The Perfect Red
Last April, we were visiting Japan and I felt the need to buy Noro in the “mother country”. The selection of Noro Cash Iroha at Okadaya near Shinjuku station was surprisingly limited — a lot of black and a bit of red. So, I bought the red.
This red was a warmish, rusty red that just wouldn’t wear well on me, so after I finished the sweater, I overdyed the whole thing. I wanted to shift the colour from warm to cool without darkening or muddying the existing colour. Solution? Overdye with just over 1% WashFast Magenta.
Since the yarn has a bit of silk content, I had to soak the sweater at least overnight… I was busy most evenings, so I ended up soaking it for three nights. Then the dyeing happened on Thursday evening with 4 g of dye powder (the sweater weighed 360 g, so this is just over 1% DOS), 36 g of citric acid (to make the dye strike) and 36 g of glaubers salt (to promote even dyeing). I agitated pretty much continuously for the first few minutes and then I’d come back and agitate the sweater lightly during each commercial break of The O.C. The sweater cooked for about an hour in total and I let the whole thing cool down overnight.
Hourglass Sweater
- Pattern: From Joelle Hoverson’s “Last Minute Knitted Gifts”
- Size: I knit the smallest size (33″) but the sweater stretched on its own to about 36″
- Yarn: Noro Cash Iroha, 9 skeins (the ball in the photo is what I have left of the 9th skein)
- Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm Addi Turbos
- Mods: I shortened the sleeves by about an inch (they were 17.5″ before joining to the body). Oh, and lazy me didn’t kitchener the sleeves and body under the arm. I did — of course — a three-needle bind off.
- Notes: Well, I think everyone who has made this sweater with Cash Iroha has made the same comments before — if in doubt, make a smaller size since the yarn will stretch out. Also, the neckline is very “Flashdance”. I had to string some additional yarn through the neckline in a lame attempt to maintain the neck shaping.
A couple months ago in Seattle, I came upon Cash Iroha in the exact same dyelot as I bought in Japan, so I purchased 2 additional skeins (for a total of 11 skeins) but ended up not needing them at all. I’ll probably use the remainder of the yarn for a little scarf or maybe a hat… and then overdye that too.
This sweater is super easy to make and so so so comfortable to wear. I think I might even make another one… with more mods of course.
Tags: Hourglass Sweater, overdye
It is still very nice.. I like the color and would likely knit one - how do you find Cash Iroha against skin ???
Gorgeous and it looks totally fabulous on you!
the sweater is beautiful. I actually like the fit; it looks so comfy.
Very pretty - I love the color. Hourglass is my next project - what additional mods would you make?
Absolutely gorgeous! The color suits you very well, and I really like the fit!
oh it’s a gorgeous shade for your skin. i like the blue overtones in the new shade for you — very flattering. you achieved such even results too.
it’s wonderful.
The color is gorgeous and looks perfect on you! And I did the same thing with my Hourglass neck as well–it had just gotten too big! It’s still a wonderful pattern and a lovely sweater.
Awww…you could have left it in the original warm red and then gifted it to me! Oh all right. Honestly, it looks lovely on you in your modified colour, Felicia.
beautiful job! i love how the color turned out.
Oh, the color is just perfect for you! It looks great on you, too.
I wish I’d read about the tendency of Cash Iroha to stretch so much BEFORE I used it to knit my Olympic sweater. ;-(
Wonderful job on the dye! It’s a beautiful color, you look really good in red. Gorgeous sweater!
You are SUCH a dye goddess - I’m constantly in awe!
Beautiful sweater, beautiful yarn, beautiful color (I did one and I will do another I think)!
felicia, you look absolutely gorgeous in the knit. a totally posh knitter/dyer/spinner aura written all over you!
The color is so fabulous on you, like the perfect shade of red lipstick, deep and mysterious and inviting.
How cute are you!!
the color is gorgeous on you, what a perfect overdye! and even with the stretching the sweater fits you beautifully
Felicia I hardly notice the sweater, you’re so pretty. Beautiful photo, beautiful sweater, beautiful color on you - looks absolutely comfy cozy and feminine at the same time which isn’t easy to do!
Your resulting color is perfect on you. It looks great!
