A couple of years ago, I went down to help Mum clean out her “doing room”, the obvious outcome of such an exercise being that I then took home an embarrassingly huge amount of fabric and yarn supplies to add to my own stash…. we did manage to throw some stuff out! Not much though!!
This is just the wool. All scraps and leftovers …. scary, huh?
There’s no rhyme nor reason to the colours or thicknesses of wool there, it’s just a completely random hodge-lodge of odds and sods and bits and bobs. Hmmm, well you know me…. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!
See, I reasoned there had to be at least ONE cardi in there.. somewhere…! it just had too be found! So I selected a bobbly, chocolate yarn and just cast on…
And I found it! a cardigan, I mean 🙂
I picked out a mostly autumnal colour-palette of warm golden mustards, greens and browns though there is a pretty solid presence of randomly thrown in purples, greys, orange, chartreuse, raspberry and pink too. Some of the yarns are tapestry wool, some are real knitting wool. Around all edges is a border of the same, bobbly chocolate yarn; which I’m pretty sure that Granny used to knit a set of three matching jumpers for my brothers and me when were all quite little…
Apart from the crazy mix of wool, it’s a pretty basic stocking stitch cardigan with a rib border along all the edges. I made-up my own pattern, loosely inspired by the free Miette pattern in that it is cast on at the neckline then I increased stitches at four places to create raglan sleeves; all knit in one piece, and with a single wooden button closure at the neckline. With a bit of careful measuring and halving and rationing out of yarn I made sure the two sleeves are reasonably identical to each other, a small modicum of order and method! but otherwise the colours in the body are pretty random.
knitting under the strict eye of my supervisor…
So, yay! for what is basically a freebie!! It’s kinda crazy but I’m very happy with how it turned out.
I did sort of write down a pattern, but it’s in such extreme shorthand that even I can barely work out what I did now! Sometime, when I’m feeling super enthusiastic, I might even have a good look at my notes and transcribe them into something resembling a pattern. Until then…!
Details:
Cardigan; my own design
Trousers; the Closet Case patterns Sasha trousers, grey stretchy stuff, details here
Tee; Closet Case patterns Nettie, details here
Scarf (on the rocks); knitted by me, details here
Socks; knitted by me, details here
Boots; Francesco Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
I’m wearing it today too! with the same Sasha trousers, my grey Vogue 1152 dress and my new kicks from Trenery 🙂
So, nothing to do with knitting or what I’m wearing, but I was cleaning out my phone, and found this picture of some apples I bought a couple of weeks ago… how cute are these?? they called them Mothers Day apples at the grocer. I bought some for myself since my own mother is away at present 😉
I absolutely love the randomness and textures and colours in this cardi. Even better that is was free and that some of the wool is from when you were little. You are very clever!
I agree! Very clever! I’m wondering if you kept the same needles as you changed thicknesses of yarns. How did you compensate and keep the pattern even?
The colours are so you! gorgeous cardigan. A pattern would be great, hint, hint.
Whaou ! So nice ! You are a artist… Doing a beautiful cardigan with scraps and patience. Great.
What a fantastic project!!! You’ll love wearing it for years, I’m sure!
That cardigan worked out so well!
I LOVE it! What a great idea.
what a great sweater – makes me wish I could knit 🙂
I absolutely love this cardigan! You picked out such a delightful combination of colors! Good thing your “supervisor” was on the job. Now there is renewed hope for the rest of us yarn-scrap-hoarders!
The palette, your hair colour – it is all great! When I try this it always looks pretty rubbish but you seem to have pulled off a fantastic cardi there! Green with envy. Jo xxx
That’s one of the prettiest hand-knit cardigans I’ve seen. Someone in your family will always cherish it, I’m sure.
Of all the things you have made, this is my favourite. Those colurs you picked out of a messy heap of yarn and then made into this beautiful, wonderful cardigan makes me, quite seriously, fell humble. In a very good way. Yum. And I kind of wish it was mine.
You are just totally amazing! I really love it. I would wear that beautiful sweater all the time. You have such amazing talent in everything you do. Looking forward to next project.Thanks
It’s such a great color mix. It really looks like it could be some cool indie dyed handspun yarn!
That is so beautiful! In the first detail photo of the sweater, I see that in the same row you have multiple yarns. Did you weave a lot of ends, or is that intarsia, or some other colorwork technique?
Hi just found your fab cardigan on Pinterest
I was just curious as to how you got rid of all the ends you must have acquired!
I am fancing doing something similar myself but all the tidying after puts me off
Your new cardigan is gorgeous! I love all the various colours and textures, and how harmonious it looks now it’s finished. I think my favourite posts of yours are where you seem to conjour up something out of (almost) nothing. I bet your Mum was impressed!
Your cardigan turned out so beautiful. It’s so well-made and looks great on you. The apples are interesting – I wonder how they did the hearts.
