I recently completed a project that, for me, is pretty darned beige! It was a choice I made thoughtfully though, because there are days when I would like to wear a cardigan that is calm and understated. Okay, not very often, but I would like that choice. That way, clearly, I can find the colour in other ways. I knit a Cecily Glowik Macdonald (Winged Knits) design called Kara, a knit-in-one-piece, lace cardigan. For the yarn, I chose Quince and Co.’s Chickadee, a soft DK weight wool, in the colour Chanterelle. It is the recommended yarn for this Quince pattern, and a good match. The cardigan is light weight, and is meant to sit open, so the fronts are made narrower than they would be, if fastened. This was another choice I made with a lot of thought. I love to wear necklaces and this opening leaves enough space.
The lace pattern naturally creates undulations in the fabric that didn’t straighten out, even when the border was picked up and ribbed in K2, P2. A little magic always happens when we knit lace!
This cardigan is knit in one piece, that is, cast on at the bottom edge of the back, worked up to the armholes where the sleeve stitches are cast on at both sides, knitting out to both wrists until a hole for the neck is cast off. At this point the fronts are divided, sleeve width is completed and cast off, then fronts are knit down to the bottom edge and cast off. Seaming, I used the mattress stitch, happens along the side edges, and down the arms. I changed things up just a little, and picked up the sleeve cuffs on double points after the seaming was done.
Chickadee is a dream to knit with and blocks beautifully, showcasing lace work really well. Cecily’s design is simple which doesn’t always mean that the fit will be flattering, but in this case, I am happy. One great thing about this cardigan is that it stays on. Casting on for the sleeves as you go, insures that there is enough room over the shoulders to take your shape, and unlike some open cardigan designs, this one doesn’t keep sliding off. Kara’s lace pattern is memorable, and the written pattern was soon cast aside, in favour of chanting the rhythm. The knitting and blocking were completed quite some time ago at the lake, but class projects took over, and the seaming and finishing touches have happened this week, at last. ‘feeling chuffed!
