After a full weekend of knitting and finishing, I was so incredibly thrilled to hand this cardigan over to my sister. When the last end was sewn in, and the rainy skies finally let up, I told Sarah that we had to get photos before the next cloudburst. A belated birthday gift for my sweet sister…
Printed Silk Cardigan
Pattern Source: Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
Yarn: Frog Tree Pima Silk, colorway 810
Yarn Source: Webs
Needles: Size US 3 and 5
As I was sewing up the last sleeve, I was overwhelmed at how well this all came together. I took a chance on the yarn – it wasn’t the same content (cotton and silk) and was a little larger gauge – but it is beautiful, and from a respectable company. At first, I thought it was going to be a problem because the yarn does tend to split. Like most other cotton/silk blends, it is a few small strands spun together. Luckily, I got the hang of it, and I didn’t have too many issues with errant threads popping out. The few that did were easy to poke back through to the wrong side of the fabric.
My choice of cardigan was ambitious to knit in the small time frame of one month – I began knitting this in mid-February (squarely within Project Spectrum: FIRE!) and hoped to be finished by March 17th, Sarah’s birthday. Alas, I did not finish until three weeks later. The timing did work out, however. We had planned a visit to North Carolina during the first week in April, and with a little dedication (and a lot of knitting!) it was all wrapped up on Sunday afternoon.
Sarah has a small frame, and without her physical presence to measure along the way, I had to take a chance. I chose the smallest size – 34″ and made a few modifications to fit the bust. I added an inch and a half to the stockinette body to account for her longer torso. The pattern does not call for a hem edge, so it rolls slightly. Some of the other knitters that have finished [Ravelry link] have added a small 1 x 1 ribbing around the bottom. I considered this, but Sarah said she liked the little roll… so I thought if she was happy, I was happy. Another change/oversight on my part involved my modification of the the body into a knit-in-the-round pattern. I knit the two front panels and the back as one piece to avoid seaming the garment in the end. I used stitch markers to note the separations and where to decrease/increase for the waist and bust shaping. However, I did not work in the small ribbed edging that is supposed to essentially “close” the garment across the torso… I simply forgot to work it in… yet, I have to say, that I really like the way it looks. Sarah is thin, and she doesn’t have to worry about the dreaded “muffin top” phenomenon. The draping in the front is reminiscent of another pattern that has caught my eye many times over the years, the Slouchy Cardigan from Greetings from Knit Cafe [Ravelry link].
I hope she can wear it for years to come. The color suits her better than I could have imagined!
Ok, I’m knitting this also (in Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo) and am sooooo excited about how yours turned out. I’m just up to the first buttonhole, and am also knitting in all one piece. Only trick is figuring out where to join yarn (first 2 were at the nonexistent “seam” and the 3rd at the front ribbing).
Thanks for leading the way! Can’t wait to see what you’re knitting next . . .
oh my! it’s perfect on her. i love it. you did an excellent job on this sweater.
You did a beautiful job on the sweater, and the color really compliments Sara’s dark hair. This cardigan is definitely on my to-do list.
It is beautiful! I’ve been waiting to see how it would turn out, and how you felt about it…because it’s one that I’d like to knit as well. I was excited about your yarn change, and decided that before I copied I should probably wait to see how it worked.
Clearly, it worked VERY well!
Beautiful…..you should be very proud…the colour…your sister…the fit…all perfection.
So perfect for the spring – and so pretty. I am inspired to knit one as well. Thanks for sharing.
It fits her perfectly! Great job. It looks so professionally knit.
it looks stunning on her! what a lucky sis.
absolutely stunning! great work, lolly! the colour is perfect and the cardi looks fantastic on your sister.
Stunning. Absolutely stunning.
How pretty! You did a great job.
Perfection
Beautiful! I love the photos of your sister modelling it! Very nice job!
This is sooo beautiful! Great color, great stitchwork – what a wonderful present!
Absolutely beautiful. What an awesome gift to receive!
What a beautiful sweater! The fit is really perfect.
I don’t know if you are interested in growing heirloom flowers, but your previous post reminded me of a great company for flower seeds and bulbs, called Select Seeds. Their website is http://www.selectseeds.com and they do not sell genetically modified seeds. Now I’m off to check out the ravelry group that you mentioned, crafty gardeners.
Beautiful sweater! It looks great on your sister. Love the photos too!
Beautiful sweater, Lolly! Such a lovely fit and colour for your sister.
You did such a great job on this sweater. What a beautiful gift for your sister! That extra three weeks was well worth it.
It’s a gorgeous top and you’ve taken such great pictures of it! I love the textured pattern on the top.
oh wow i love it! it’s really pretty, great shape and great colour! i recently discovered that colour for myself too, it only popped up in the shops here last summer, i had resigned to the fact that red just doesn’t suit me but a really light red is actually flattering (I’m pale with blue eyes and freckles and light brown hair)
Gorgeous L!!
You did a wonderful job with this sweater! I like the presentation, with all the lovely pictures with your sister.
This is gorgeous, you do beautiful work.
Wowy-wow-wow!
Seriously Lolly, you could quit your job as an archivist and knit & design full time for some fabulous magazine. Your talent and dedication to learning is awe inspiring!
turned out really great. I love the color
It could not be more perfect for her. Just couldn’t be. You are fortunate to have each other.
This cardigan didn’t stand out to me in the magazine, but now that I’ve seen yours/Sarah’s I’ll have to give it another look!
It fits Sarah like a glove. She is lovely and the cardi really does suit her. Well done! You are a wonderful sister for making such a special gift. xoxo
adorable!!! I’m going to have to take a second look at that pattern. How do you get all of these projects done? I am in awe
GORgeous!!
lolly, this is absolutely beautiful! you did a lovely job and it looks so good on her… i can just imagine how thrilled she must have been when she put it on. stunning!!
xo
This turned out so beautiful!! Gorgeous job. Perfect for her!
A beautiful cardigan. I have just startede with one for my selfe. So it’s fine to be able to se all the details.
So, so beautiful!!
[...] I haven’t had any problem changing it up at all – I have done this with other garments (the Printed Silk Cardi was the most notable) and as long as you split the pattern at the armhole bind offs, it [...]
[...] …Another garment to make Sarah smile! [...]
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