Jan 28 2007
Sesame Success
Pattern: Sesame Cardigan (Magknits August 2005)
Designed by: Melissa Wherle
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Licorice (approximately 5.25 balls)
Needles: Size US 6 circular needles
Started: July 2006 / Finished: January 2007
–Alternate View
–Button Band and Collar Detail
Quick progress on this one as soon as I psyched myself up for it… and I couldn't be happier with the result! This thing is going to be my friggin' uniform. It fits perfectly - I was a little worried as I was sewing it up - and after playing around with it, I think I kind of like the bomber jacket style with the collar up, rather than the sailor collar-down look.
Once the body pieces were complete, there was still quite a bit of knitting required. Thankfully, I had a free Saturday, and there were plenty of good television to catch up on; the collar and the button band were finished and blocked and by Saturday night, it was ready to wear. Even sewed the buttons on while chatting with my sister on the phone.
No major modifications to the sweater - I didn't add the extra buttons that Melissa mentions in the pattern, and only made 4 button holes, instead of the 6 written into the pattern. The buttons were what drew me to this sweater in the first place, and I gotta say, I love the way they turned out. At first, I thought the light wood of the buttons alongside the black knit fabric may be too much contrast, but in the end, I think it looks great. I am not sure how often I will wear it completely buttoned anyhow… Bought the buttons last year at the craft store. Still have two more to embellish some other knits!
A note on the yarn: I am so glad that Lion Brand wisened up and brought Cotton Ease back. This yarn is fabulous. It is a great quality worsted cotton/acrylic blend with a lot of yardage at a good price. Plus their new colors are quite attractive. How great would this cardi look in the new Violet or Terra Cotta colorways? It may be worth a trip to the craft store… I used a little more than 5 skeins for this cardigan (I made the 38" size) and I still have a few to spare.
I would totally knit this sweater again, despite it taking me forever to complete. It is a simple classic design that will be perfect with jeans, as well as casual skirts. The cotton will transcend all seasons - a year-round wardrobe staple, for sure. As I was putting on the finishing touches, I told Kris "I would totally buy this…"
…and did you notice? I got a new toy!
Looks great, I want one too. And I like your t-shirt and your new toy!!
The sweater looks great Lolly! It definitely looks like a “go to” sweater.
Congrats on the new toy as well - that’s on my wish list as well.
wow, i soooooo love it! you did an awesome job
looks comfy, warm, and well-fitted. just perfect.
Very nice! You look great!
it’s great! very nice fit in a classic, versatile color.
ps - love that decemberists T underneath it too!
So cute! and it will go with absolutely everything. Nice work, Ms Lolly!
Great job, Lolly! The sweater looks like an awesome fit.
beautiful! your new toy looks fun too!
Very nice job! Sesame looks great! It looks to be a very functional sweater, which is always nice. Lovely new toy BTW, and even better shirt. The Decemberists are awesome!
I love your glasses! And your new camera!!! I just got a new DSLR too! I haven’t gotten it totally figured out but I do enjoy playing with it!
It is a huge upgrade from my other camera. 
Can’t wait to see all the pictures you take! 
You look smashing in it Lolly.
Amy
Looks great, I’ve got that one on my long to do list as well
Great looking sweater! I like the pairing of sweater and buttons.
Is that a Decemberists T-shirt I spy?
You did a GREAT job on Sesame and I can definitely understand its use as a “uniform” sweater!
Congratulations on your new camera! SO exciting!
Wow, it looks really flattering on you! Love the buttons … and the color looks smashing with your cute glasses!
It’s brilliant! The contrast of the black with the wooden buttons, which are fabulous, is classic. I’m sure you will wear this well and for a long time. Simply beautiful.
Very nice, I like that you did it in one color. And WOW for the Canon !!! I want one
It must be very good, it is EOS 
Oooh!! I just got the same camera and extras for christmas!!
Lots of fun!! Cant wait to see the great pictures from your ‘new toy’!!
Have fun, FYI I love your site, its a site I check daily. And Im super excited to be in PSII!!
