Contains:
- Illustrated knitting pattern
- Metric and imperial measurements
- 5 sizes 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, 2 yrs, 4 yrs
- Intermediate skill level
Materials you need at home:
- SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock; 425 yd (388 m) per 4 oz (115 g) skein; 80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon; 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) skeins Goldmine (MC); 1 skein Amethyst (CC)
- 3 (4, 4, 5, 5) 1⁄2" (13 mm) buttons
- One each 2.75, 3.25, 3.5, and 3.75 mm (US 2, 3,, 4, and 5) circular needles, 24" (60 cm) or longer
- 3.25 mm (US D) crochet hook for provisional cast- on; waste yarn
- 2 stitch holders
- sewing needle and matching thread
- yarn needle
Inspiration comes from many places for me. This time I had a swatch of stitch patterns I use as a sample in one of the classes I teach. I just loved how both of these slip-stitch patterns looked together.
One of the stitch patterns resembles small fleurs-de-lis when worked bottom up; the other makes a lovely scalloped lattice pattern when worked top down. To maintain the integrity of these two stitch patterns I realized that I needed to use a provisional cast on so the bodice could be worked upwards and the body could be knit top down. Working through the construction details often plays an important role in my final designs.
Colourwork using slip-stitch patterns feels a little bit like cheating, but I love the effect it achieved here. Felicia of SweetGeorgia Yarns helped choose the colorway and I absolutely adore it. The surprise is that the gold and amethyst colors paired with the detailed-yet-simple stitch patterns evoke the bygone era of rich brocade fabrics worn by upper nobility in medieval times.
Skills required: This design is started at the lower edge of the bodice with a provisional cast on. After the bodice is worked, the live sts are retrieved and the body of the cardigan is worked top down. Lower body shaping is achieved by gradually changing needle size.
Gauge: 26 sts and 36 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch using US 3 (3.25 mm) needle
