Monday, October 13, 2008

FO: Grannie Smith Cardigan

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful that I've finally finished my Grannie Smith Cardigan and -- even better -- that I'm thrilled with it.


When I chose this project, it was because I wanted a very wearable cardigan, the kind that I would buy. The pattern calls for Kidsilk Haze, but I decided to use Lorna's Lace's Shepherd Sock yarn, and I'd definitely recommend it (or any sock yarn) as a substitute. (I used seven 50-gram skeins.) I followed the pattern exactly as written, for the 40" size, except for the button band; more on that later. I'm very happy with the fit. I knit the five pieces and blocked them, but once I'd assembled the whole thing, it was too small all over. I reblocked the finished sweater according to the measurements of another cardigan that fits perfectly, and the result is a perfect fit. I like that I can wear it all buttoned up, but it's more likely that I'll just button a couple at the top. That's what I usually do.




You may have noticed that the top button is not in line with the others. The Grannie Smith pattern says to make five buttonholes evenly spaced along the button band, and then to add the neckband. I wanted to change it a bit; so the buttons would be closer together and so they would go right to the top, I planned to make six holes in the button band and one in the neckband. It wasn't until I was seaming the sides and sleeves that I realized I'd forgotten to make the buttonhole in the neckband. Crap!! I wasn't about to undo the seaming I'd done and the whole neckband, so in the end I just added a loop at the edge of the neckband. That's why the top button is over a little bit. I can live with it.


You can see that I went with the pearly grey buttons after all. Mostly I chose them over the red ball-buttons because I thought these ones would be less likely to slip out of the buttonholes. Overall, I enjoyed making this cardigan, and I think I'll wear it a lot. It's a great pattern, I love the yarn, it fits well, and it can be dressed up or down. I'm so, so pleased with it. I think I'll wear it tomorrow when I celebrate my birthday by voting!

43 comments:

Cari said...

I love it!

Shaina said...

That looks great! Charcoal is one of my favorite LL colors. Did you alternate skeins?

Anonymous said...

I love it! Happy early birthday!!!

Sue said...

Oh I love it and what a wonderful knit in sock yarn.

Elizabeth said...

It's wonderful - a great fit for you, and I love that you knit it in sock yarn (a way better choice than Kidsilk Haze, in my opinion - I love the way it looks but can't knit with it). Another fabulous and versatile cardi!

alligator said...

That is so awesome!!! It looks really wearable and I think the top button being over on the side is a really adorable little design touch. I hope you get to wear this all the time!

Anonymous said...

that is one fine cardigan... great job

Anonymous said...

Oooh, I love it! I like the idea of sock yarn in place of kidsilk haze (which I find itchy!). It looks really nice on you, too.

Happy early birthday!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous sweater, great fit!
Happy Thanksgiving!
And, Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Bertha said...

That looks like it was made for you! (uh, well I guess it was) Beautiful! Happy almost birthday!

Knitting Linguist said...

I love it! And happy birthday :)

Bonnie O. said...

WOW! That looks stunning. Well done!

spajonas said...

it's lovely! totally perfect for you! :)

hope to see you on saturday!

claudia said...

Love it! Its a great look on you.

melissa said...

it's totally perfect on you! i love it!

Anonymous said...

Perfect! I love your creativity on the top bottom. It's a design element, right? :) I'm going to add this sweater to my ravelry queue.

yaiAnn said...

It's so cute! Perfect for any time of the year!

melissa said...

happy birthday, and congratulations on knitting such a fabulous sweater. it looks great!

_sandra_ said...

just fab', your yarn substitution rocks! happy birthday :)

bigbucketgirl said...

It's perfect! What a fabulous cardi. :)

ingrid said...

Fantastic cardigan! It doesn't even look handknit (I'm not sure if that's good or bad!), it's so perfect.

And happy, happy birthday! Happy voting too!

Anonymous said...

Oh, it's so beautiful! I just love it.

Dragonridermom said...

What a beautiful birthday gift to give yourself. You did an awesome job and I love the little loop and button on the neckband!!

Anonymous said...

That sweater is just gorgeous! I have 20 balls of black Sisu in my stash that I could so see myself using for this sweater.

p.s. Happy birthday!

shannon said...

yea for finished (beautiful) sweaters to be worn on your birthday!!! :) happy day!!

Jennifer said...

Great sweater. It looks so classy. Very wearable.

Oh and Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeous! I never gave the fuzzy KSH version a second glance, but in sock yarn? You're a genius. And I really like the little offset, loop-closed button at the neck. It looks like the kind of delicate point of style I admire on the garments I've inherited from the grandmothers - from back when things were handmade, or at least finished with care.

Scrappy Raven said...

I didn't immediately notice the offset top button but I agree with sarah that it looks like a design detail that is not included in many garments today. The detail looks especially nice with just the top couple of buttons done up. Beautiful sweater.

Anonymous said...

Very lovely. I think the buttons were the perfect choice. That sweater is very flattering as well as attractive.

Anonymous said...

That's a spectacular sweater. The top button looks like a design feature. So often the button hole in the neck band is a lump that stick out. This is so cool.
And the choice of pearl buttons is
perfect. Congratulations. Well done. Marlyce in Windsor Ontario
(Maxine said that voting in the US was like choosing your favourite mosquito in a swarm at a picnic)

Anonymous said...

All of your knits fill me with envy, but especially this one. It's so perfect! Hope you're having a very happy birthday in it. And hooray for voting!

Seanna Lea said...

I love this cardigan. I don't really remember the KSH version (I can just look it up), but I always appreciate the crispness of the stitches that can be achieved with a nice sock yarn.

Do you think it would be workable to do all of the buttons as loops? I am not averse to making buttonholes, but it is nice to have options.

Ellen said...

Happy birthday and election day. I love the sweater and agree with Ingrid that it doesn't look handmade, but in a good way.

Paula said...

Lovely cardigan, looks very cute on you.

Happy Birthday! I wish you joy happiness and most of all the eradication of the sweater vest...

Amy A. said...

Love it. I'd like to know more about the re-blocking. What do you do? Soak it down and stretch it out?

Blocking still baffles me. But I like the idea that I might be able to force the sweater that I've almost finished to fit.

Unknown said...

It's beautiful. Subtle, but feminine.

Robin said...

Beautiful cardigan! You will certainly get a lot of wear out of it. And I hope your birthday was pleasant, despite election results!

Anonymous said...

You look great in the cardigan - it's very cute!

Beth said...

What a cute sweater!

La Cabeza Grande said...

A perfect 10! I love the fit, colour - even the off-center button that adds a bit of personality!

Oh, and happy belated birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday!

Sweater looks amazing, great color and I love the buttons you ended up choosing. And your loop modification. Way, way cute. xo!

Eileen said...

Belated Happy Birthday. I love the new cardigan.

She Knits Flying Monkeys said...

Lovely. The color is beautiful.