
Tortola Video Sweater Class!
It’s time for a new video sweater class!! I am so excited to start another KAL on my Ravelry group. There will be tons of teaching and fun, prizes and a great garment! Think of it like a sweater class for the price of a pattern! There will be HOURS of video tutorials to help you every step of the way.
Welcome to Tortola Video Sweater Class!
What is Tortola?

Tortola KAL – Cap Sleeve Version
Tortola is an easy fitting top with plenty of ease that floats away from the hips.
It features a reverse shirt tail in the front, that covers the belly, and make your legs look longer, and a shirt tail hem in the back. It has a simple lace panel in front and back that increases up to your shoulders and ends with an i-cord bind-off!
The pattern comes in two versions, a tank top (pictured below) with an i-cord edging, or a cap sleeve version (pictured to the right) made with a top down, short row sleeve.
It will also come with pattern modification notes to be able to make ANY sleeve length!

Tortola Top – Tank Top
FAQ: What is a KAL?
KAL stands for Knit-along! It’s a great way to work through a garment with the support of the designer (me), but more importantly, hundreds of other knitters.
The heart of the KAL is our Ravelry group. There we will have updates, discussions, sharing of pictures, and knitting tips.
How do I register and order supplies?
Simply by purchasing the KAL pattern!
From my Ravelry page
You can purchase all your KAL supplies
Through WEBS:
Lana Grossa Alta Mode Cotolana
Our friends at WEBS have a wonderful return policy, so be sure to add a couple of balls to your order so you have enough for swatching, or pattern modifications (like if you decide you want to work the longer sleeves).
What skills will I learn?
The top is chocked FULL of techniques. There will be video tutorials on all specialty skills along with sweater basics.
New skills learned:
– Lateral braid
– Short row shirt tail hem & reverse shirt tail hem
– Working lace from a chart
– Better matching YO
– New way to make a CDD
– One move, perfect SSK
– i-cord bind off
– (for cap sleeve) Top down short row sleeve cap
– Sloped bind-off
– Shaping in Lace
There will also be videos that cover all your sweater basics like gauge, blocking, picking up stitches, seaming and more.
Where are the videos?
With every section of the pattern released to your Ravelry library, you will see red links in the pdf to video tutorials to help you every step of the way. The links will be right there in the pattern!
Your initial downloaded PDF will contain the pattern introduction with gauge, schematic, size information, yarn requirements and needle and notion information. It will also include a video on gauge swatching and alternative purling methods!

Tortola Top – lace detail
The yarn I picked out is perfect for a lightweight drapey fabric that still has enough structure to float away from the body. It’s a unique chainette construction, so I would highly recommend using one of the two yarn choices below.
Lana Grossa Alta Moda Cotolana(45% Virgin Merino Wool/ 45% Pima Cotton/ 10% Polyamide • Ball Weight: 50g • Yardage: 164 yds)
Lana Grossa 365 Cotone (88% Cotton / 12% Polyamide • Ball Weight: 50g • Yardage: 153 yds)

Tortola Top – Reverse Shirt Tail
Ravelry Group
- Join the Ravelry group to work with other knitters.
SIZE
Finished Measurements (for all sizes)
Chest: 33 (35, 39 ½, 43, 46, 50, 54)“ / 42 (44, 50, 55, 58, 64, 69)cm
Front Length: 23 (23 ¼, 23 ¾, 24 ¼, 24 ¾, 25 ¼, 25 ½)” / 58 (59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65)cm from lowest edge of short row hem.
Shown in size 33″/42cm
MATERIALS
Materials
Lana Grossa Alta Moda Cotolana (DK weight; 45% Virgin Merino Wool, 45% Pima Cotton, 10% Polyamide; 164 yd/50g per ball): Tank Version: 6 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) balls; Cap Sleeve Version 7 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11), not photographed
Size 6 (4.0mm) 24” circular needle or needle to achieve gauge.
Size 6 (4.0mm) 16” circular needle.
Or
Lana Grossa 365 Cotone (DK weight; 88 % Cotton, 12 % Polyamide; 153 yd/50g per ball)
Tank Version: 6 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) balls; Cap Sleeve Version 7 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11), color 008
Size 5 (3.75mm) 24” circular needle or needle to achieve gauge.
Size 5 (3.75mm) 16” circular needle
2 stitch markers (A – lace marker)
2 different color markers (B – shaping & short row)
DISCONTINUED YARN (photographed):
Lana Grossa 365 Cashmere (DK weight; 77% Cotton, 15% Cashmere, 8% Polyamide; 191 yd/50g per ball): Tank Version: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) balls; Cap Sleeve Version 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9), color 016
Size 6 (4.0mm) 24” circular needle or needle to achieve gauge.
Size 6 (4.0mm) 16” circular needle.
2 stitch markers (A – lace marker)
2 different color markers (B – shaping & short row)

Tortola Top – tanks

Tortola Top – cap sleeve
Hi-
Techniques- I cord bind off, lateral braid, working from a lace chart are new to me. Want to find out if the videos cover the many new aspects of this lovely sweater pattern?
Best
There are 24 video tutorials (over 2 1/1 hrs of video content), that’s why it’s called a sweater class. There are three videos just on swatching. The videos cover everything about the sweater from gauge swatch to finishing.
Just confirming – by purchasing the pattern through Fiber Wild am I registered for the KAL?
You will be all set, once you join the Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-patty-lyons-fan-club
Read the first post in the “Getting Started” thread and follow instructions to set up your project page.
Have spent time searching fibers. I like the feel of merino and silk. Would you be able to recommend a yarn in this combo for Tortola? This will be my first KAL.
Regards, Gail
PS taken your Craftsy and Stitches East classes. Thanks!!
It’s not so much the fibers as the construction. For this top I would highly recommend you using one of the two yarns I suggest. They are both a chainette construction. Fiber Wild is giving the KAL members 15% off.
I just came across this KAL hiding on my computer and would still like to do it. If I purchase the pattern, does it give me the class with videos or just the pattern? A lot of the techniques are new to me so would need videos. I realize I no longer qualify for the discount,but do I still purchase the KAL thru Ravelry? Thank you for your time
Jacki
Yes, you can still purchase the full sweater class on Ravelry. Just use this link – http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tortola-kal
It will have all 3 hours of videos, sweater modifications and knitting how tos.
Make sure to join my Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-patty-lyons-fan-club
and have access to all the message boards here: http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-patty-lyons-fan-club/3633906/1-25#3