline with a mock tie, a floral band or leave it plain. top it all with a classic cardigan and wear it everywhere. Microfiber yarn feels great on the skin, washes like a dream and keeps its shape. The cardigan has front bands that are knitted right along with the front. This design can be made on standard gauge Japanese machines, Passaps and Whites. It can also be made in small and medium sizes on mid-gauge machines. It does require a ribber or a double bed machine. Pattern is 12 pages and includes help with terms for beginning knitters. Sizes through 38 bust require 2 cones of Microtamm to make one top and one cardigan. Larger sizes require 3 cones. This is an e-pattern that will be sent as an instant download $8.00 MAKING THE MOST OF MICRO-FIBER COPYRIGHT 2004 Kathryn Doubrley www.theanswerlady.com you may reproduce this article as long as you leave the copyright and website info attached Micro-fibers are synthetics that mimic the properties of natural fibers. Wool, cotton, linen, silk and ramie are the most commonly used natural fibers. They come from plants or animals. They are enjoyed for their softness, insulating qualities and dye-ability. They also have a lovely “drape”. Most people will find them comfortable against the skin in varying degrees. Synthetics are created from petroleum through chemical processes that make a liquid. The liquid is then forced through a spinnerette (like a fancy shower head) to extrude it into fibers. The most common are acrylic and polyester. They don’t breath or insulate as well as natural fibers. They take dye poorly in home processes but hold color extremely well through industrial dye techniques. The advantages are strength, durability, easy care and price. Some people find these fibers slightly irritating to the skin because until now they have always been coarser than natural fibers and any little hairs that stick out microscopically can abrade. It has long been the goal of fiber producers to create synthetic fibers as fine (small) as natural fibers. The theory was that if this could be achieved, the “micro-fibers” would offer the strength, ease and consistency of synthetics combined with the comfort and elegance of the natural group. Literally hundreds of years were spent pursuing this goal and at last it is attainable. Modern micro-fibers are even smaller than silk and cashmere, the finest naturals. Presently Lion Brand Micro-spun and Tamm Micro-tamm yarns are available to knitters and what a joy they are! Both purport to be sport weight but the Lion Brand product, which comes in skeins, seems to be a little heavier than the Tamm which comes on cones. Microtamm will knit on most machines as single strands and should work doubled on bulkies at larger stitch sizes. Microspun works best on mid-gauge machines at medium to large stitch sizes and on bulkies at small to medium sizes. The following tips will help you handle these wonderful yarns with confidence: On standard gauge machines, weights are helpful to help the rather thick yarn (for standards) knit complete stitches Be careful not to snag the yarn with your combs and tools--it is easy to do Use steam but with care. Like all synthetics, you can really “kill” micro-fibers On standard machines, using Microtamm try a stitch size of 7-9, mid-gauge machines try 5-6, bulkies 2-3 (larger if doubled), Bond keyplate 2, or doubled yarn with keyplate 4 Micro-spun (Lion Brand) is better suited to mid-gauge and bulky machines These very soft fibers hang close to the body so you don’t need a tight fit to get a form-fitting look The colorfastness is superior. You CAN knit red trim on a white suit!