blue
knit project: interweave winter 01/02 - cobalt blue cardi (aka tweedy aran cardi)
difficulty (1-5): 3
size: 33 in
yarn: rowan's rowanspun aran in midnight blue (discontinued)
knitting specs: US 6 & 8 cir.
i'm finally here. my cobalt blue cardi is seeing the sun and i'm doing the photo shoot myself. because who can capture this blue like i can?
i have been working on this project on and off for the past several months. it was an engaging knit and i'm really happy to see it all seamed up and ready to wear. it feels surprisingly warm (maybe because it's already late spring) but soft. and i know it will only get softer with time and wash. rowanspun is 100% wool so it may felt a little with time. i just realized that the yarn is actually quite brittle. not sure what to make out of that. perhaps felting will thicken the yarn a little.
the fit is perfect. i actually knitted this with a bigger gauge so the finishing size falls between 33 and 38 inches. and, this cardigan is probably meant to be worn with a little ease so i am overall satisfied with the length, the width and even the buttons! mari is my enabler for those buttons. they match up so well, like they were never meant to be apart.
yes, it really fits perfectly and pairs well with my floor sweeping floral skirt!
the highlight of this traditional aran design is really the stitch pattern all over. the back piece in particular is my favorite part. i'm loving everything about this sweater and will wear it to work tomorrow. rain or shine.
happy may!
edited to add:
the pattern source and some more thoughts of the cardigan: i used approximately 700g of rowanspun aran. there are so many tweedy yarns out there, i chose this particular one because of price and color. my first choice of yarn was actually jo sharp's silkroad aran tweed. that would've been a great yarn to work with and to wear. however, it would also be much more expensive. karabella came out a new tweed yarn, i am guessing that would be a wonderful choice, too.
i used tubular cast on through out and tubular bind off for the collar. it is a really minor thing but i love how such details give the sweater a little more professional look. i used short row shaping on shoulders and did a three needle bind off for shoulder seams. stitches were kept alive for the back neck so i only picked up stitches along the front edges for collar. this also makes the finishing a lot neater.
last i googled, i found several knitters had also completed this cardigan, if you are thinking of making one, their notes will be useful. before you start, though, check the errata on interweave's website. it is a minor correction but it provides comfort to knitters like me.
Comments
Stunning!!!! Congratulations on your beautiful sweater -- it's awesome! Your photos are lovely as well. YAY!
posted by caitlyn on May 1, 2006 06:13 PM
Oh awesome! One truly perfect, satisfying knit makes up for any previous missteps, doesn't it? It looks SO great, and I'm glad you're happy with it after working on it for so long. Hurrah!
posted by Jenna on May 1, 2006 06:22 PM
Oooh what a gorgeous cardigan. You are so talented when you make your knits. Love the color too.
posted by Sue on May 1, 2006 06:22 PM
Happy May to you and your gorgeous cardigan! A stunner!
posted by grumperina on May 1, 2006 06:26 PM
Beautiful! I've been following your progress on this sweater and just love the end result. Where did you get the pattern (book, magazine?). I'd love to knit one for myself. (the difficulty level is helpful, thanks!)
posted by kellyt on May 1, 2006 06:27 PM
Its stunning on you! I wear stuff like that all the time and am sure you will get lots of wear out of it! Nice job once again Blossom!
posted by Dani on May 1, 2006 06:32 PM
Gorgeous. I love the collar.
posted by Lauren on May 1, 2006 06:40 PM
Beautiful! I love how serene the color looks combined with your white skirt.
posted by Steph on May 1, 2006 06:42 PM
It's perfect! AND it looks amazing on you.
posted by Felicia from sweetgeorgia on May 1, 2006 06:46 PM
Beautiful, the color is gorgeous and it fits you so nicely.
posted by Areli on May 1, 2006 06:51 PM
Stunning, and a great photo shoot!
posted by nichola on May 1, 2006 06:57 PM
Lovely lovely! But I would sweat like hell if I have to wear that now! LOL! I think this would be a cardi that gets a lot of wear.
posted by Agnes on May 1, 2006 07:23 PM
The cardigan is gorgeous, and it looks beautiful on you! I love your photoshoot, very arresting :) You did such a great job, on both the cardigan and the photos.
posted by hege on May 1, 2006 07:23 PM
Way to go - what a gorgeous piece of knitwear!
posted by Lisa on May 1, 2006 07:23 PM
What a beautiful cardi! You must be so happy it fits perfectly!
posted by brooke on May 1, 2006 07:37 PM
The cardi is very pretty on you! And excellent photos, too.
