I am finishing all of my winter knitting projects just in the nick of time for them all to be packed away. Woot! This is pretty typical for me. I think I really should plan my wardrobe far more efficiently and be more seasonally aware and prepared!
I was struck by something Roobeedoo wrote recently; that since a knitting project takes so much longer than a sewing project and, as well, lasts for so much longer in your wardrobe, the sensible self-tailored individual plans future sewing projects around a current knitting project; not concurrently. So sensible! An edict; the singular wisdom of which I had not appreciated before then…
Thy knitting projects are the key to planning thy wardrobe, y’all!
I bought this lovely wool during my afternoon out in Paris with Donna of Nid de Tissus, so it brings back happy memories to me of our fun chatty lunch and fabric/wool shopping excursion together. A wearable souvenir! It is from Renaissance Dyeing; 4-ply poll dorset wool hand-dyed with natural plant dyes in France, colour Canigou. Terrified of not getting enough I bought four skeins so obviously Murphy’s Law decreed that I had overestimated how much I would need… doh! I can never get that bit right! The cardigan used just over two skeins, so at some point I am going to order some more and make something else using my almost two whole leftover skeins. I do already have ideas, hehehe 🙂 The full range can be viewed and ordered here.
The pattern is Audrey in Unst, designed by Gudrun Johnston; available here. I’ve long admired Roobeedoo’s leaf green version that she has worn during me-made May and had decided that at some point I would have to make my own. The shape is nearly identical to my recently finished Miette! but the chunkiness is the difference between the two. The Miette is in a thick aran weight yarn, whilst the Audrey in Unst is in a light, fingering weight yarn. So this is a light little cardigan with much finer stitching tension, and subsequently took a lot longer to knit! I started this at the beginning of the year (blush) and only just bought the shell buttons and stitched them on a few days ago.
The neckline is finished off with an i-cord stitch. This is the first time I have tried this technique and I think it’s quite a nice, neat and tidy finish and a refreshing change from the usual rib.
The cardigan is knitted bottom up, and is, like the Miette, designed to be knitted in one piece with no stitching pieces together. WIN! Well, you are supposed to stitch the shoulder seams together but I elected to graft the stitches together, like I do with the toes of my socks. This gives a very nice seam; neat and flat and quite unobtrusive. I can do a step-by-step if anyone hasn’t heard of and is interested in this technique?
The pattern has a built-in faux side seam, which is an interesting feature. Essentially it is just a purl stitch every knit row, and vice versa. The shaping is discreetly alongside the faux side seam.
The sleeves are knitted by picking up the stitches and knitting short rows with wrapping and turning to form the sleeve cap. LOVE this feature and I think it makes for a really nice attractive finish; far smoother and sits flatter than a stitched in sleeve would be.
Are there any negatives? Well you get started; and 36 long long rows of ribbing later, all that blasted purling through the back of the loop had just about killed me. Seriously HATED this bit. And I’m curious, does purling/knitting through the back of the loop really make a significant difference to the rib? and if it does then is it really an improvement on the regular sort? That’s not a rhetorical question btw, I would like to know.
Details:
Cardigan; Audrey-in-Unst in Renaissance Dyeing; 4-ply poll dorset, colour Canigou
Skirt; Vogue 1170 lined, blue corduroy later dyed brown, details here and my review of this pattern here
Tshirt (under); self-drafted, white cotton jersey, details here
Sandals; c/o Misano
Yes, the twisted rib is more elastic than the plain rib.
Did you know that twisted rib is really easy to do if you knit combination style?
http://modeknit.com/tag/combination-knitting/
For a twisted rib, just purl the eastern way and knit the western way. The stitches will twist automatically.
I didn't know that! thanks badmomgoodmom, I will have to check that out 🙂
I have such knitting-envy. I can never get it together enough to knit more than a very long scarf. It's beautiful; perfectly fitted and neatly done.
You are so multi-talented that I would seriously dislike you if you weren't so fabulous. (jealously is indeed an evil trait!!!). Love this top and you look great in it. Looks great with the skirt too.
Meant to say fabulous AND nice.
Love this cardigan but you have just reminded me to download the miette cardy to start now in UK winter ready for Spring – Good point well made! Jo x
I love your new cardigan. I have just bought a similar colour wool in Lincrafts clearance to make up for next winter. I better start now though because I still haven't finished my project for the winter just gone.
What a pretty little cardigan – great colour and shape for you. I'm starting my winter knitting for winter 2014 already – wouldn't you know it :).
I'm not sure about purling through the back loop (although badmomgoodmom suggests it's more elastic?). However, I have knit several projects with a K1TBL P1 ribbing and it is definitely less stretchy than a normal K1 P1 ribbing. The twisted stitches make the ribbing a bit more defined and pretty looking, but less functional. Essentially, it's an aesthetic choice so if it drives you crazy, don't do it on the next project 🙂
that's interesting that you found it less stretchy… this project is Ktbl P one way, then Ptbl K the other way. So the twist is for every row. Which suggest the rib would be even LESS stretchy!
Twisted rib is more rigid if you think about it it seems logic, if the stitch is twisted it cannot fully stretch. That is a lovely little cardi and I like the neckline finish. Ive never seen a pattern constructed like that, adding on for dolman sleeves yes. But not set in sleeves before. Great job.
thanks Louise 🙂
Awesome!!!!!!!!! Love this cardigan and the story behind it in Paris 🙂 The reflection on sewing projects and knitting, made ​​me think about it …
I love the fineness of the yarn in this pattern – a really good trans-seasonal piece. I assume that you used Kitchener stitch to graft the shoulders? Such a great way to finish them off; in fact the finish on this is really beautiful. I am resisting the urge to download the pattern and make one for myself!
