Ondine - The Inside Loop Issue 2 Summer 2008

Ondine: Sleeves for a Mermaid

By Erssie Major

Ondine, a land bound water nymph, was the source of the Little Mermaid folk tales and is also the inspiration for these fish tailed sleeves used as arm warmers. They are the perfect accessory to slip on with a sleeveless dress or strappy top in our cool British climate without losing the elegance of your summer clothing, as they are designed to accentuate your silhouette. As arms don't come in standard sizes there is an option to customise the sleeves to suit your own arm length.

The yarn, in the aptly named shade Mermaid Mix, creates a gradual colour change from jades to blues and purples complimenting the strong turquoises in the shops this spring and summer. Ondine can also be knitted in 100% silk for the same silhouette and even more drape, although pure silk is not as warm as the wool/soy silk. However, not everybody reading this will be experiencing the sort of weather we are having in the UK at the start of our Great British Summer (i.e. snow in April!).

Photographs: Raid Zero
Model: Jennifer Gwiazdowski

Size
Sizes: XS (S, M, L)
Shown in size small, with extra long sleeves lengthened by 10cm at the optional point in the pattern.

Measurements are given to nearest 0.25 of a centimetre and nearest ¼ inch.

Size

Extra Small (XS)

Small (S)

Medium (M)

Large (L)

To Fit Wrist

14 cm

(5¼ inches)

15.25cm

(6 inches)

17.75cm

(7 inches)

20.5cm

(8 inches)

Sleeve Length

(Wrist to Upper Arm)

38cm

(15 inches)

40.75cm

(16 inches)

43cm

(17 inches)

45.75cm

(18 inches)

Sleeve Length

(Wrist to Upper Arm ex. cuff)

33cm

(13 inches)

35.75cm

(14 inches)

38cm

(15 inches)

40.75cm

(16 inches)

To Fit Upper Arm Circumference

25.5cm

(10 inches)

28cm

(11 inches)

30.5cm

(12 inches)

35.5cm

(14 inches)

Requirements
Yarn: 2(3, 3, 4) balls South West Trading Company Karaoke (50% soysilk/50% wool, 100m/50g) in colour: Mermaid Mix (278)
Needles: either 5mm/US8 circular needle, 80cm long if knitting using Magic Loop, 2 x 5mm/US8 circular needles, 40cm long if knitting with the two circular needle method or 1 set of 5 x 5mm/US8 dpns for knitting in the round, or size needled to obtain correct tension
Optional 6mm/US10 needle for casting off if your method is too tight

Tension
18sts and 24rows = 10 cm/4 inches in stocking stitch using 5mm/US8 needles

Pattern Notes
If you would prefer to knit Ondine: Sleeves for A Mermaid in a completely natural, non-wool fibre, we have also test knitted this design in a 100% silk on 5mm/US8 needles which gives the same silhouette and even more drape, but is not as warm.

These fully fitted sleeves are knitted in stocking stitch in the round in any method you choose, starting from a generously flared cuff. Eight paired decreases along the centre back allow them to fit to the contours of the wrist, elbow and upper arm, at which point the length of the sleeve may be adjusted.

To ensure you are knitting the correct finished size, choose a wrist and upper arm measurement that fits your own arm widthways; the length can always be adjusted. The sleeves when blocked are long and narrow, but when worn will stretch to fit, so expect them to measure slightly smaller than the fitted sizes when flat. This is known as negative ease.

If you don't want a tight sleeve, you can cast on the number of stitches given for the next size, but follow instructions for your actual size lengthwise, as long as you complete the same number of increases (8 pairs in each size) evenly over the entire length.

Abbreviations
Slm - Slip marker

The standard list of Inside Loop abbreviations can be found here.

Instructions
Cuff:
Using chosen needle(s), cast on 60(70, 80, 90)sts. Join in the rnd, taking care not to twist sts, and knit in k4, p6 rib for 3 rnds.
Dec rnd: *k4, p4, p2tog, rpt from * to end of rnd
Next 3 rnds: *k4, p5, rpt from * to end of rnd
Dec rnd: *k4, p3, p2tog, rpt from * to end of rnd
Next 3 rnds: *k4, p4, rpt from * to end of rnd
Dec rnd: *k4, p2, p2tog, rpt from * to end of rnd
Next 3 rnds: *k4, p3, rpt from * to end of rnd
Dec rnd: *k4, p1, p2tog, rpt from * to end of rnd
Next 3 rnds: *k4, p2, rpt from * to end of rnd
Dec rnd: *k4, p2tog, rpt from * to end of rnd
Next 3 rnds: *k4, p1, rpt from * to end of rnd
Dec rnd: *k3, ssk, rpt from * to end of rnd, 24(28, 32, 36)sts rem.

Wrist:
Knit 2(3, 4, 4) rnds in stocking stitch.

Now prepare to make 2 increases at the underside of the arm (where a seam would normally be) and increase on every 11th(12th, 13th, 13th) rnd for a total of 8 times, as follows.

Arm:
Next rnd (inc): k7, m1, pm, k1, pm, m1, k to end of rnd
*Next 10(11, 12, 12) rnds: k around, slipping markers.
Next rnd (inc): k to 1st marker, m1, slm, k1, slm, m1, knit to end of rnd**
Rpt from * to ** 6 times more, total of 40(44, 48, 52)sts

Sleeve length can be adjusted here as follows:
Continue k in rnds until sleeve measures 33(35.75, 38, 40.75)cm/13(14, 15, 16)inches or 5cm/2 inches less than desired length.

Sizes S and L only
Next rnd: inc 4sts evenly around, making a total of 40(48, 48, 56)sts

Upper Cuff:
Work k4, p4 rib for 12 rnds (i.e. 5cm/2inches), turn.
Working rnd in opposite direction, cast off all sts in st st so that purl side shows on rs.
Use a 6mm/US10 or larger needle if your cast off method is too tight.

Finishing
Wash or spray with water to make damp and block to size. Arrange sleeve so that increases run along the middle back like a seam and dry flat. You may find that the wrist looks alarmingly narrow when flat, but the sleeves have negative ease so they stretch sideways and fit tightly.

About the Yarn
The yarn is SWTC Karaoke, an interesting mix of soft wool and soy silk knitted on slightly larger needles giving a wonderful draping quality. We chose the shade Mermaid Mix to create a gradual colour change, but the range has many solid and self-striping shades too.

About the Designer
Erssie Major has enjoyed knitting and crochet on and off since she was four years old and she loves to write knitting and crochet patterns for online magazines, print magazines and books. She lives with her partner and two rescued greyhounds. Her blog, Skeinspotting: A World of Erssie Knits, documents her knitting adventures. Erssie has a long term chronic illness with disabilities and as such is committed to the idea of knitting as therapy.

Contact Erssie