May 17 2007
Wren’s Debut
Just a little bit of time and an ounce of dedication, and the pay off it quite grand! I love my new cardigan!
Wren Cardigan
Pattern: Berroco free pattern
Yarn: Berroco Zodiac in “Leo” colorway (#9633 )
Yarn Source: WEBS online
Needles: Size US 7 and 8
Started March 25th / Finished May 16th
This was an absolute impulse buy - I fell head-over-heels in love with the pattern when the weekly Berroco KnitBits newsletter hit my inbox. I clicked over, got the details, and within a few days, I bought the yarn, and cast on. I bought the yarn because I love pink and green together, and it was a great match for Project Spectrum’s color triad this month. Rarely do I click “checkout” so hastily!
I chose to make the Medium size, a 40″ bust, thinking I would want a little “room” up top since it is a cardigan. After finishing it, however, I probably could have gone down a size to the 36″, or even a needle size to get a better fit in the upper chest… but the fit is not a major concern, just something to keep in mind if you do decide to make this cardigan.
I knit the majority of the sweater according to the pattern - the back and the two fronts were simple to follow, and the sleeves were done in a flash. The major modification on this garment involved the collar:
- Separate Knit? The pattern instructs to knit the collar separately and then sew it on afterward. To save all of that seaming, I decided to pick up the stitches around the fronts and the back of the neck. My picked-up stitch count was curiously 80 stitches less than the instructions noted - I picked up 205, while the instructions read 285! I can only assume that all of these extra stitches would have caused the dreaded “lettuce neck” with the sewn on collar… so I am happy that I went the “pick up” route.
- Gaping Hole? I wasn’t loving the way that the collar gaped in the original picture, so I did not make mine as long or as bulky. The pattern calls for about 30 rows of knitting, where mine has 10 rows at the widest part (back of the neck). This modification avoided “the gape” and lays flat around the neckline. This yarn, like any other ribbon yarn, does not have much heft or bulk- it is drapey, and would look flimsy if it was required to stand up for this style of collar. I am not sure how 30 rows of knitting would stand up straight unless one went down to a very small needle size… nevertheless, this modification gave it a more polished and finished look.
The pattern had its flaws, mainly the collar bit mentioned above, but if you are an intuitive knitter, it is not a challenge. The yarn, however, was not my favorite. I did like the colors - although they are slightly “flashier” than I tend to go for. I mentioned before that the yarn is a thread of chain cotton, bound to a ribbon thread with a small black nylon thread. That stupid little black nylon thread is what caused so many problems. It snagged on many things - my nails, my cuticles, and my jewelry - and often got unraveled from the other two threads. This cardigan would probably hold up well in any ribbon style yarn, or even a cotton blend yarn with a little bit of drape.
Overall, I am happy with my Wren. The pin is just the right touch too. I am very happy with that find!
It looks great!
Wow! It looks fab!
It looks awesome on you, not too big at all! I was a bit doubtful about that flashy yarn, but it looks perfect with black.
The pin really is the perfect touch.
The smaller collar looks great, much more in proportion, and I think you are right that it would be too floppy in the yarn. The color, BTW, is gorgeous on you. You have a great new spring sweater!
It is SO stunning on you, Lolly!! The colors are great…and I just love your photos! They could be in a magazine!
such a cute and flattering cardigan! i love the pin - nice touch.
You look great! I agree with Melissa, that is very flattering to you! Nice job!
Marly
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Wow. I was skeptical about the pattern, but it is so, so, so, so, so (did I mention soooo) flattering on you. You look like a superstar. You are *glowing*. Great colour, great lines.
beautiful lolly!! i love it. it looks great on you and has a fabulous color. that’s so interesting about the collar… you wonder what goes on … 85 extra stitches… wah?
It looks so great! For me, this was one of those patterns where you look at the picture in the catalog and go “hmm…” and then you see it on a ‘real’ person and it looks fabulous.
Great work!! The color is wonderful on you.
I really didn’t think I liked that yarn, but the way it knit up is fantastic! I really, really love the bits of green in there. And it looks great on you!
What a beautiful cardigan! The photos are great too – you look happy.
Oh I’m so glad you went with the smaller collar! Looks great on you.
It looks great on you and the fit seems just right. I don’t like knitting with ribbon yarn either, but I seem to buy a lot of it anyway. It always looks so pretty.
Great job on Wren and thank you for the modification notes too. I’m lining this up soon and it will save me some head-scratching!
