The Double Moss Stitch Cardigan :: Knitting ::

More on my embroidery here

Happy Monday everyone! Well, isn't it hard to take decent pictures these days. Natural light is quite a precious commodity between the dark hours and the rain. I managed to snap some pictures of my finished cardigan, and I can now tell you how much I love it (now that it has pockets). It is my usual style, an easy to wear oversized cardigan.

I was really worried about the construction of the cardigan. It is not knitted in the round, - you have to sew the pieces together. You would think that because I sew it would be quite logical that this construction appeals to me, well it does not. I actually like knitting in the round. However after this cardigan I may be not so opposed to knit pieces and sew them together. I am not sure my technique is great yet, I totally bluffed it, and it worked, so did not investigate more, but I probably need to pay more attention to the sewing part. 

Pattern: Veste Femme (pattern 22) in Phildar Catalogue A/H 010-11

Yarn: Ecological Wool from Cascade Yarn in silver (see my ethical review here)
Yardage: I  think I used 2 full skeins (unfortunately I had used the yarn for something else, so it was not in full and intact skeins when I knitted with it). 

Needles: 7 mm (to get a light fabric - do try to make a sample to get the right fabric)

Size: I made the size 46/48 based on my gauge

Modifications: I did not make any modifications - even added the pockets. I did block it differently however. I did the neckline, shoulder and arm seams, and block it flat - and then did the side seams. 

Future Modifications: Although I love the double moss stitch, I think it would be interesting to knit this in another stitch to add some visual interest based on the same pattern. Also I may make the front panels larger to add even more drape.

Here is a quick review for you: 

Wearability: 4/5 - It is totally wearable - as soon as it is finished. I did not give it full marks because I do not like the way the edge looks, I would like them a bit neater to make it less hand-knitted (any tips?). 

Time spent: 4/5. I did not keep exact timing, but 3 months for a hand knitted garment for me is fast knitting, I think this could be done in a month if you really focused on it. 

Boredom factor: 4/5. There is so much double moss stitch one girl wants to knit over a month. I was easily distracted by other projects. 

Difficulty: 2/5. There is quite a bit of shaping at the shoulders, but overall it is quite easy to knit as it is mainly based on rectangles. 

Pricing: a bit less than £30 for the yarn and a few evenings of watching your favourite series on Netflix. Not bad value.  

This a great pattern to have for a basic cardigan in any wardrobe. It looks easily adaptable to your needs, and you can easily add more interest than I have done here. I may consider making another one of these. 

Double Moss Stitch WIP :: Knitting ::

Hello Wednesday! And hello WIP day! I am posting this cardigan project as I really need to show my commitment to finish it in the (very) near future - before it gets really cold. It is totally cardigan weather at the moment, so easy - you put it on, and off you are running your errands. Don't get me wrong I love scarves, beanie hats, layering - but it is takes forever to get ready (and this is just half the battle, I have to dress the kids too!). 

This project is quite frustrating as a WIP because you basically knit 3 rectangular-ish pieces that you will sew together. And therefore to actually imagine the cardigan (or whether it is going to be your size after all that knitting) is quite hard - I did not even attempt to take a picture of all the pieces. The model is featured in the Phildar magazine, and I am hoping for a similar result.. But who knows? These pieces do not give me anything - my next cardigan project will have to be knitted in the round.

Also I love double-moss stitch, but I may be having a double moss stitch indigestion here. It is the only stitch used, not a little yarn over, or little cable to break the pattern. However I do love how flat and neat the knitted fabric is, it is going to make it (hopefully) so much easier to put together. 

I am using some yarn from my existing stash - I must have had a massive project in mind, because I have loads of this yarn, but cannot remember what it was. So I am glad this project is using quite a bit of it. It is from the Ecological Wool from Cascade Yarns - you might be interested in my ethical review of the yarn here. This yarn is undyed. 

It is a bit rustic, in fact I was quite reluctant to use it for a cardigan, I was worried that it would be too stiff or too itchy on my skin. However once I made my swatch I was quite pleased with the result - due to the fact that I have to knit with 7 mm needles and therefore the fabric is quite light as a result, and because the cardigan is supposed to oversized and should not be too close to my skin. 

It is all serious reading at the moment. I am more and more interested in finding out about nutrition, and just got Potatoes not Prozac out of the library yesterday. It talks about sugar addiction - how it affects people (oh mood swings, I loathe you) and how to deal with cravings etc. I have managed to eradicate all refined sugar out of my diet, and I am working on the boy's diet. I am hoping this book is going to help me be even more vigilant about hidden sugars in their food. However as it is quite heavy reading for the evening, I am more likely to fall asleep on it... 

I will be joining Ginny today, it is good to be back in blogland!  

The Effortless-made-difficult Cardigan | A finish {Knitting}

The effortlessly blue cardigan started in August 2012.. That is a looooonnnnggg time ago. And why did it take so long? I knew I wanted to change the pattern but I had no idea how and what it would look like - and there lies the slowing down of the process - although the sheer amount of stockinette probably explains it as well.  

Surprisingly though I love the cardigan. I had doubts that I might not, but it is looks like what I had in mind, an oversized cardigan with loads of ribbing and a massive collar! And the colour, I love it, it is not your typical blue (it is actually quite hard to capture) and is quite striking, making the fact that it is knitted in one colour actually fine. 

Pattern: Effortless cardigan

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Blue Glasynys 
(used up nearly the whole 9 skeins, including the gauge)

Needles: 5 mm circular (according to the gauge)
Size: L
Modifications: shorten the panels, made the body longer and 
knitted oversized ribbing edges

So how hard is it? : Not that difficult, it is a well-written pattern and there is a LOT of stockinette (just warning you guys). I had to learn how to pick up stitches (see here for my tutorial) which has proved very helpful ever since. Even the blocking was ok. 

I did not change the construction at all, it is really a case of shortening and lengthening some of the dimensions to create an oversized version (in addition to the fact that I knitted one size bigger than my usual size). The construction is amazing however, the raglan sleeves the attachment of the collar and the panel - it makes a beautiful finish. 

This probably the picture that shows off the colour best. 

I am of course very happy to have a new cardigan in my wardrobe, but I am even happier to have finished knitting this. And just move on... And yes I already have a project in mind (in 6.5 mm circular needles, bigger, better, faster, right?)

Pattern Picks: Wool People 6 {Knitting}

Wool People 6 was published today and, oh boy, there are some amazing patterns... Here are my favourite four, including the one I will cast on soon I am sure.

I love this jumper and the simplicity of it. I have some green/emerald yarn that would work well I think..   

This second jumper is totally my style, boyish with an interesting colour work (but the colour work may stop me from knitting it... or it may be my challenge for 2014). 

I just knew this was a Bristol Ivy's pattern even before I saw her name, it is so her.. You may remember that my first ever post on this blog featured Winnowing. 

And finally my coup de coeur ... I want to cast on this beanie hat NOW. Who cares if I have many WIPs, I want this hat - with the pompom! 

So what's your favourite? You can see all the patterns on Ravelry or on the BT website (and you can read it like a beautiful fashion magazine, truly inspirational even for non knitters). 

I am crafting, honest...

Only a sneak peek, but it is really taking shape, trust me.
More printing on fabric -
I am so proud of my little penguin in felt. 

Ready for the next heatwave with a cardigan - more on my colour choice here

Coming Up

Here are some of the projects I hope to share next week... 

Finished but not photographed

Hoping to have made some progress

So nearly finished... 

Happy weekend everyone!

There is still time to enter the giveaway over at Le Challenge - for a chance to win three paper piecing patterns! Don't miss out!