Berry and Bramble Cardigan

I finished the Berry and Bramble Cardigan. Overall, I really enjoyed knitting this--despite my issues with decreasing in pattern. I'm glad I decided to do that (rather than have random stockinette patches as the pattern directed). I love the way this yarn looks and am thrilled that I got the yarn on sale and only spent around $13 to make this sweater. Woo hoo! However, I can't decide if I love the sweater or not. I almost always make the smallest size (which in this case would have been 28 1/2" bust), but for this one I decided to make the next size up (33" bust). Even though I'm only a 31" bust, I made the 33" size because I felt like the one in the magazine didn't close enough. I was worried that negative ease (which usually works best on my small frame) would cause this sweater not to close. Unfortunately, the more I look at mine, the more I think it may be too big. Hmmm...


Pattern: Berry and Bramble Cardigan by Mary Gehling (Interweave Knits Fall 2009)
Yarn: 6 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted Weight in 152 Oxford Grey (80% Acrylic/20% Wool/3 oz/ 85 gms/ 197 yds/ 180 m)
Needles: Size 9 circular (24")
Size: 33" bust
Modifications: None really. Just did a one stitch stockinette edge on the sleeves, neckband, ribbing and belt instead of slipping the first stitch. This kept a nice clean edge.

The Good and The Bad: More Knitting Adventures

Last night I finished the right front of my sweater. As I mentioned in my last post, the left front took me FOREVER because I was having so much trouble decreasing in pattern. The right front went much more smoothly. No ripping. No frustration. It just seemed to make sense what to do and all went well. In fact, here it is:Isn't it lovely? Look at that nice line along the neckline (the right side of the picture). Just a lovely even slant. Just the way it was supposed to turn out.

Now let's look back at the left side:
See how the decreases for the neckline (on the left side of the picture) aren't done right? See how that inside line is wavy? It goes in, but then goes back out a little, then dips back in. Yeah, that? That's NOT how it's supposed to look. I was just having issues when I did this. I didn't do things right at all. Major "blond" moment here. I totally forgot about only doing a partial pattern repeat at the edges of the sweater instead of a whole pattern repeat. It threw everything off. So...I'll be ripping this side back out tonight. I think it should be pretty quick to reknit now that I have my brain on straight again. Oh well. Third times the charm, right? Maybe fourth time? Oh well. I'd rather do it again and do it right or it will bug me every time I wear the sweater.

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope yours is going well.

And for my knitterly readers

For those of you who actually read this blog because you knit and you like to see what others are knitting, here is my current project.


It's the Berry and Bramble Cardigan from the Fall 2009 Interweave Knits. It started off a little slow as I tried to figure out my rhythm while getting used to knitting through the back of loops for the twisted rib pattern. Then I had to get the hang of the Berry and Bramble stitch.


Then things got pretty fast for a bit UNTIL I had to start doing shaping as I worked on the sleeve. The directions are very general (e.g., work in pattern while decreasing every other row at the neckline side or something like that) so I had to do a lot of playing around trying to keep the berry and bramble pattern looking okay while keeping the right number of stitches. This involved lots of thinking, writing, more thinking, knitting, and ripping. I think this bit of sleeve has taken me almost as long as the body.


Arrgghh! Oh well. Hopefully all my work on this sleeve will mean the other side will knit more quickly. I really hope so! Anyway, that's where I am for now.

Off to knit a bit before getting ready for our neighborhood Trunk or Treat tonight!