Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Sitting Still in Purple



Well, look who's sitting still this week! Just reward for a mama who knitted this cardigan the looooooooong way. I was only following the pattern, mind you, but now that I've discovered all of this top-down, all-in-one, in-the-round bizzo, going back to the old-fashioned way of knitting in pieces and sewing it together at the end, well, that was all a bit arduous.


I found the pattern at an op-shop recently, along with a fabulous haul of '70s and '80s stuff. Think moustachioed men in skinny turtlenecks and colourful ponchos. I'll be sure to post pics of those soon. This toddler pattern was one of the few that I thought I could actually use. It's the Girls Cardigan with Lace Panels from the Patons pamphlet #661. It's knit in seven pieces. SEVEN! And then the neckband is picked up and added at the end. Someone out there, please tell me why those skinny little front bands couldn't have just been combined into the front pieces to avoid all the fussy sewing at the end.



Anyway, I'm really happy with it. The perfect vintage wool cardigan for a funny little lady. The yarn is 8ply Rustic from Bendigo Woollen Mills. I used almost all of a single 200g ball. This is budget knitting at its best - less than $12 for the yarn and I think the pattern cost me 25 cents. And the beautiful painted coconut buttons came from my dealer.


Is my Pearl just being pensive? Or does she seem a little less than enthusiastic with the result? That's not like her... (refer here and here.) I'm not reading much for me this week, but I've read 'Nurse Nancy' at least 60 times. After 23 months of showing little to no interest in books, suddenly she's obsessed.


Ravelry notes here. And if this knitting roll of mine continues, next week one of my other children will hopefully be wearing something new.

Joining in with all the lovely Yarn Alongers at Small Things.

34 comments:

  1. what lovely photos!! I always worry that knitting cardis for my daughter is actually just vanity, because if I'm really really honest, the yarn sometimes costs more than a high street sweater would've (especially when most of the last ball is left unfinished, like it is most of the time). So I can only imagine your satisfaction at knowing that this beautiful cardigan is a true thrifty masterpiece!

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  2. I went shopping for wool with my grandma once, I was 15, she was 80. She refused to buy purple because it was "an old lady's colour". I think it's a young lady's colour. Very sweet Pearly xx

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  3. Beautiful cardigan and beautiful photos (and, of course, beautiful model!)

    I love the colour and the pattern is so pretty, but I know what you mean - why on earth did it need to be knit in so many pieces?!

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  4. The lace paneling is simply adorable! Great job on it!
    I've found that wool is rather inexpensive here in Latvia compared to what I've seen in the States.
    My husband agrees and doesn't mind my 'stash'. Speaking of which, I think it's time to do a little more shopping...
    Cheers!

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  5. that is the perfect cardi. love the pattern, colour and model! x ashley

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  6. You clever thing, you're a beautiful knitter:) Such a pretty cardigan and such a sweet obliging model. You must be very proud to see her wearing your creations, looking very swoosh indeed. x

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  7. I try to only pick top down sweaters now-The cardigan is truly lovely and she looks adorable in it. The purple is a perfect shade :)

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  8. Gorgeous creations - babe and cardi. Agree with the rest, you are very clever. Xx bri

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  9. Ooooh what a pretty cardigan. I've found my kids are never as excited about knitted items as I am. They usually wear them though. Your pictures are wonderful.

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  10. Beautiful! I'm sure it was tedious to knit but it is gorgeous :)

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  11. Beautiful! I love the colour, and your daughter looks so sweet!

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  12. I don't what is better - that beautiful purple cardigan (lovely front panels!!) or those wonderful curls on your daughter's head. :) My 2nd son (3rd born) had such gorgeous curls, and I so hated to cut them.

    Yeah for an interest in books even if it's the same book over and over and over again.

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  13. Lovely cardigan and even lovelier curls on your daughter! She is adorable!

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  14. Great photos!!! Your little one is so cute!!! (as is her sweater!!!!) Great job!!!

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  15. First of all, I love that you refer to your button friend as your dealer :) second, what an adorable sweater!
    I love the lacy panels.

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  16. Button friends and yarn stores are dealers-it's so true. That purple is spectacular and your knitting is absolutely gorgeous-wow!

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  17. What a cutie! I'm so impressed at how much you knit, and just a little jealous that you can actually do it.

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  18. Beautiful model and sweater. Does it help if I tell you all the finishing work will make for a more stable garment? The button band attached later is "supposed" to make it stronger and less apt to pull out of shape. Or so they say :)

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  19. Wonderful on you for taking the time to sew one together. I don't even start the sweaters that aren't top down anymore! It looks fabulous though--the buttons are perfect too!

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  20. what a gorgeous cardigan, the colour seems to match the pattern perfectly!

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  21. How beautiful! I love the yarn, and it suits the sweater perfectly.

    My grandmother gave me a bagful of old patterns and books - some of them are from as far back as the 1940s - and I really do need to go through them. I'm sure there are some hidden gems in there but I haven't had time to find them… xo

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  22. She is so pretty! I love the purple. The sweater came out gorgeous!

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  23. Oh my! This is absolutely gorgeous! Love the colour and thanks for sharing the amount of wool you used. I love Bendigo wool and recently bought two balls of the alpaca as I thought one would not be enough for a toddler sized cardigan. Maybe I will get TWO projects out of it. Yay! haha! Your little one is simply adorable!

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  24. Gorgeous photos. Lovely cardigan and the buttons are perfect. (I think reading it over and over counts. Shows stamina if nothing else)

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  25. i love it all greer! just beautiful. and bless bless bless topdown no seam construction. this used to be the way i made all my childrens sweaters, made in pieces. and i don't miss it.

    i tried to order those buttons but they said (after i had my cart filled) no shipping outside of au.
    i should have checked. they look so cute on your girl.

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  26. Wow Griggly - Great response with all these comments! Do you know all these people? That sums up about the entire number of people I know, let alone people that would follow my blog! Wow Miss Pearl looks SOOOOO like Lolie!

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  27. SO lovely...She is adorable and that sweater is precious!!

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  28. Very pretty cardigan and model.
    Some things are just too classical - all those little bits were worth the effort by the look of the finished item.
    Enjoy your needles and yarn.

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  29. It's beautiful - sweater, baby, photos - totally worth seven pieces (although I know what it feels like to sit in front of a pile of cardie pieces. Next one: top down seamless for recovery. :)

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  30. The cardigan looks beautiful. Rustic photographs well. Totally agree about the old patterns and the bits and pieces of sewing together. Don't know if I could ever do anything but top-down and seamless knits now :-)

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  31. That cardi is GORGEOUS! and your comment about mustachioed men made me laugh/snort! Thank you.

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  32. What beautiful work you've done--I'm so impressed!

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  33. Oh how beautiful it is! I must admit I start to quake if a pattern requires piecing but yours looks so worth it. It's lovely. And $12.25? Well that's just the icing on the cake.

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