Tag Archives: cardigan

not-quite-elizabeth-zimmerman’s-fair-isle-yoke cardigan

I started this cardigan on Boxing Day, as my post-Christmas treat to myself. It is inspired by Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sweater of the same name, but I am working it from the top down, not using EZ’s percentage system and I have also changed the Fair Isle pattern on the yoke. So it has sort of ended up being my Fair Isle yoke cardigan, hence the title of this post.

I am mostly using 2 ply Jumper Weight yarn from Jamieson and Smith, with the red being Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift. Both companies produce wonderful pure wool from the Shetland islands; some people express a preference for one manufacturer over the other but, to me, their yarn is equally lonely. I therefore tend to make my choice based on which one has the colours I want.

This cardigan includes both short row and vertical bust darts, as well as short row shaping at the back neck. It seems to be fitting ok so far. I’m knitting it in the round – it is destined to be my first attempt at steeking (aak!).

I wanted the cardigan to have quite a vintage feel. So I am making it short and fairly fitted, with about 3 inches of 1×1 ribbing at the bottom. I will knit the buttonband separately and sew it on afterwards.

I’m almost at the bottom now, and have just briefly paused my somewhat obsessive knitting to make a little gift for someone. I can’t wait to get back to it though!

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What to make next?

I’ve got some beautiful pale pink Rowan Purelife, but I’m not too sure what to make with it. Browsing on Ravelry I’ve found a number of patterns that I love for this weight of yarn. Here are my favourites (not in any particular order):

1. Lace cardigan from Vintage Knits by Sarah Dallas. Knitted by akochicraft. I’ve got this book, and there are lots of gorgeous patterns in it. I love either knitting from vintage patterns or, as in this case, from someone else’s interpretation of them.

2. Leafy lace cardi, by Soobeoz, a designer on Ravelry. Such a cute design, and the deep ribbing and tie-waist are both very flattering.

3. Eyelet chemise, from Interweave knits. This one is knitted by Katewillknit; she lengthened both the skirt and the bodice which I think works really well. So pretty!

4. Drops Lace Cardigan. Made by Tanja. I like how this is still cute and lacey but is a bit more modern than the others I have picked.

5. Cece cardigan, from ChicKnits. There is a longer and a shorter sleeved version – this is the longer one.

Clearly I am going to be making a lace cardigan! I think the reason I find it hard to decide what to make sometimes is that I know that the styles that I like aren’t always the best for my body shape. My waist is quite small but my bust is unnecessarily large. So the Drops Lace and Cece cardigans, cute though they are, probably fasten in about the worst place for making me look like a buxom pudding lady. Soobeeoz’s Leafy Lace cardi, on the other hand, is a style that I know flatters me, having made similar shaped things in the past.

Decisions, decisions…

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