Been quite some time since I’ve posted anything here.
I wanted to make a cardi similar to something I’d seen on coldwatercreek.com. Got some technique insights from a FakeKlaralund sweater tut, did a sketch, swatched/calc’d some numbers and grabbed several of my recycled thrift sweater cottons. I wanted it unstructured and versatile enough to be paired with capris, slacks or long skirts and have a sleeve that provided coverage but wasn’t too long given I’m in warm SoCal.
I’m a ‘winter’ so have lots of tops and bottoms (that I’ve made) whose colors (reds, navys, blacks, etc) are reflected in the yarns I used. I named the piece ‘gawdy’ because I’ve always worn simple solids, thus all those stripes feel like too much. Other than the ‘V’ of the neckline being a bit lower than I’d hoped (the weight of the cottons pull more than I allowed for so it has a slight empire silhouette) I was pleasantly surprised at how well it fits.
Took eight days to knit, one day to weave in the gazillion ends. The most arduous part was determining how many ‘threads’ of each yarn to combine for a fairly even worsted weight, throughout, for each stripe and the various transitions. (Those who recycle know about unplied cottons.)
It’s rather fun and artsy. I’m still debating adding afterthought pockets (can’t live w/o pockets!).
Thanks, Jan. You’re referring to the transitions? I started by just doing standard stripes but the starkness of that look was too delineated so thought it better to soften them. I didn’t have any method to the order of colors so just grabbed what I thought should go next. LOL I also wasn’t sure if I’d like the horizontal over the mid-section/derriere but, interestingly, it looks fine.
Mulderknitter…yes, the requisite tissues during hay fever season in MN. A place for the keys is a must! My mother was a diabetic so we always had pieces of candy in our pockets if her blood sugar acted up.
DeAnzaJig, the sweater is so unstructured, save for just a bit of neck shaping and some increases on the sides, it’s not much more then a couple of oddly shaped scarves, grafted to form the back, and then the bottom is worked as one big rectangle (sts picked up under the ‘sleeves’).
Unlike traditional sweaters, where you ‘see’ sleeve shaping, and have garment parts with a shape, there was some wishful thinking on this that the FO would somehow fit.
You did a great job. love the colour transitions as well.
This is one of my favorite things about KH and Ravelry, to see peoples own interpretations of patterns and ideas. and the fact that everybody is lovely and helpful
So, do I understand that you found thrift store sweaters, frogged them, and then used the wool for this one? Amazing!
I only harvest cotton/cotton blends (were I still in MN I’d be going for actual wool!). It’s a very cheap way of getting yarn but working with it is a bit different (all those funky threads). I have a small spindle but it’s not able to handle the amt of yarn I net from the sweaters I frog.
Just a guess…but the net cost of this cardi is probably about $2…if that. (And I used a button from my button jar.)
For those of us who recycle there’s something rather satisfying and enjoyable (almost ‘Zen’ like! LOL) about deconstructing and then recycling the fibers into something else.
Wow, I am impressed! That is such a cool top! I love the color joins! Is this your first design?
Would love to see a picture of it being worn…
Great job! Are you going to make the pattern available?
Jen
No. But probably the first where I had zero clue what the FO would fit like or I’d even like it. And not the kind of yarn that is conducive to being frogged (all those short threads).
Are you going to make the pattern available?
A fellow knitter on Rav asked me to write one. Giving it some thought.
