Eva Weichmann – Ink, Yarn & Beer

Buttoned Cardigan, v

Done at last!

I don’t know about you, but once I start doing things, I keep doing things. When I am feeling lazy and stop doing things, I come to a screeching halt, and go no further. Inventorying my UFOs gave me some momentum to get things done, and these past two weekends seem to have been one of those moments when the corner was turned: I just want to keep going. Getting past that inertia is so difficult – like running up a steep hill – but coming down the hill is a lot easier.

Or is it just spring?

Anyway, I finished the buttoned cardigan, and will say that I am generally pleased with the pattern. I like the garter stitch cuffs, hem, and shoulder accents. Not too sure about the i-cord bindoff for the back neck, nor the way the armholes were shaped, but in general, it is a very attractive pattern. The yarn I used does not give to much, as it is acrylic and cotton, but even so, I think it works quite well for the sweater. Below are images of the sweater and details of different parts. My favorite part are those green buttons!

I also planted some madder seeds . . . not that it required too much effort!

Buttoned Cardigan, iv

This sweater is nearly done – about 85%. I’ve had to modify the pattern a bit to meet my needs, specifically having yarn that could not be knit to gauge. I have completed the first sleeve, which has knit up quite easily. I picked up 80 stitches total around the armscye.

If you look at the pattern photos from an earlier post, the sleeves are wrist length. As I am notorious for catching and ripping anything at wrist level, including destroying metal bracelets, I always roll my sleeves up, no matter what, or try to find clothing with 3/4 length sleeves. So, I decided to do this with the sweater as well. And, the end result (hopefully) will be that I have a very comfortable sweater which will have nice cuffs over time, and not be as hot as full-length sleeves would make it.

I’ve set Ishbel aside until I’ve finished this project – I think I have made a mistake in the current row of the lace, but don’t want the stress of finding right now.

And, admittedly, I have other knitting projects I’m putzing with . . .

Buttoned Cardigan, iii

The Buttoned Cardigan seems to be moving along nicely. Some focus is needed for the button bands and the pattern along the upper portion of the bodice, but it is easily done. I had to improvise a bit along the way, just to get a sense of how the pattern could work with the modifications I made.

Personally, I think the left front neckband’s decreases are tidier than the right (when you look at the photo, your right is the sweater’s left).

I also think that this yarn was possibly not the best for this pattern, in part because it is so busy, but also because of the looseness of the twist in the yarn itself. Still, the sweater is not obnoxious, and the details of the sweater up close, with this yarn, are nice. A solid color would be better. I do like the green buttons.

I have a few more rows to do on the left front before I begin the sleeves. I am thinking of making the sleeves 3/4 length, just because I prefer shorter ones. I always roll up or push my wrist-length sleeves. I have 8 buttons, and maybe I’ll put one on each sleeve as a decoration of sorts . . .

A Sweater Amidst the Smoke & Ash: Buttoned Cardigan, ii

The fires east of Los Angeles now cover over 220 square miles, or 140,000 or more acres. 80 miles away, to the west, the air is thick, the sky has a pale color to it, and when the sun manages to hit a surface, it is a sickly, reddish color. My eyes are burning, my throat hurts, and I am sneezing. That’s about as far as I will go – let’s just say, if is an altogether unpleasant experience here, I can only imagine how awful it is for people in the middle of it, the fire fighters, and everyone else.

There are a lot of rather snotty comments about California, fires, and so on. The fact is, every year the fires seem to be worse than those of the previous year, larger, harder to contain. Some of this is because of the ongoing drought, some is because of global warming, some of it because of the pine beetle, and some of it is because containment of fires has been the general practice, if not total abatement. Given the population density of the Los Angeles area, this makes sense – but when payback comes, it is nasty.

However, it is not just people who pay the price – wildlife also pays a price for this. How many wild animals have been burned to death, how many are without water or food? The cost is far greater people’s homes, it is the entire eco-system which pays the price, from humans to caterpillar, deer and songbird. The depredation of the environment is global, but so many people do not want to admit to it. And I am beginning to believe that less and less will be done, can be done, as populations increase, and living space and arable soil and clean water become less and less available.

But enough of this. Since it is hard to do much in this heat and fouled air, I thought I would take some pictures of the Buttoned Cardigan I have been working on. I’ve done the lower body, to the arm hole area, and completed the back. I am now ready to continue with the fronts. It is knitting up rather quickly, which is something I am rather enjoying right now. This picture shows you the sweater laid out with the sections done to date.

Here is a closer view of the buttons I bought for the sweater, and I think you can see how nicely the green buttons work with the greenish elements in the sweater itself.

And finally, the edging detail, which, admittedly, gets lost in the yarn. Still, I think it has a nice, finished quality to it.

Buttoned Cardigan, i

A week or so ago I dug around in my stash and found some “Second Time Around” cotton. I knew what I wanted to make out of it, but I needed to modify the pattern because my gauge was going to be very different than that of the pattern. I ended up changing some elements of the Buttoned Cardigan, by Eva Weichmann.

The pattern calls for 6 st/inch. My gauge appears to be about 4.5-5 st/inch.

The simplicity of the pattern is one of its most appealing qualities. Knit in the round – really, back and forth – on a circular needle, from the bottom up, is something I prefer in sweaters, just because I hate sewing. The sleeves and sweater are connected with minimal sewing – no setting in of a sleeve.

The garter stitch accents, especially placed between stockinette at the edges of the sleeves and at the bottom of the sweater, are really elegant. This creates a slightly more formal quality to the sweater, giving it a more finished appearance than a 2×2 rib. The same for the sleeves. Also, if you look closely at the buttonholes, you will see that the garter stitch surrounds the buttons, but changes to the finished edge of stockinette, which makes for an interesting and attractive buttonhole band.

The yarn I am using is rather “busy” but it shows up the garter stitch very nicely between the stockinette. The photo, unfortunately, doesn’t really do justice to the yarn, but hopefully will give you an idea of what it will look like.

The green buttons bring out the lighter thread running through the yarn, and I think will really add interest to the sweater itself.