Yarn Used: 3 ply cashmere, approx. 3.5 (50g) balls, on size 1 & 3 needles.

Time Spent Knitting: Started 1/16/06, Ended 2/22/06

New Skills Learned: This is the first time in a pattern I have been asked to increase stitches along the last rib row. It’s a great skill to learn since so many sweaters ask you to increase stitches after the rib row.

Another first was seaming up sleeves that are not raglan but seam up cast off areas or decreases to each other as well as shoulder area having knit rows being sewn to knit columns. I actually was a little gusty and started into it with out directions. Intuition in knitting is a great thing because I figured out I was doing it right all with my own inclination.

Frusterations or changes / clarification made to pattern: Pattern again is very vague about decreases made in the sleeve and shoulder areas. The patterned wanted me to decrease by “k2tog at begining of every row”. I found it much better to make paired decreases on the knit rows then do purl rows even. It came out to the same amount of decreases in the same amount of rows, just neater looking.

I’m pretty amazed all in all this sweater came out and fit me exactly. Some things I notice about vintage patterns from this cardigan is that the waistline falls higher than we’re used to with modern fitting clothes. Also the sleeves are a little snug, though comfortable. I streached them out on a toilet paper roll and they are comfortable now. I have heard that women of old days have very little arms due to little excersize.

I am so thrilled with the buttons I ended up with. They are 1/2 inch dark silver with a geometric flower design. The beige oatmeal cashmere really called for a muted color button. Even black seemed to bold when testing around buttons.

All I can say now is, Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Taylor & Nanette Lepore; eat your heart out!

To see close up photos of this sweater, click here and here.