posted by Carin on May 1, 2006 07:38 PM
You look great in this cardi - loveliest deep blue. And you are right, it pairs up very well with that pretty frothy white skirt. You take such good self-photos!
posted by erin on May 1, 2006 08:42 PM
what a way to start the month! gorgeous sweater! the blue is beautiful on you as is the fit.
posted by yahaira on May 1, 2006 09:36 PM
I love your new sweater/cardigan. So pretty and it fits just right on you! Great job!
posted by Jade on May 1, 2006 10:45 PM
Beautiful colour, nice fit and great knitting!
posted by Maud on May 1, 2006 11:51 PM
I'm lost for words! It's gorgeous, and you look just great in it!
posted by Siow Chin on May 2, 2006 04:54 AM
it's beautiful! i love it! lovely colour and great fit. woo hoo!
posted by kris on May 2, 2006 07:33 AM
A beautiful knit, Blossom. It looks wonderful on you too! :) Congratulations!!
posted by Lolly on May 2, 2006 07:35 AM
It came out so cute! The style and the fit is perfect on you.
posted by Diana on May 2, 2006 07:52 AM
What a beautiful cardi and perfect photos!!Congratulations :>
posted by joujouka on May 2, 2006 09:05 AM
It's stunning! It looks perfect! Where's the pattern from?
posted by BearKnits on May 2, 2006 09:55 AM
It looks amazing! Congratulations!
posted by Angela on May 2, 2006 11:05 AM
Gorgeous!! I really love it with the skirt.
posted by carole on May 2, 2006 12:00 PM
It's beautiful!
posted by beth on May 2, 2006 12:06 PM
It is lovely! And you are right -- it looks great with your skirt :o)
posted by amanda on May 2, 2006 01:09 PM
Lovely! And where did you get that skirt? They really do look fabulous together. :)
posted by Rebecca on May 2, 2006 02:23 PM
great choice of yarn. compliments the patter very well! great work, i really love the sweater.
thanks for sharing!
posted by j a r e d on May 2, 2006 03:03 PM
GOOD FOR YOU Your sweater looks amazing Up next?
posted by Kim on May 2, 2006 03:12 PM
It's beautiful Blossom! Love the way you presented it with your photos!
posted by francoise on May 2, 2006 04:02 PM
Gorgeous. I love everything about the sweater and you look great in it.
posted by Stephanie on May 2, 2006 04:37 PM
This is absolutely beautiful! Stunning even! And it's just won the award for my next personal knit! This is from Interweave winter 02?
posted by pip on May 2, 2006 05:57 PM
That cardi is brilliant! And it looks so good on you! Nice cardi premiere pics too. Great job!
posted by Venus on May 2, 2006 08:15 PM
can you stop being so gorgeous! you are making me feel ill!!!!!!!!!!!!
you and your gorgeous looks and gorgeous knitwear!!! sheesh!
posted by jacqueline on May 3, 2006 06:25 AM
It's so beautiful! I love the photos too - you look gorgeous in your new cardi. :-)
posted by terhi on May 3, 2006 07:22 AM
Fantastic work- I do love the texture. I think you picked the right yarn for it- Jo Sharp doesn't have the same stitch definition. Well done.
posted by di on May 3, 2006 08:22 AM
Seriously, could you be any cuter? You look like an Interweave Knits layout!!!
That cardigan is gorgeous. That skirt is also to die for! Can we trade lives?
posted by HibiscuitsGirl on May 3, 2006 09:07 AM
wow, this is gorgeous, why didn't bloglines show me this earlier? fantastic!
posted by julia on May 3, 2006 11:54 AM
absolutely stunning!!! and beautiful pictures!
posted by karen on May 3, 2006 01:13 PM
I love it too! Congrats on a beautiful knit.
posted by Elli on May 3, 2006 05:56 PM
Blossom - Blue is gorgeous!! (And I love that photo layout... what is that???)
How are you liking Atlanta? (It's my hometown, and I miss it terribly!!) Are you closer to the city or more outside? And are the azaleas blooming yet? It is so pretty when the azaleas just seem to explode all over lawns.
posted by Kathy on May 4, 2006 03:36 PM
Beautiful! You did a great job. I love your photos, too.
posted by Elizabeth on May 5, 2006 11:10 AM
Blossom...it is stunning! The fit & color are fabulous also! I love seeing how this one knits up in a different color than mine. It is just a beautiful cardi. My fit isn't real tight either...just very comfortable. Enjoy wearing it!!!
posted by Eilene on May 23, 2006 07:11 AM
beautiful cardi. I've been wanting to knit this for a whiile, have the tweed just can't get my hands on the pattern. Any chance you would be up for selling it??
posted by Kelly on October 16, 2006 09:39 AM