Wow! I love your new cardigna too! The colors and style look fabulous on you:)
I like the cardigan on you, it suits you well. I dont think I would have perservered with the yarn though, and all of its snagging. Well done on doing such a good job of it all.
Fabulous! You look great in that cardi, and the color is very lovely on you. Way to go for sticking with it!
Looks great, Lolly! And in PS colors, no less!
It looks great on you! What a cute pattern–I’m tempted to put it on my list now.
It’s perfect on you. I like your mods better than the original pattern.
It looks great, Lolly! The colour looks stunning on you.
fits you well and the color is very pretty!
Lolly it looks fabulous!! Good choice in design and color!
Perfect for spring! The colors look great on you.
That is such a cute, flattering sweater. You look great!
Great job with Wren. It looks great on you.
Oooh, Lolly, what a great color on you! Super-flattering sweater too–and I ttoally agree about the neck. You’d have been ruffling all over w/80 more stitches. Smart knitting!
Wow Lolly! That is so flattering on you! The color, the pattern, the fit - so right!
it looks so great on you and the pin closure is the perfect touch!
It’s terrific, Lolly. The color, the style, the pin - it all works together perfectly.
What a lovely knit, Lolly! It looks really great on you. You’re also looking great btw!
Really pretty! The bright colors look great on you—not too flashy at all!
Very pretty! Well done, Lolly!
yay it’s done! it looks great!
I love this cardigan! I love the colors too! And you look so great in it!
Very nice. I agree, the fit is very nice.
What really prompted me to comment was the quality of the photos. I don’t know who took these for you but they did a great job. This is the hardest part of blogging my knits. I’m the photog in the house and my dh tries to follow my instructions but usually falls short.
Lolly - kudos to you, it’s just lovely!
Wow! Your quick “checkout” instincts really paid off. It is a perfect fit, well executed, and you look fabulous. I wore one of my favorite handknits today, and was just thinking about that old saying that firewood warms you twice–once when you cut it, and then again when you burn it–can certainly be applied to knitting as well (except of course, with knitting and wearing substituted for cutting and burning.)
Fabulosa!
It really does look amazing on you. I’m glad to see that you are so happy with it.
The pin is perfect.
Wow, that’s a lot of compliments! Here’s another one:
I really like the color and the fit looks very comfortable. The shorter collar is nice too!
So gorgeous–and the cardi isn’t half bad either!;)
Very beautiful, Lolly. It’s interesting to read about the mods you made, I love the way you made it perfect for you.
Ooooooh Lolly! You look so sassy in it.
Amy
Beautiful! The pin is the perfect closure.
Fabulous! You really look lovely in it. The colors are great on you. Hey, we’ve all got to have our impulse buys…
As everyone else has commented, that looks great! The pin is perfect. Thanks for the tips, maybe that could be one of my first cardigans.
i absolutely adore it! so fashionable, so flattering. i want one!
It seems like just yesterday we were hanging out and you were knitting this–I kind of can’t believe it’s done already! And totally completed within the Project Spectrum timespan. Oh, and did I not yet say how AWESOME it looks on you? Great job!!
It looks totally fabulous!
Sorry the yarn was a chore, but you got a great sweater out of it and you never have to use it again. I really like pink with green too, and those “flashy” colors are going to ensure that people take a look at how awesome the sweater is, haha. You look great in it.
I don’t know why you don’t normally go for those colors? The colors in Wren look great on you.
I like the modifications you made on the neck. Had i seen the original pattern i probably would have never thought of knitting this item…ever. But now, i think my Mom could use one.
Well done.
So pretty! That is the “spring”-iest cardigan ever.
The pink and green are to sublime! Looks perfect for spring and summer. Love it!
I’m so glad you posted this today… I’m about halfway done with mine and was thinking just the same thing about the collar. Why knit separately and seam, for goodness sake?
Yours turned out so well. I hope mine fits as well as yours does… I hesitated a bit about the size, too, and I hope it doesn’t turn out too big. Anyway, well done, my friend! Those colors and the shape of the cardi are all very flattering on you. Super cute!
Like I said on the phone, radiant. You look stunning and the cardigan looks beautiful on you. I think this has got to be one of my favorite knits yet!
Just Beautiful Lol!
Really, really lovely! But now I have the Chieftans’ song “The Wren in the Furze” stuck in my head–
The wren, oh the wren he’s the king of all birds…
Fun song, if you don’t mind it getting stuck in your head every time you wear the sweater you should look it up
I like that one better than the one in the newletter! That colorway is perfect on you! BEAUTIFUL!!