It looks fabulous! I can see you wearing that everyfreakingwhere. Love it!
I am so jealous of your new camera.
fantastic sweater, lolly! It really looks great on you!
Your sweater turned out great! I’m glad you’re so happy with it. Great camera, BTW. Canon makes excellent camera and I’m sure you’ll have a blast getting to know your new toy.
Looks really awesome-I have to agree with you I always thought that yarn was really good-a great alternative to Rowan
Adorable sweater! I love the comment about the “uniform.” Great job!
Leslie
Wow, it turned out fabulous. And isn’t it great to have that weight off your shoulders?! After your recent post about languishing knits I have decided to do a little something with my Picovoli today. You inspired me Lauren!
And I love the shirt. Maybe I will listen to a little D’s while working on Picovoli today
The sweater looks lovely on you! And I love the new toy (we are a Canon family at our house - youngest daughter has the Digital Rebel, oldest daughter has the XTi and I have the XT). You’ll love it!
I’m glad they brought cotton ease back. I never had a chance to knit with it before the buying frenzy that hit when it was originally discontinued. Maybe now I’ll be able to find some on the shelves (I like the new colours too).
It looks great (and I love the Decemberists t-shirt also)
I LOVE it! I forgot it was Melissa’s pattern :). So cute! I feel like checking my stash to see how many balls of black cotton ease i have left. One can’t have too many black sweaters, you know?
Smashing! I’ve been searching for a perfect go-to sweater like this for awhile - definitely going over to Magknits to eye this pattern some more.
I always thought if I were to do this sweater, it would be a solid color and i even thought about using Cotton-Ease! Great job Lolly, the cardigan looks comfortable and fitted. It really looks great on you and I love the buttons, one of the reasons the sweater caught my eye.
You did a great job, Lolly! This cardigan looks really fantastic on you! And congratulations on your new toy, of course!
Sesame looks to be the perfect practical sweater. I love those buttons. Nice work!
That sweater looks fantabulous on you! You’ve inspired me to knit one, or 50 for myself!
Fabulous job! It does look like a great “everyday” sweater. And the buttons are perfect!
Wow, Sesame turned out great! Love your T-Shirt, too, and the new toy looks like a lot of fun.
it looks great on you! I love cardis.
I love those buttons! And the sweater looks great, too.
Really like the new sweater! Teracotta would look great on you…as would the purple…
ohhhh love sesame! It looks great on you and those buttons are perfect.
Thats a great knit that can be worn for many years to come!
Love it! this is definitely going on the must knit list
you look great.
Great job! I just love the basics!
I’m so proud of you. Way to buckle down and get a project done and just in time. I’m very excited about Project Spectrum and can’t wait to use up some stash yarn!
Looks great! And you look great in it! This is a sweater that you’ll definitely wear all the time!
What a success! I might have to copy you. I love this easy, basic sweater in an easy, basic yarn that should hold up well to billions of wearings and washings. Girlfriend, you look fabulous in these pictures. It must feel fantastic to have knit a sweater for yourself that fits perfectly. Mwah!
It looks great and cool camera!
Wow! I have been looking at sweaters to knit lately and this one is so cute! You did a great job and I am sure it will be perfect for chilly days! I think I will have to make one someday soon too!
It looks fabulous. The perfect sweater for here and there.
Love the camera! It looks like many hours of fun.
Ohh that is one fab cardigan!!! And how brave of you to knit an entire cardigan in black!
you look fantastic lolly! that cardi ain’t half bad either
It looks terrific on you! How great to knit something that you’ll get SO much use out of!
I love how Sesame looks in a solid color! I’ve been looking for a cardigan pattern, but was put off by Sesame because I look terrible in stripes. But seeing it in a solid color has made me definitely want to try it. Great job on it!
great sweater!
it looks great, and like you, it is a sweater I would grab for again and again! hooray!
congrats on the new camera, too.
both of your new black items look fabulous!
Looks great! Makes me want to get on the ball and finish mine knit form the same yarn.
