Sometimes you just need a project that will go quickly, and give you what you need without too much fuss. And that was just what I needed after the baking and wrapping and traveling and partying of the holiday season. And boy was this ever quick. My friend Jaala was so kind as to gift me a bunch of pink Rowan Big Wool that she’d started a sweater with quite awhile ago, and then abandoned because she realized that big bulky wool wasn’t something she was ever going to wear. So it came to live with me. About 5 skeins of it. I didn’t have quite enough to make some giant thing with it, but I found the perfect project for how much I had in the Modern Garden Cardigan. I originally found this super cute one, knit in the same yarn, and was instantly sold.
I borrowed some size 15 needles from a friend, and set to work, finishing the body in 4 days. 4 days! It was staggering how fast this yarn knit. Then I stalled for a couple of days while I looked for another set of 15s to work the arms. Once I gave in and bought a pair, I was finished in just over a week more. It was such a nice contrast to the other sweater I’m working on in DK weight on 6s, which is much slower going.
I modified the pattern just slightly in the same ways as did the knitter who inspired me to make this, knitting the short rows into the stockinette instead of the garter collar, and knitting rows 13 and 14 twice in the yoke section for extra length. In the end I didn’t really need that extra length, as the armpits are now a bit too long, but it’s not a big enough deal to feel the need to fix. My buttonholes are all over the map, since while I was busy knitting super fast, I totally forgot to count my rows. I eventually moved the bottom button up an inch for aesthetics, since I’ll never button that one anyway. I knit the size small, as the sweater is meant to be worn with a good amount of negative ease.
I love this sweater. My only qualm is that the shaping in the leaves at the hips (plus the bulky yarn) sort of accentuates my extra curves there, and the leaves don’t lie all that flat, but I still feel that this sweater is pretty flattering nonetheless. If I made it again I might try to modify the lace pattern in the bottom section to be a bit trimmer, and maybe add a couple of stitches to the ends of the arms and then decrease them into the lace, as they are pretty tight. I even love the pink, even though I probably wouldn’t have chosen it on my own, I love it anyway. Thank you, Jaala, for the opportunity to make this! Click over to ravelry for more pictures, if’n you like.
Looks lovely Tracy!
Girl. That is gorgeous on you. Love it.
thanks, doll!
Lovely! Your photography just makes it look even more beautiful. Great job
wow, love this! I added it to my faves on ravelry and hope to make it too! It looks so great on you!
wow! what a great look, and i love that color on you! fantastic work tracy!
OMG! I can’t believe that sweater’s all done! And you look gorgeous in it! Now I know that yarn was meant for you, because you’ve transformed it into something lovely and stylish! You rock the pink, too, btw.
oxo jaala
Wonderful! That looks fabulous on you!! If I could pull off bulky yarn, I’d give it a go.
that is stunning, tracy! and it looks fantastic on you!
You are the yarn whisperer.
This sweater is fantastic. Seriously fantastic (and I’m sort of missing the whole ‘makes you more curvy thing’ cuz it looks amazing on you!). I believe you may be talking about a little sweater with WR as the initials?? Yeah, me too…funny, I just cast on a sweater in bulky weight on Sunday to get some much needed instant gratification. I’ll return very soon to WR, but I love that I only knit a couple hours and have half a back (you know, as opposed to an inch)!
tracy! wow! i LOVE that sweater! (first time seeing that pattern!)
beautiful color, beautiful work, beautiful you.
Wow, you are very talented!