cathyjc
Thru Hiker
I love my MacPac Nitro in Alpha and the lace-like structure reminded me of a couple of mohair jumpers I made many years ago but still wear. They are lightweight but not as light as the Nitro.
I wondered if I could knit a sweater in a lighter weight yarn and get a similar result but really light. The lightest weight yarn is "lace" and at this thinness the mohair is mixed with silk to retain strength along with the fluffiness.
I also knitted some sleeping bag socks. I'm hoping I will get nearly as much warmth from them as insulated booties and at considerable weight reduction (-yet to be tested).
Here are the results -
The sweater (with no hood) comes in at 90g which is giving the Alpha Nitro a run for it's money (110g with hood) and it's probably warmer with a wind proof than the Nitro.
More like a thin layer of down but you don't need any fabric layer to contain the insulation.
No idea on durability yet.
Close up pen for scale.
A pair of sleep socks in the kid mohair is 22g - lot less than insulated booties. knit on 3.5mm.
And "fluffyness"
Sorry about the poor focus - best this camera would do.
Construction details -
The yarn was Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe.
"Stripe" is now discontinued but they still do the plain Rowan Kidsilk Haze or you could mix up colours however you want.
There are other manufacturers of kidsilk lace yarn.
Needles 5mm for the main body, 3.5mm for the neck and 4mm for the hem and cuffs.
Pattern was taken from Ravelry - "in-the-round" and "top down". I think "bottom-up" would be easier.
Gauge was ~ 18/19 stitches to 10cms.
NB. the yarn is very slippery on relatively big needles - wooden needles might be better to prevent dropped stitches.
The pattern I used was for a woman - you might need a mens pattern - there are many many on Ravelry.
PS. and many hours sat in front of the TV knitting.......
I wondered if I could knit a sweater in a lighter weight yarn and get a similar result but really light. The lightest weight yarn is "lace" and at this thinness the mohair is mixed with silk to retain strength along with the fluffiness.
I also knitted some sleeping bag socks. I'm hoping I will get nearly as much warmth from them as insulated booties and at considerable weight reduction (-yet to be tested).
Here are the results -
The sweater (with no hood) comes in at 90g which is giving the Alpha Nitro a run for it's money (110g with hood) and it's probably warmer with a wind proof than the Nitro.
More like a thin layer of down but you don't need any fabric layer to contain the insulation.
No idea on durability yet.
Close up pen for scale.
A pair of sleep socks in the kid mohair is 22g - lot less than insulated booties. knit on 3.5mm.
And "fluffyness"
Sorry about the poor focus - best this camera would do.
Construction details -
The yarn was Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe.
"Stripe" is now discontinued but they still do the plain Rowan Kidsilk Haze or you could mix up colours however you want.
There are other manufacturers of kidsilk lace yarn.
Needles 5mm for the main body, 3.5mm for the neck and 4mm for the hem and cuffs.
Pattern was taken from Ravelry - "in-the-round" and "top down". I think "bottom-up" would be easier.
Gauge was ~ 18/19 stitches to 10cms.
NB. the yarn is very slippery on relatively big needles - wooden needles might be better to prevent dropped stitches.
The pattern I used was for a woman - you might need a mens pattern - there are many many on Ravelry.
PS. and many hours sat in front of the TV knitting.......
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Also the stuff I found wasn't fluffy like the kidsilk mohair.
