After showering all that love on my favorite pullovers, I wanted to talk about my favorite cardigans. I know I was suprised when I started pulling images for this post!
This is the Emelie Cardigan, knit in the most fabulous brown: Arabian Nights from Sundara Yarn. I knit this with a lot of modifications, including adding about a foot to the body; it's written as a cropped cardigan. I also worked this with about 3" of positive ease, for a softer shape than I usually wear. Combined with the shorter sleeves and the rounded neck, this is a sweater I wear all the time. I brought it to France and wore it every day! When we got back, I still wanted to wear it, which is the mark of a great garment in my book.
Aidez is such a departure from Emelie. While the latter was knit in sock yarn on US 2s, this sweater was knit on 10.5s in some coned wool I held tripled. I love it. It's the perfect knockaround cardigan; probably not for work wear without a severe heel and a pencil skirt, but great for evenings and weekends. I confess: when our old apartment had heating issues (by which I mean: functionally, had neither heat nor insulation) I slept in this a lot. Probably more than I should be admitting on the internet. (also: Raglan! Suprise!)
This is the Minimalist Cardigan, in its natural habitat: sitting on the steps of a museum. While knitting this pattern made me want to take up competitive nostril waxing, I love the finished product. The loose shape and crystal blue color make it a seasonless garment. I love this in the winter over work sweaters- you know the kind, thin merino, designed to fit under a suit jacket and be utterly devoid of personality- and in the summer over linen pants and a silk shell. Delicious.
This is a patternless yoked cardigan which originally got a lot of attention because I cut one of the steeks on the subway. Though the simple, off brand wool is nothing special, wearing a made-to-measure garment is one of my greatest pelasures. Is this sweater going to win me great fashion awards? Probably not. But it's a great garment to wear on my way to the grocery store.
These last two posts have shown me that even if I love making the super complex cable and fairisle garments, I wear the simple things again and again. Maybe it's because the more ornate garments are- I hope!- more memorable, but it could also be that I get dressed pre-caffeine and only have the capacity for minimum hoopla!
"These last two posts have shown me that even if I love making the super complex cable and fairisle garments, I wear the simple things again and again. "
That makes a lot of sense to me--the more complex stuff is a Statement, while the simple ones can be dressed up or down depending on how ambitious your day is. The Lightweight Pullover looked wickedly comfy; I'm definitely going to have to make one soon!
How would you compare LP to Beacon Hill, in terms of wearability/comfort/appearance?
Posted by: Blair | September 28, 2012 at 11:45 AM