I don't know the name of the graft stitch I use! and I've not heard of Kitchener stitch! That's another thing for me to learn about 🙂
your parisian cardigan is gorgeous..
also, we can switch houses anytime, it's getting wintery here, so you can wear your cardigans, and i get to enjoy the spring 🙂
Urgh, I used to hate twisted rib hoever now I knit combination style so it is less of a faff to do (just have to remember to K the 'normal' way) I love your cardigan the blue colour is beautiful on you.
thanks Rachel-Lou, and yes, I'm not a fan of the twisted rib! I will have to learn how to do it the combination style like you and badmomgoodmom have suggested 🙂
I am learning to knit again and haven't come across twisted rib… there really is a lot to knitting – I may stick to scarves!
Just gorgeous. The colour is stunning.
Love the sweater. Perhaps the variation in the rib stitch gives it a little twist that will help to keep it from stretching out?
Well there seems to be two opposite camps on the twisted rib thingy. One side thinks it is stretchier than normal rib and the other side thinks it is less stretchy. I propose an experiment. For you to do that is, not me:). I've only ever done normal rib so I'm not qualified.
haha! Maybe I will! 😀
That colour is to dye for (sorry) and it's a really cute pattern. Only I look at it and feel myself tugging at the hem. I think low rise trousers have left emotional scars. I follow what you're saying about planning your wardrobe around the highest investment items. You're talking about the time knitting takes, but I've always found the lovely to touch wools are more expensive than I'm prepared to pay. Also, my knitting skills are limited. I'm currently in a knitting group that sends children's/baby clothes to Nigeria and other various charities. The yarns are donations, collected by the local Rotary club. I also have a stash of yarns that I'm trying to use up and I'm starting on my third children's sweater. I quite enjoy these projects as they are relatively quick and I feel I'm learning a lot about knitting. I dream of sewing with knitted fabrics one day…
Lovely Carolyn. As I am finishing my first Miette in blue I am now thinking of new possibilities. Though this may be a bit to advanced for me still…mainly worried about the tension. Thanks for the yarn links!
Another beautifully knit sweater for me to drool over! Beautiful!
The knitting is beautiful and so is the color! And I am almost always a season behind even in sewing. This winter I hope to sew some of the things I never got to last time around.
We are moving towards fall here, if its too late for you you could send it my way. I wouldn't mind.
Its funny how we fiinally get around to wrapping up project at the end of the season. It will be fresh and new when you pull it out of the box for fall, and it is a LOVELY fall color. fabulous work, as always.
It's kind of fun to have something new to pull out the beginning of next season. That is totally worth pulling out too!
It is a good thing knitted pieces usually have a timeless quality so you can wear them forever once you get them made. We usually have long cold spells so I usually get to wear what I've knitted over the winter a few times before I have to put it away. I'm still learning about picking the correct weight of yarn for the right project and getting my gauge swatches right…
love the color (as expected) so very pretty. wish I could knit 🙂
Very pretty work as always. I love the color and the style.
I thought I read somewhere that the twisted rib makes for a tighter fabric, but I could be mis-remembering that. Or maybe just trying to make myself feel better, since I'm knitting bottom-up on a different sweater pattern that features that same technique, and I'm pretty sure I won't finish it till next fall!
Very pretty sweater, too! I like the color a lot.
Twisted rib is not only a bit more elastic but it recovers better and it never looks saggy or too lose like ribbing could sometimes do. I love the look of it but I hate knitting it if it's not in the round. Well, nothing is perfect.
I love your cardigan and next Spring I will need one! ;D
I want to be able to knit something as pretty as your cardigan. I´m watching some videos to learn the basics (So far I found out I knit Engish style instead of Continental, that was a laugh)
Your cardi is lovely and the colour is so beautiful
And the skirt: I also need the winter version of such a pretty number!
Always an inspiration!
I love the colour and style of this cardigan. It's so neat and sweet! Seriously wish I could knit. It looks fine enough to perhaps get some casual evening wear (or are your evenings as warm as your days in the summer? If so also envious of that! 😉
It's a lovely cardigan, every version of this design I've seen has been really pretty! Yours is a pretty colour, that would go with so many other colours in your wardrobe, it's a great choice.
Excellent choice for that yarn!!! Better to have too much than not enough 😉
Twisted rib also looks sleeker and more "professional" than regular rib, IMO. This is BEAUTIFUL.
I don't know that I realized that you sew AND knit! Your cardi looks very pretty!
It's so beautiful and that color is perfect on you. I especially like the i-cord detail – very cool!
I thought your Miette cardigan was fabulous, and then you come out with this! This sweater is even more beautiful! The color is dreamy and your knitting is fantastic. Couldn't be better!
It looks lovely- i love this color:)
Oh, I love your cardigan. It's gorgeous!
Beautiful cardigan. You've been posting such gorgeous knits–it adds so to my Ravelry queue.
Lovely sweater in a gorgeous color!
Another gorgeous cardigan, love the colour and new terms for me to learn. Would love the hear about how you grafted the stitches at the shoulder but will also check out the Kitchener stitch as well.
I found a terrific video tute on the Kitchener stitch. This is the same method I've been using for the toe ends of my socks
http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/kitchener-stitch
This cardigan is really beautiful! I love the details, especially the set-in sleeves, and the color is gorgeous!
It's a beautiful cardigan! Such a lovely colour, and I like the little details like the subtle shaping and faux side seams. 🙂
This is stunning! What a winner!
Pingback: a ladylike skirt - Handmade by Carolyn
Pingback: blue roses * - Handmade by Carolyn
Pingback: pink/navy DKNY dress - Handmade by Carolyn