Great knit, Lauren. It looks great, and seems to be a very versatile sweater… one that will go with lots of other things!
sesame looks terrific! I want one too! (in black, which i’ve sworn never to again knit with…). Totally a versatile sweater that you can take anywhere, wear all the time.
I have been celebrating the return of the Cotton Ease, but now have the perfect project idea to start the party!
You’re right, the bomber look is fantastic, and I have to say, I love it in solid black way better than the stripey version in MagKnits.
Yippie!
And BTW, you look HOT!
That would totally be my uniform too. It looks great and it’s always nice to finish a knit that you know you’re going to actually wear a lot. And I love the buttons! Great job.
It looks great Lolly!! I love the big buttons! Congrats on your new toy too!
Yay for a successful finished knit! It looks great on you, as usual. =) Your new camera looks fun, too - that’s quite a large lens you’ve got there!
You Gorgeous Girl!~
Well done!
That looks really good Lolly!!
Simply stunning! Love the color and style-I imagine you’ll wear it lots.
Just lovely! You look great in it
I don’t know what I would do to have a camera like that, wow… take lots of nice pictures..ciao
I love sesame. I must say that it really looks like it’s an old favorite that you’ve loved and worn forever because it just looks so naturally perfect on you. I also LOVE the fab eyewear. You’re so darn photogenic - lucky us that you got a new camera. Enjoy!
The Decemberists have the best t-shirts, don’t they?
The cardigan looks awesome–way to go! You have a solid three months left to wear it, too. You’ll want to make, like, three more this summer to wear next year.
Your cardi looks sensational!!
Great work. And how quick was that once you set your mind to it? Fantastic. Hey thanks for the heads up about Cotton Ease. A bargain is always welcome.
Ooh, it’s wonderful! And it fits you so nicely!
Congrats on your new toy.
Oh my goodness you finished that so fast and it looks great!
What a fab basic sweater. It matches everything, I hope you get a lot of good usage out of it. Love the buttons, too!
I’m with Isel - I’m also jealous of the camera. I’m sure you’ll take some great shots with it. I love the ones of the animals over on Flickr.
Now THAT is a sweater a girl could live in. Just lovely!
Love the new toy. I am looking forward to lots and lots of fun pics in the future…
Looks lovely Lolly. Lots of Love!
(I like alliteration tonight.)
Yay, it’s done! And it looks great!
It looks great, Lolly!
Lolly - you always look so lovely in your knits. I love that you always take pics of yourself. Have fun with your new toy!
I think the wooden buttons look fantastic on the black. I’m not usually a button-down cardigan kind of gal, but seeing yours makes me want to make one!
What a great wardrobe addition. I love the sweater and you are right–the buttons really make it. Yea for you!
What a great knit! So tempting…
I want to progress to the world of garments. Would you say a cardigan is more difficult than a jumper? I don’t doubt I could knit the pieces, it’s the sewing it together that scares me.
I just LOVE it! What a perfect fit, and definitely one of those sweaters you can wear with everything! You must be so proud!
That is some pretty sweet success! Looks GREAT on you!! I’ll be making one of these come spring! LOVE the big, clunky buttons, too!
Great job! And niiiiiice new toy!
G-d I love this sweater!!!!!
LOVE IT!!!
FABULOUS!!!!!
i love it!! looks wonderful on you… great fit and looks so cozy!
i’m with you on cotton-ease too. that stuff is great, and the new colors are really nice… much better & more sophisticated than the old, i think.
It looks lovely, Lolly — so comfy! I love seeing cute, comfy sweaters knit from really affordable yarn!
I don’t have anything to say that 84 other people haven’t (damn, girl!), but didn’t want to let such a wonderful FO go by without telling you how great it is. Love your new toy (jealous!).
Wow! It’s gorgeous, and you look FANTASTIC in it! ANd that new toy is pretty great too! Is it the whole camera or that awesome lens?
I love the sweater! Congrats on finishing up!!
Ooo, nice toy!
