Category Archives: Cardigans

Bronte Cardigan #2

When I found the Bronte Cardigan pattern by Martin Storey on Ravelry it fitted my criteria of 1) double knitting yarn 2) Cropped length 3) interesting texture with cables and moss stitch features. I made the first one back in July this year before getting side-tracked into dressmaking. It was not until early September that I re-visited the pattern.

I ordered the double knitting yarn in a Brown Tweed from a seller on eBay and set off making the back. This part was a relatively quick knit as it featured the fancy rib followed by a lacy band and then double moss stitch for the remainder. Next came the fronts. I was especially looking forward to these as they featured the textured cables and a diamond pattern. This is just the type of knitting that I enjoy. I have to say that I am a convert to working from charts. In the past I have always knitted Aran-style and cable patterns from text. To see the pattern in a graphic way helps enormously in seeing how it develops.

I knew from the previous make that I would have to change the increasing so that the underarm sleeve was no longer than 17 inches and even that was generous for my arms. I have reduced the increasing so that they occur every 7 rows rather than the 8 quoted in the pattern instructions. The sleeves of this version are still very slightly too long but certainly ‘liveable’.

I have a particular dislike of picking up stitches for front bands and so I added 10 stitches to the rib section and once I changed needle. size, left those stitches on a holder. Once I had completed knitting the front I returned to the stitches on the holder, increased by 2 stitches and worked a double faux cable band until I reached the neck edge. I joined up with the stitches on that holder to make the neckband. I did have to pick up some stitches for the neckband but that was quite simple and easy, before continuing with the faux cable pattern. I love how this brings all the design features together.

I had over 100grms of the yarn left so am now knitting a coordinating hat to my self-designed Blackberry stitch banded hat pattern!

Project #60 completed 24th October 2020

Bronte Cropped Cardigan

In between the Lemon printed Penny dress and the Lewis & Irene printed cotton Sundress was project #37. This has taken a while to come to the blog as it is a hand-knitted cropped cardigan.I found the Bronte pattern by Martin Storey on Ravelry and it fitted my criteria of 1) double knitting yarn, 2) Cropped length 3) interesting texture with cables and moss stitch features.

I ordered the Light Stone-coloured yarn from Knitters Network and set off making the back. This part was a relatively quick knit as it featured the fancy rib followed by a lacy band and then double moss stitch for the main part. Next came the fronts. I was especially looking forward to these as they featured the textured cables and a diamond pattern. Again once I had mastered the pattern, working for the first time from a chart, the fronts were quickly completed.

6th June – so far so good!

Now onto the sleeves. I knitted the first sleeve exactly to the instructions, increasing and decreasing as directed. The sleeve turned out very long – we are talking orangutans! Now I know that I have short arms but this was ridiculous.

I knew that I would have to change the increasing so that the underarm sleeve was no longer than 17 inches and even that was generous for my arms. Having altered the rate of increasing so that I still ended up with the correct number of stitches when ready to knit the top of the sleeves I completed my 2nd sleeve. This worked out really well. So now I had two sleeves, one very long and one just right. I unpicked the 1st sleeve back to the rib and then re-knit according to my revised plan. Lovely – two matching sleeves!

Ready to re-knit the sleeve

Once I had completed the 2nd/3rd sleeve I was ready to stitch the cardigan together for which I used a back stitch.

Ready to stitch together

I have a particular dislike of picking up stitches for front bands and so I knitted two separate bands featuring a couple of the faux cables. I did have to pick up some stitches for the neckband, but only a few and continued with the faux cable pattern.

Finished Bronte Cardigan

I love how this brings all the design features together. I don’t know if I will add buttons but in any event, buttonholes are not required as I can slip the buttons through the faux cable pattern.

I have enjoyed this project so much that I have already started on version 2 using a darker Brown-coloured yarn which should be just right for the Autumn.

Project #37 cpmpleted 28th July 2020

Raglan Sleeve Cropped Cardigan

A change from sewing – this stitching is knitting! I like to wear a cropped cardigan with my sleeveless dresses as this makes them multi-seasonal. Usually I buy competitively priced jersey shrugs from eBay but on this occasion I decided to knit my own. I used King Cole pattern #4125 purchased from an eBay seller and Double Knitting acrylic yarn bought from ‘The Range’.

King Cole Pattern #4125

I chose a Dark Teal-coloured yarn and decided to knit the plain stocking stitch version rather than the textured as I wanted a very simple, straightforward project. I know that my knitted projects usually take a very long time to complete.

King Cole #4125 knitted in Teal DK yarn

On this occasion, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown I have spent several hours a day knitting and thus the project has been completed in record time! Although I will never wear the cardigan buttoned up, I did make buttonholes and attached buttons which are pretty floral printed ones from my button stash.

I am very pleased with the end result. I have some 400 grms of yarn remaining so will combine with another colour to make up the 500grms required to make another #4125 in the future.

project #35 completed 28th May 2020

Blush Pink Fuller Cardigan

As a change to the Jenna cropped cardigan I was pleased to see the Fuller Cardigan by Cashmerette. This design features raglan sleeves, comes with fold back button band and facings.The Fuller cardigan also has neckline, sleeve and length variations.

Fuller Cardigan by Cashmerette

Whilst I had planned to make the cardigan in a Ponte Roma, I made a mistake. I found exactly the right colour on Cheryl’s website ‘Stitchy Bee’ but this is infact a 95% cotton high quality jersey. I bought 1½ metres at £4.95 per half metre.

Blush Pink Jersey

Cheryl’s description is thus:- “We’ve sourced the perfect jersey! Ideal for baseball tees, summer t-shirts and tops. A beautiful high quality fabric”. I have no disagreement with the colour and quality of the fabric – just wish that I had read the description properly and used the material to make a different garment! But there we are, I shall live and learn.

