It’s been quite awhile since I’ve had a “regular” FO post around here. I think it was when I finished Salina before Rhinebeck 2 years ago!
Pattern: My own Cooke Cardigan (rav link)
Yarn: Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, in Macaw, 12 hanks.
Time Elapsed: Only about a week!
Pattern Notes/Modifications: While I liked all of the designs I drew up for my Knitscene Collection, The Cooke Cardigan was definitely the piece I could most easily see fitting into my day-to-day wardrobe. I have the need to dress pretty professionally in my day job, and the lustre of the Canopy Worsted, combined with the open nature of the design, absolutely meet that requirement. (Let me please take this opportunity to say that Canopy is one of my very favorite yarns I’ve ever worked with. It’s soft, it’s slightly shiny, it’s not too heavy, it’s not too warm, the colors are fantastic. LOVE.) So very soon after getting notice that the Issue’s preview was live, I visited my fave ‘LYS’ and got a whack of Canopy in the lovely “Macaw” color.
The design was written with top-heavy figures in mind, and included details especially appropriate for that shape: The front panels of the cardigan have no waist shaping, the edges are trimmed in i-cord to keep rolling to a minimum and maximize the vertical lines of the sweater, etc. Since I’m not a top-heavy shape, and wanted a more relaxed, fluid feel to the cardigan I made a few changes.
I think this is important enough to repeat. When I urge knitters to examine a written pattern closely and modify to suit their needs, I mean it! You’ll wind up with sweaters you love that way, and knowing people love their versions of your design is manna for any designer.
Since having the boys, my waist is definitely thicker than my “old self”‘s waist ever was. But despite that, I still have a bunch of curve going on in front. So the first two changes I made to the pattern as written were to increase the overall width of the stockinette front panels by 1” each and then add waist shaping to those panels to match the back.
(Worn closed so that you can better compare it to the magazine picture.) This ensured that the sweater would fit my larger bust and hips, but still contour to my figure.
I also knew I wanted a straighter sleeve–I find them easier to push up, which is what I constantly do with my sweaters, and I liked the more relaxed look of a straighter sleeve, too.
Finally, I eliminated the i-cord edging. I knew I wanted the cardigan’s edges to scallop and roll a little more freely. The sample’s crisp lines were lovely and met what I wanted to do with the design, but didn’t fit my own personal vision for my wardrobe.
Aside from that, I knit the 38” size exactly as written.
(Normally, I’d suggest that someone with a figure like mine shorten the sweater’s length; however, I have the torso length of a 6′ woman, so I didn’t find that necessary!)
All in all, I had a wonderful little stint of entirely decadent knitting (not a single deadline attached!) and wound up with a piece I’m going to pull out time and time again this fall. What could be better?
(I’m off to Sock Summit later this week, but please stop by again on Wednesday, when I participate in the Fiber College Blog Tour!. I’m so stinking excited to teach there, it’s not even funny.)
Amy Herzog Designs