The end of a cardigan.

I got the buttons on M’s cardigan Monday morning (after an 8 minute ride in the dryer). After getting M to try it on and declare his love for hand-knits, I prompty forgot about taking pictures. Until this morning when he was getting ready to leave.

unsmiling boy in brown cardigan

Michael does not smile at 6:45 in the Morning.

I am very pleased with how this turned out! The crunchy Lamb’s Pride Superwash softens up during blocking to create a comfy fabric. I hope it wears well – I would really like to use this yarn again. While the cardigan turned out great, and looks like the picture, I think the designer could have done a better job with the instructions (Men’s V Neck Cardigan from Mari Sweaters). The pattern would be confusing for a knitter without prior Cardigan Experience: I often felt like I must be missing something and re-read the pattern looking for a piece of information that just wasn’t there. This alone isn’t enough to keep me from trying another of Mari’s designs (although when you combine it with the lack of a schematic and row counts instead of inches, I will think twice), the end result is a great looking sweater!

For Christmas ornaments this year, I chose to make the little stocking pattern from Oddball Knitting. With a couple changes.

one little stocking

The leg is only 14 rows long, the foot is 8 rows long and the cuff isn’t folded over. Since the white stuff is soooo fluffy (Caron’s Bliss), it’s easier (and neater) to knit the red part (Knitpicks’ Wool of the Andes) and then pick up around the cast on edge for the garter stitch cuff. There are six rows of garter stitch not counting the picked up row. If I make two stockings a day I should be finished by Thanksgiving. I think that’s reasonable, and it gives me time to work on other things. As long as they don’t require the #3 dpns.

four little stockings

Sunday and Monday.

9 thoughts on “The end of a cardigan.

  1. KT

    What a fantastic sweater! And your M looks fabulous in it. Might I suggest elbow patches as M looks so very professorial in it. (This is a complement!)

    Great Job! Great Job!

  2. Marie

    The cardi looks just wonderful; very comfy. And those Christmas socks are just adorable – did you say the pattern doesn’t involve dpns?

  3. becky

    All your creations are so divine Emily! The sweater is insanely georgous (even with the nonsmiling model (grin)) and the stockings are adorable. Great job! I know Michael is happy. And I agree with you about schematics! I was so disappointed when I bought a Debbie Bliss book last year to find that there isn’t the first one in her book. I can’t make sweaters if I cant see what the pieces are supposed to be shaped like! ugh. But you did a wonderful wonderful job!

  4. Lolly

    M’s sweater is fantastic! You make such lovely intricate things–and always do such a nice job on it!

    Love the stockings too–those are just so cute 😉

  5. Rachel

    That’s a great, classic cardigan. It came out really well.

    I also love the stockings! I’m cranking out mini-sweater ornaments this year, but I don’t think I can manage two a day. Maybe one per two days. I will be knitting through the night on Christmas Eve.

  6. amanda

    Wow! the cardigan came out great. I’m sure he must be quite happy with it. Now I must remember to NOT mention it to my hubby who wants a cabled sweater (at 6’3″ that is a LOT of sweater). Congrats!

  7. toni

    Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! A great man’s sweater! Good man color too. Glad to hear the LP superwash is a keeper. I’ve thought of using it a few times and now eventually will. Thanks for the enabling! 🙂

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