For this ‘wearable toile’ of the Fuller I checked my measurements against the instructions and cut a size 20 for a 48” bust C/D cup. I melded the two styles by using the neckline of View A (V-neckline) and the length of View B (cropped) with long sleeves from View A.

I cut the pattern pieces and interfaced then placed the project complete with thread, pre-would bobbin and instructions into a poly bag to take to the Sewcial Retreat.

Having completed the Jenna in Mint Green in record time, I felt that I was ‘on a roll’ and gaily started stitching the Fuller. Unfortunately I was not able to complete the garment on the Retreat as I had missed out the front facing piece!

Everything was placed back into the poly bag and since returning home I have finally managed to finish the cardigan. I used two Pink KAM snaps for the fastening though I doubt that I will ever wear the cardigan closed up.

Fuller by Cashmerette
cropped cardigan made in Blush Pink Cotton Jersey

In the final analysis I would say that this combination has not worked particularly well so next time I will make View B exactly as per the line drawing, possibly size up to a 22 and make sure that the fabric I use is a Ponte Roma!

completed 19th March 2020

Old Gold Ponte Roma ‘Jenna’ Cardigan

I have had the pdf pattern for the Jenna cardigan by Muse patterns on my computer for a long time. Finally, I have printed it off so that I can make a cropped cardigan to go with my full-skirted dresses.

Jenna View A with long sleeves
Jenna line drawings

I copy from the website the description of this versatile pattern:-

Jenna is a fitted, round neck, button-up cardigan with two length options (hip or waist length), three sleeve options (long, 3/4, or short), and optional shoulder yoke detailing.

The waist-length version is designed to go well over skirts and dresses, coming down over waistbands and then letting skirts flare out unimpeded.  A wide hem band harks back to cardigan and jumper styles of the 1940’s and 1950’s.

The hip-length version is great over shift dresses and trousers, and includes a hem band to help it hang well whether worn open or closed.

Variation A has plain shoulders for a classic cardigan style. Variation B gathers gently into curved front shoulder yokes for a subtle 1940’s touch.

Full length and 3/4 length sleeves are finished with cuffs, while short sleeves are finished with a simple hem. Full length straight sleeves come down past the wrist and are designed to be wide enough to sit comfortably over the lower part of your hand.

Mix-and-match length, sleeve, and shoulder options to create up to 12 different styles.

I chose to make View A with long sleeves using just 1.20 metres of 150cms wide Old Gold-coloured Ponte Roma purchased from Girl Charlee Fabrics’ sale a couple of years ago.

I made the size 48 as that seemed to correspond exactly to my measurements. I made the entire cardigan on my sewing machine as the overlocker is still threaded with Black in anticipation of the next dress to be made! Nevertheless the cardigan came together very quickly.

During the construction I made a couple of alterations and have noted some changes for the next iteration. I found the shoulders very wide and have trimmed a good ½ inch from the width and reduced the sleeve cap to correspond. The sleeves were shortened and next time I will slim them down at the wrist and/or make the sleeve cuff narrower so that they fit closer to my wrists.

Like many of the photographs on Pinterest, I have added KAM snaps as fastenings although I very rarely button up my cardigans, the snaps do finish off the button bands nicely.

Jenna cardigan in Old Gold Ponte Roma

The colour of this Ponte Roma coordinates really well with several of my dresses. Now that I know what to expect from this pattern I will order some more fabric in other colours to make cardigans to go with dresses in my wardrobe.

Completed 17th February 2020.

Elmira Ballet Wrap Cardigan from Seamwork

Rose Pink Viscose/Spandex Jersey from Sherwoods Fabrics

Inspired by a wrap top worn by Lisa Comfort of Sew Over It, I purchased 2.5 metres of this lovely Rose Pink printed jersey from Sherwoods Fabrics. In their sale, the fabric was just £4.99 per metre and would be ideal as a wearable toile. For the pattern I chose ‘Elmira’ using my subscription to Seamwork magazine.

Elmira Ballet Wrap Cardigan

Here is the description from their website:-

If you’ve been looking for the perfect, multi-season cardigan, then look no further. Elmira is a cropped, fitted ballet wrap that has you covered in all four seasons. In a lightweight jersey, Elmira is just right for summer and spring. In fall and winter, a medium weight sweater knit or French terry enables Elmira to adapt to your changing wardrobe. With each season and wardrobe combination, Elmira has you covered.

According to the measurement chart, I fitted exactly into a 2X and this is the size that I prepared. As the front bodice and the waist ties need to be cut 4 times, I copied those two pattern pieces again so that I could lay out all pattern pieces in one go. Following the layout meant that I had approximately 30 inches x 60 inches wide of leftover fabric that I will try and use for a basic tee top or if there is insufficient yardage, a Savannah Camisole, also from Seamwork.

I followed the construction method to the letter and I am pleased with the end result, especially the double layer for the bodice fronts and the cuffs on the sleeves. There are however, a couple of things to be changed for my next make.

The overall fit of the cardigan is fine but I find the ties are too long. Next time dependent on the weight of the fabric, I will reduce their length. I found the method for attaching the front bodices to the back rather ‘clumsy’. In future I will enclose the back bodice shoulder seam between the two layers of each bodice front. Also, I do not like the internal fastening of two small buttons and thread loops. I will find an alternative for that.

My Elmira Ballet Wrap Cardigan in Rose Pink

I have a particular fancy at present for soft pink. I need to check out my wardrobe and find a dress or skirt to compliment my new cardigan so that I can wear it at least of couple of times before Autumn sets in with a vengeance!

So that is item 2 of my list completed, now onto the next.