I started this sweater back in January and was nearly finished by early spring. After I seamed it up and tried it on, I was disappointed. It was much more fitted than I’d hoped, and the sleeves were too short. I felt so defeated that I put it aside.
Many projects don’t turn out as I envision them, but setting them aside for a while before making any moves can change my perspective. And it was about to be summer, so what was the rush?
When I checked back in on it a few weeks ago, I decided to add a double-knit neckband and see if it improved things. I used the technique from Moreca Knit’s Paul cardigan. It took four attempts to get both the pickup rate and needle size right, but I persevered and got it finished. A final block after adding the neckband helped the sewn seams relax, and I coaxed some more length from the sleeves. The fit is much better now!
The pattern is the raglan cardigan from Amy Herzog’s Ultimate Sweater Book. I used the diamond motif from another sweater in the book for the body, then decided to leave the sleeves plain. I wasn’t sure whether that combination would work, but I really like how it turned out. I pattern-matched the side seams, a fun detail that gives it a little more polish.
I knew I wanted mother-of-pearl buttons, so finding these at Pacific Trimming was quick. I love the sliver of purple on each one. The yarn is Garthenor Organic Number 2 in Snowcap, and it’s very comfortable. We had a rainy 60-degree day today, so it was perfect sweater weather.
emilyWools 