Brilliant job – every time I have tried to do anything like this it has ended in a completely hideous misshapen mess, so I’m in awe that you ended up with such a beautiful garment.
Clever and beautiful!
It’s beautiful! Your blog bring me such joy- thank you for the beautiful images, incredible craftsmanship, and positive outlook. It’s inspiring!
It’s wonderful – and all the better for being ‘free’. I’m sure you will wear it an absolute load of times because it will go with so much. Enjoy!
You certainly have worked the scrap yarn into a very wearable cardigan.
That looks amazing! Who would have thought it was a collection of scraps, it was just meant to be. Fabulous job. x
Awesome, and inspiring! I have so many scraps and pieces of yarn in my stash, this is a great idea. A totally unique project, with a great color combo.
I was thinking this would be a fun project, but then started wondering if you have a special method for tying and weaving in the yarn ends?
Your work is so inspiring!
Hi Pencil Girl, no special method for dealing with the ends. I tie a knot securely and then take the ends up and down at the back, alternatively as I knit on; which weaves the ends into the work at the back as you’re knitting.
I first found you on IG with a hashtag related to making clothes and then hurried over and have been lost in your blog! I love reading it! Enjoying your down-under accent and your enthusiasm for sewing!
This cardigan from the leftovers is fantastic! I’m not a one who knits (but I wear sweaters) and I think this is beautiful!
I want to get back to making some of my clothes. Your attention to details is wonderful. Hope you don’t mind another follower.
thank you so much Jules! That’s such a lovely comment, and totally made my day!! 🙂
Just to let you know i have nominated you for a Mystery Blogger Award. Feel free to ignore if you prefer.
That looks so smart and you went to all the trouble of dyeing it too, wonderful. I do love your images.
This cardi has to be my most favorite all-time cardis you’ve ever made…. and I love them all! The colors are just scrumptious and to add that they are ‘scraps’ makes this even more fun. Love the term ‘doing room’!! You look beautiful in these colors Carolyn. 🙂
Just found you on Pinterest. Love this Cardi!! You’ve inspired me to try this as well. Question for you. What needle size did you pick for all these yarns? I’m guessing about a size 8 U.S.
Patttern name please Tis beautiful and looks so me .Have made a shawl with scraps,and an afghan with scrap sock yarns .
Wacht met spanning op patroon
Such a wonderful project! I’m gathering my leftovers and bits and bobs to create my own cardigan!
I love how some of the yarns have distinct memories attached to them. So special!
Beautiful. A friend and I have been knitting for charity lately. She gives me all her scraps as I intended doing a crochet blanket with Russian joins. But there were lots of 6 inch pieces so I will be knitting a sweater with some of those too small for the Russian join, will just knot the two pieces together and have the knots outside of the sweater. If i ever get done i will post a pic. Elizabeth
How do I get the pattern thanks
I was interested in how you joined so many pieces together. Knots?
Love the cardi! Please can you advise how to make one? I have heaps of left over wool and am not a knitter of much experience but really want to make this. Please text me if you do write a pattern thank you.
Jacqui
Thank you for sharing your beautiful cardigan and the process of making it. How did you deal with making an even form out of different thicknesses? Did you double up the thinner yarns?
What a wonderful sweater. I want one too your ideas are fabulous. A perfect end to a crisp fall day. Thank you you are an inspiration. All the best, Margaret
Loving this, reminds me of my childhood. Thinking of knitting with 40 odd years of stash-overs, but working from bottom up on circulars, back and sides together until – maybe split and do raglans for sleeves, separate knit, then bring together for neckline – or then again, maybe eat more biscuits and hope for a pattern!
Anna (Glasgow)
Add me to the list for some sort of pattern when it comes out. Love the cardigan and have faaaaaaaar tooooo muuuuuuch leftover yarn
Bonjour, le hasard me fait découvrir votre cardigan…j’avais des tas de reste de “laine” a tricoter avec des aiguilles 3.5…J’ai eu envie de faire une petite veste avec motifs jacquard….je me suis prise au jeu…j’ai toutes les pièces d’un long cardigan (1.10m) il ne reste qu’a assembler…je déteste….
I absolutely love it! I would love to be half as creative! Absolutely beautiful and what a treasure! Thank you for sharing it with us!
I don’t understand how to sign up for your post. I love your cardigan and I am sure I would love to see your other work I just don’t know what I am supposed to do to do that. Hopefully you will explain.
All the best,
Margaret
What a gorgeous cardigan. I only ever make things like this as I get bored with single colours. When I see a yarn I like, I buy one ball. Charity shops are great for odds and ends too!
Bravo, but you obviously have a great eye for design and colour. Your cardigan may have been random but I love it and, as the owner of enough wool to start a shop, but with little inspiration, you have given me the spark of creativity I needed. Thank you!!
I know this is an old post, but got here from Pinterest. What a lovely cardi!