Lolly, it’s fabulous! I’m still trying to find the perfect yarn to make this. Now that the yarn is sold out at WEBS, the search is on!
The adjustments worked up just perfectly. A lovely color, too. Very cute on you, too!
Both the sweater and you are gorgeous! You look like a magazine!!! (That’s a compliment!)
Can I ask what kind of camera you have? (It’s been asked before hasn’t it?) It just captures the light perfectly!
Beautiful - and the colour really looks great on you!
Lovely bubbly, Lolly!! Great work - you look stunning
Lovely!
The colours are amazing - you have to love impulse buys
Absolutely fantastic! It all came together so well!
that came out amazing! the color looks great on you, and I love the mods you did - makes it a bit more “tailored” looking
What a lovely cardigan. It looks great on you!
Lolly, I love it! It looks wonderful on you and that pin is perfection!
a PERFECT spring knit. And those are some fabulous photos of you, Lolly!
You look stunning! The color is just great, and perfect for the spring and summer. I love the way the yarn looks knitted up, the color variation is nice, but subtle enough to not detract from the great structure.
so cute! it looks great on you!
I really like that sweater, it looks great on you! The yarn may have been a pain but the final effect is very rich looking.
I’m with Mimi, I think that this is my favorite yet. I never doubted the color, but I got to see it “live”. It is lovely on you, Swee-swee and you did an amazing job adapting it! XXOO
It looks great, especially the color. Congrats on another successful FO!
Wren has been on the to-do list ever since that knit bits email so I’m taking on board your mods and the reasoning behind them.
It looks gorgeous btw
congrats on a job well done
Great color, great fit, great figure! Well done, Lolly, well done!
Lovely, just lovely Lolly! The modifications you made to the collar make it the perfect little sweater. It’s very flattering too! Enjoy it.
Wow, it looks great! Much better than the one on Berroco’s website. I vastly prefer the smaller collar and I like your pin!
Wren is quite loverly. I really like the color of that yarn. And the pin is just perfect
I love your version so much better than the original - the collar is great! It look just beautiful on you.
Lolly, Cute, cute, cute. I also love your version better that the original. The original collar would have probably felt funky up on your neck. Grat job.
Superb!
It is so cute. You have great instincts about what looks good on you.
It came out great! Such a good choice for you.
Beautiful sweater. And I like the modification to the collar. Thanks for telling us how you modified it.
Love the cardigan! It looks fabulous.
Your version of Wren is so beautiful! The pink and green are so flattering on you. I have to ditto what Rebecca posted above…your version and modifications made the pattern so much better. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing.
Just gorgeous! I love your modifications. The pin definitely “makes” the cardigan!
Looks amazing, Lolly- what a perfect spring in to summer knit. And that pin is fabulous!
Lovely! The pin is a great finishing touch.
look at you, hot mama! that cardigan is just divine. yum yum yum. . .
Wow, that’s such a beautiful cardigan!
Beautiful pictures of a lovely cardigan! It is so beautiful and it looks great on you.
Beautiful! What a flattering sweater! I love it and love the color on you.
Beautiful! The pin is just perfect.
It’s lovely! The shape, color and style are all wonderful. Nice job.
Really cool! I love the extra-close photo so we could see the colors of the yarn well. Great job!
Pretty pin on a pretty sweater on a pretty girl. It looks great Lolly, and so do you!
It looks great on you! That color is perfect.
The sweater looks great! The pictures are VERY nice too.
That color is just stunning on you! Beautiful job, your mods make it more beautiful than the original!
Your photos are quite wonderful! Enjoy your new sweater!
Oh! I loved that sweater when I got the newsletter! I do like your version, and it looks great on you. Good job!
Very nice Very nice.. mental note be VERY careful when hugging Lolly!
hehe I am FINALLY knitting something pink! Woo hoo! I keep being out of phase of Project Spectrum but no more!
Beautiful job! It looks great one you!
Wow, Lolly — Wren looks really beautiful on you! The color is just stunning and your mods look great.
Very pretty cardigan!! The yarn color is gorgeous and the pattern is perfect for you. Really lovely!!
wow!! it looks really great! I love your modifications.
It’s perfect! Love the pin and the whole look. Wonderful job modifying it to your taste. It’s a winner!