Your sweater looks great on you! Nice to start Project Spectrum with a clean slate, so you can enjoy a new project!
cute sweater! seems like everyone is getting a new camera. i certainly will enjoy seeing more of gorgeous pictures/projects from you!
It looks fantastic! This is now officially on my short list of projects now that I know it can be knit up in a less expensive yarn.
Sesame looks fabulous and the buttons are perfect! Look at the new camera…you know I’m jealous
I can’t wait to see all the great pics and hear what you think.
It looks fab on you! Great sweater.
What a great sweater Lolly! Congrats on finishing it.
Your sesame looks great! This inspires me to put the buttons back on my sesame and actually start wearing it. Hooray for practical cardigans!
It’s gorgeous, Lolly! The buttons are fab.
Congrats on finally getting that UFO finished up!
I love it! Perfect fit and finish too! I would never take it off!
The sweater looks great and I have EXTREME camera envy! Congrats on the new sweater AND the new toy.
it looks fantastic lolly!
Great job on Sesame! And now I have to make myself one. Because your comment about it being your uniform…well, I live in black cotton sweaters, too.
Whoa, dude, like, awesome toy.
Lolly… not only is the sweater fantastic in general, but it looks so great on YOU! Absolutely perfect fit!
Nice!!!!! (the sweater and the camera! so jealous!!)
That is one of those sweaters I’d wear all the time too. I like the solid version…very classic. Nice work!
You are so cute I can’t stand it. Yay sweater! Yay new camera!
Pretty. I will have to look at the pattern and see if I can change the yarn since I do not knit with cotton. And I like your new toy.
Holy smokes! 106 comments? And here I was going to tell you that now I’m totally making one of these- got the Rowan WC in the stash, after all. Well, I guess I just did. How do you ever get through reading all of your comments? I’ve got palpatations just looking at them!
You look so pretty. x
You rock in this sweater girl! Love it, love it! You gotta make another one in the terracotta color. That would look fab on you. I have looked for this new Cotton Ease in the craft stores and can’t find it yet. Where are they selling it besides online? Thanks!
Your sweater looks awesome!
Love the Decemberists shirt too!
Every time you unbutton the cardi, do you get the urge to shout “Open Sesame”? Because that would be pretty funny. Exciting new toy! I *heart* my Rebel XT — it was an XMas present, and I’m having so much fun fiddling with it and learning how to use it.
Love, love, love the sesame! Thanks for reminding me how much I liked that pattern
I’ll have to put it on my list.
WOOOO-Hooooo! Lion brought “Cotton Ease” back?!! YES! I’d given up on that hope long ago. Yes, the new colors are very nice, indeed. Sesame is great, and I’m sure it will be your uniform, much as my black Cotton Ease Sitcom Chic is my constant companion; much as I hated knitting it, it is indispensible. Thanks for the tip about the return of one of my fave cheap yarns!!
Great Cardi. Love the new camera…can I ask more about it? I am currently looking into getting a new camera since I detest mine.
marly
http://www.knitthing.blogspot.com
Nice cardi, and nice camera! I just signed up for PS 2.0 (and hope I can be a little less lame than last time, in which I posted exactly one PS-related post, even though I had great intentions…). Holy guacamole - you’ve got almost 1000 participants! And I thought managing my 100+ signer-upers for SAM3 was bad (although you do have that nifty auto-sign-up thing going for you).
Looking forward to seeing some socks over here soon ;-).
Chrissy
That looks great on you! And you’re looking pretty fantastic too, Miss Lolly!
Clearly you don’t need yet another comment — your poor overworked inbox! — but I love the cardigan! I bookmarked that pattern as soon as I saw it, and your version is perfect and inspiring. Nice work!
Perfect!
I see that Decemberists tee under there… they rock.
yay! you finished and I almost missed it! I’ve been so busy I’ve been absolutely terrible keeping up my blog reading. It really looks great on you and the buttons are perfect.
gorgeous, Ms. Lol!
(boy do I miss blogging and steady knitting and Lolly!)
xo
Anjo
You look fantastic, and the sweater is gorgeous. Or maybe that’s the other way around. I think it works either way.