Completed at last: Mushroom Season top down jumper

I started this child's jumper, size aged 3 to 4 years, I think in May or June last year. The pattern is called Mushroom Season hence my title. 

It's a free Drops yarn pattern and I used the recommended 100%wool Karisma yarn though my red is a brighter shade than the pattern due to them having sold out of the correct red. It works. Since small person it's intended for is currently in a 2 to 3 years I do not actually know if this is the right size though my tension is correct and it measures as the pattern says it should.

It actually doesn't really matter because small person will grow into it either way so it will fit at some point. In the end it comes down to dimensions. Hopefully the sleeve length and body length work together. I do not yet know!

This was a real challenge for me because its my first top down jumper ever. I really like there us absolutely no sewing up just the yarn ends to darn in. Even the fold over neck is knitted into place. Amazing!

The back is slightly raised up which I like but my short rows are not good if you look closely.

front is OK because it doesn't have any short rows.

I have just started to knit a Clanger toy and it has a wrap and turn technique which seems to give good results with short rows but I didn't know about out it when I began this.

I stuck exactly to the pattern except for the wrist and hem ribbing which I added stripes to. Not quote Norwegian exactly but often these sweaters do have some fairisle at the hem and being relatively inexperienced with knitting in the round and Norwegian style knits I didn't feel confident enough to add a fairisle hem so stripes will have to do. They should also mean mud loving child might actually get to wear this a couple of times without constant washing and since it's wool that will be best I think.

There are less stripes on wrists than the hem but I decided that didn't matter.

I haven't yet blocked this. I literally finished it this morning.

I realise while knitting this that it would work ( in child's sizing) in adult form in mohair because the stitch count is right. This is a double knit yarn. Mohair is closer to chunky. Or the mohair I have stashed is. It will take some working out if I do that though. Not too sure as yet but the adult version of this which is available free and identical to the child patter, would probably be quite heavy in this yarn and I think I might struggle to knit that. It was quite heavy just for that second sleeve. I do like the design though so am considering attempting a mohair version for me. Top down is new for me but I really like it. My next couple of jumpers are already planned though and waiting so tip down is going to have to wait for a bit while I knit conventionally for them.

Thanks for visiting. Do you like my version of this jumper and have you ever tried top down knitting?

Take care and hopefully see you soon,

Bracken