Lolly, it’s so pretty! I cocked my head at the yarn when I first saw it, but wow! it’s so pretty knit up! No pooling, just flecks of color! And you totally nailed the perfect PS project! Beautiful, babe!
It looks really nice and I love the modifications. It is something I will keep in mind because I love the pattern too. And great pin!
The cardigan is bee you ti ful! I love the color and the pin, is, the perfect finish!
austin
Lovely! You look fantastic in your new cardi, and the pin was the perfect find.
Gorgeous! Both you and the sweater!
You look really beautiful! Lovely cardi and very nice colours on you. Sometimes those impulse buys are for a very good reason!
It’s gorgeous and the colour looks great on you! Your mods suit the design much better too.
You are so cute! The sweater looks great. Good choice on the collar; very classy and lovely. =D
Very pretty and VERY flattering! Nice work, and I like the changes you made. I may have to do that one myself!
Wow mama! You look like you were meant to model that. Don’t ever give it away. It fits you perfectly and you are so pretty!
Wow! It’s gorgeous. It looks great on you.
Wow! What a beautiful cardigan! I can’t believe you knit it up so fast. For us gals who tend to ponder each yarn purchase, sometimes the impulse buys can be liberating, huh? I love the fastner too - it’s just perfect for the sweater.
Wow! Wren looks fabulous!
It fits you so well and the colours are vibrant - and excellent accompaniment to black.
Nice modifications too.
*love* that colorway…a shame Webs is out of it. The cardigan looks great, and you’re lucky you avoided “lettuce neck.” I manage to achieve that even when picking up stitches.
So, so pretty! The color is really flattering on you. And the mods you made look like they really helped out the end product!
Lolly, that cardigan is beautiful!!! I know everyone is already saying this, but you look gorgeous and the cardigan is very flattering on you! wonderful job!
Your Wren is gorgeous! I think I like the smaller collar too. It looks beautiful on you and well worth all the craziness of a difficult yarn.
Your scarf came in handy today and I am so grateful for it’s soft warmth.
i like how you’ve modified the pattern. you know, i would have done the same thing with the collar. as you were describing it i was nodding my head in agreement! picking up a few stitches is far less complicated in my book and looking at the pattern i agree about the neckline it looks better as an understatement…and that pin! oh yeah!
[...] Kilo davon. Ich dachte an Wren, vielleicht wird das dann etwas besser mit dem Schlabbereffekt? Lolly hat Wren gestrickt und sie sieht wirklich klasse aus, finde ich. Ich habe aber auch noch weitere [...]
Beautiful! Love the pin too.
wow!! gorgeous work lolly! it is beautiful and it looks wonderful on you! absolutely inspiring… love this design.
Lolly, you look beautiful!!!
The knitting is lovely but you…all of that hard work is paying off, girl!
Perfect Lolly! And you look fantastic!
The cardigan is lovely and the pin is just the right thing for it! Congratulations!!
Thanks for the sizing and pattern notes - I’m ready to be a complete copy-cat
It looks great on you!
It is just gorgeous Lolly and it fits so well. Wonderful knitting. You look great. Thanks for being inspirational.
I thought the model pic from Berroco was ok. THIS is OUTSTANDING!!!
I looks simply lovely on you Lolly and the knitting (and mods) are suburb! Enjoy wearing it, you look beautiful!
So beautiful Lolly - it looks stunning on you. x
What a flattering sweater! I love the closure you’re using, too. Lovely!
Oh very impressive!!! Now I feel inspired to go back and finish mine (that has been languishing these many weeks).
Also, thanks so much for the details on how you fixed the collar. I have plans for mods too, but your info will be helpful.
Hooray!! Wren is a new item to wear and enjoy.
That is just delightful! It’s so light and airy and such a gorgeous shade of pink. Well done!
Excellent job - the cardigan looks wonderful on you . . .the color, the pin with it, I bet you’re pleased with this one. Thanks for sharing the collar modification, that’s good when you can figure out a better way to do something that looks better than the original plan.
Gorgeous cardi and it looks fantastic on you! I have that same shawl pin! I love it, so elegant!
Lolly my gosh you are so freaking CUTE!!! gorgeous, fantastic, and it suits you perfectly. Great Shots too!
Simply stunning!
Not sure how I missed this! Your wren is SO lovely, as are you. Great photos, and thank you for posting your changes, that’s very helpful to those of us still plugging along.
[...] said it was a quick knit (see her finished version here) but I didn’t quite believe it. But, given decent health and with not too much energy-sapping [...]