Friday 26 September 2014

Hooray! Minerva grey cardigan

My Minerva Crafts make this month is a knitty one. I made the Sunkist cardi by Kirsten Kapur which is on Ravelry. I highly recommend this top down pattern. If you have not knit top down before then this is the pattern to try.



I used Sirdar Supersoft Aran, it was supersoft but my tension was not great with it, I have been crocheting too much just recently. How do you get your knitting tension back? all tips welcome.


It is grey, I know, I think grey is finally out of my system now but it sometimes looks like a light musky blue depending on what you wear it with.



The pattern is so adaptable. Knit borders, crochet picot borders, make scalloped borders, tie with a ribbon, add a big button: the possibilities are endless.



So give it a go, top down cardigans and jumpers are the future. You start at the neck. Use stitch markers to indicate when to increase at the shoulders. The advantages are endless, there is the super added bonus of being able to try it on as you go along: No more short or long arms, no more sewing up, no more bulky side seams, no more too long or short in the body. It really is the bespoke pattern of cardigans.

Thanks Minerva. I just need to get some knitting miles in now to sort out my wayward tension before I crack into some Louisa Harding Jesse cotton DK

What are you making?





12 comments:

  1. Hi Jo! Wow, you have been super busy! Your cardigan looks lovely indeed! I've never tried to knit topdown but it's on my list of things I'd love to try. Like you I've been doing lots and lots of crochet, so hopefully I haven't lost the knack of knitting (sounds catchy, eh?), I must get back to do some!
    Your cardi looks very soft and cosy and I like how you used that huge button, it gives it a special accent!!!
    What is next on your list?
    Love,
    Ingrid xx
    http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

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  2. Knitting an entire garment is on my todo list! I think I'm gonna start with baby things though!
    Frankie
    Www.knitwits-owls.blogspot.co.uk

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  3. Your cardigan is lovely.
    I hate sewing up but have never tried top down knitting, perhaps it's time to give it a try :-)

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  4. Well you've answered a question I've been meaning to ask all week after seeing you walk past in this cardi!! It looks lovely Jo and I agree that in some lights it looks quite blue.
    I'm still knitting school cardigans and I'm really eager to finish now as I so want to start winter knitting. Not sure what I'll start with although I'm sure it will be an Andi Satterlund pattern, but which one??? :-)

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  5. Jo your new cardigan is perfect, I see you making another one because it is so versatile. And I love the gray, can gray really ever be out of your system?
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  6. Beautiful cardigan I love the button and the colour. I think grey is so versatile for this time of year it goes with most things. Have a great weekend.

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  7. That really is a lovely cardigan, I've added the pattern to my library, thanks for the link.

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  8. It's just lovely - well done! Your tension looks good from here, and I love the shade too. I made a little top (the Daisy Duke) with the Louisa Harding Jesse - it knits up so nicely and made even my erstwhile wayward tension look good. What are you planning next?
    Happy weekend,
    xx

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  9. It is great Jo, especially with your skirt and top that you made, you have a whole ensemble now, how good is that!! No tips on the tension though, I can't knit!! xx

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  10. Love it Jo! Is there no end to your skills? You are fab ... Bee xx

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  11. Look at you looking gorgeous in your sunglasses in that photo...the cardigan really suits you. I am tall and struggle to find knitwear that is long enough in the arms or body for me, so this top-down knitting would suit me down to the ground...if only I could do it! x

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  12. You have such a good eye for colour, texture and styling. I'll just keep checking out your knitting projects.

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