30.3.11

ensam striped cardigan

ensam striped cardigan

every spring, i get the urge to go through my knitting basket of unfinished projects. this striped sweater had been staring at me for a year and a half, and i purposely kept pushing it back to the bottom of the basket. i had finished a huge portion of the body, added the shawl collar, and only had a sleeve and a half to finish, and i got tired of it. i can't totally explain it, but i'm sure all you knitters have projects like that. once i realized i needed my size 8, 12" circular needles held up on one of the sleeves, i couldn't justify neglecting this sweater any longer. from there, it took me only about a week to finish - it would have taken less time, but i rapidly decreased one arm and realized only too late that it was turning into a sweater for popeye!

ensam striped cardigan

i read up on the striping method from the treeline striped cardigan by purl soho, but used my own measurements and modified top-down sweater pattern to get just the right fit. i had to work a little blocking magic for the length of the body since i ended up casting off just a couple inches short of the right length, but now i'm completely happy with the fit. finishing a sweater is always so rewarding!

ensam striped cardigan

15 comments:

  1. It looks so great!

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  2. What a gorgeous cardigan. You did an excellent job! I laughed when you said you only finished it recently because you needed the needles it was on; that sounds like something I would do ;)

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  3. cute! believe me, I know that feeling all too well. can I send you my bottomless box of unfinished business?

    ;)

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  4. i really like this! i completely understand the delay... sometimes it makes no sense when you're so close to done, but you just lose your lust for it. it turned out great, though, so good thing you finished it!

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  5. good.night. That's awesome! I want to make all the sweaters you make. I will get over my fear!

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  6. That is so pretty! I haven't made anything striped like that before, but you've inspired me to try!

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  7. It looks great! Very cozy I presume! I love 1-row striping!

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  8. this is beautiful, i want to knit one and be always cuddled up in it.

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  9. Wow that looks really amazing, I am so impressed and wish I was that competent a knitter but I think such a big project would completely intimidate me!

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  10. this is amazing! so cozy and so classic!

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  11. so cute! i had a treeline cardigan i started, then frogged, i might have to start this one up again. did you use the yarn it called for in the pattern? and did you use any special method for minimizing the jog in the stripes?
    - bea

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  12. that is amazingly beautiful. it makes me wish to knit up one myself if I knew how.

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  13. wowee! you are oh so talented, I could never imagine creating a sweater!! :)

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