Did you modify the hems at all? Looks like yours isn’t flaring, and mine does.
It’s lovely on you and definitely your color.
Ooo, I love your lipstick! Okay, I love the sweater, and the color change, too, but something about that lipstick … ;).
Love the sweater. I’ll have to check to see if it comes in old lady sizes!!! Oh wait…it’s called hourglass?
Bella!
Stunning. And you look fantastic in it.
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.
Oh how breathtaking. Truly. The color looks incredibly rich and lush, and it’s a beautiful photo of you too!
The cooler red looks great. A simple yet lovely sweater.
Perfect (over) dye job. It looks great on you and I kinda like the slouchy neck, although I know it can get annoying.
This is a beautiful sweater!!!! it looks so wonderful on you!
Beautiful color. I love the improvement.
You looks lovely! Oh, and the sweater too! The colour looks from the picture to be a perfect match with your colours. I have hestitated to dye sweaters, even if I have dyed quite a lot of yarn. How much water in proportion to the sweater weight did you have? Looks like you have got a very even result.
It looks lovely and I think the fit is great! Such a beautiful colour too
I think it looks so much more fashionable in that slouchy look. Gorgeous red, too. Brava, Felicia!
The color came out beautiful — and the sweater is immensely flattering on you!
Beautiful! Your neckline looks very much like the one on my Hourglass - it works with a black tank underneath.
Color and style looks great on you!!!
Aren’t you the cutest!? Flashdance, LOL.
Diana on Streets and YOs recently blogged about using beading elastic to snug up sock tops (I’m so impressed with that idea! Wish I’d thought of it!), it may help with your neckline?
I really like what the color morphed into. Slouchy, yes, and very stylish.
I think the dye job came out well! The color and sweater look great :o)
I love the fit too!
Oooh, gorgeous! Looks fantastic on you! I wish I could wear bateau necks, but the straps of the unmentionable always show - and strapless just feels somewhat precarious :o) or constraining, y’know. Silly, huh.
What a combination - impecable color on a gorgeous woman in a fascinating knit! Fabulous!
Really - that color looks so good on you -
the RED! i actually love both shades of red. so you really couldn’t lose either way in my book.
thanks for sharing - classy!
The over-dyeing worked beautifully. It’s so great to be able recognise when something is just a few shades in the wrong direction, and you know there’s an opportunity to make it so much better.
It also fits you well - I have seen several versions of that sweater that look a bit overblown, but it drapes elegantly on you.
Wow… it looks so fabulous on you!
Great color for you. I like the way it fits, too.
nice sweater. i have always wanted to modify this pattern into a man’s version.
that looks stunning on you… and the overdye makes it just your colour.
Enjoy!
Oh man, this is awesome! I love the overdye, it looks perfect.
you make me want a pretty slouchy hourglass sweater now!
Beautiful. You, and the sweater.
Love the red.
Your sweater is fabulous on you and the color is just right! Well done!!
Beautiful sweater…. I just bought my first raw fleece…romney …how did you clean yours???Im not too fond of using my washing machine…your suggestions always help.
You look amazing in that!
OH, what a fabulous dye job and a gorgeous sweater! I’m so inspired to overdye some rusty red yarns that I have in my stash forever…
I’m taking the spinning and dyeing course at coquitlam place des arts (because I read about it on here) and the lady I registered with asked me how I found out about it. I didn’t know if she was “down” with blogs so I said “Er…a website,” and she said “Oh, that’s new.”
I asked for the class as my 19th birthday present which I realize is slightly uncommon. I just got back from my first class and I’m so excited. Thanks for writing about it!
The sweater looks wonderful on you, Felicia. So beautiful - definitely the perfect red
The fit & color is so amazing!
I love the color on you and the model poise. Great job with everything!
This looks like a spread in Vouge! Gorgeous Edna
This looks like a spread in a Magazine! Gorgeous Edna
That is a lovely sweater. I like the way you listed the dyeing ingredients, like it’s some sort of magical potion.
It looks wonderful on you!
Lovely! The color, the slouch, everything. I’m super-impressed with your dyeing abilities…
Even with the flash-dancy neckline, I think this is my favorite hourglass I’ve seen on the blogs. It just looks super comfy and cozy. Nice job!