I saw a reference to this cardi, and to this pattern company, a little while ago and completely discounted it for a very good reason: you have to measure and cut out your own bands! Quel horreur! Couldn't be doing any of my own measuring, no chance, and so I never considered the pattern more attentively.
And then one day at work I realised my radiographer in the office sewed and she was wearing a beautiful grey cardigan...by the end of that shift I had the pattern printed in my hot little hands. I cut a size XS. I had to have a friend over for moral support when I made the pattern piece for the bands, but I survived just fine (it's not hard.)
My first version has been showcased here. I wanted to get an idea of how the pattern came together, and I knew that long and grey were in its future. I used the short body, with the wide cuffs, long sleeves and long sleeve cuffs. No pockets. I thought it was a bit silly as it's really short and doesn't come around to the front very much, but in truth I started wearing it the minute I made it and I wore it, um, until I made the second one.
Which I know took exactly an hour and 20 minutes to make, because I made it before work on my last shift before vacation, and I was late to work.
In this version, I used the long body, wide band, long cuff and long sleeve, I think. Plus the pockets, which are totally amazing. I made it for my birthday, took it to Australia with me, and wore it every day. This fabric is a blend of merino and silk, I snapped up 3 meters at Designer Textiles in south Auckland - where I went on a fabric field trip in early August. Because of the silk in the fabric, it drapes really nicely.
Then I had to make a striped one which is exactly the same as the grey one (except in plain merino):
I was getting a bit rushed so some ironing of the band didn't happen - that really helps to make it lie flat. But do you see something amazing!? Do you see that I managed to match my stripes? Including on the pockets? I think I must be on a roll as I also got working on a plaid Archer around the same time.
And then one day at work I realised my radiographer in the office sewed and she was wearing a beautiful grey cardigan...by the end of that shift I had the pattern printed in my hot little hands. I cut a size XS. I had to have a friend over for moral support when I made the pattern piece for the bands, but I survived just fine (it's not hard.)
My first version has been showcased here. I wanted to get an idea of how the pattern came together, and I knew that long and grey were in its future. I used the short body, with the wide cuffs, long sleeves and long sleeve cuffs. No pockets. I thought it was a bit silly as it's really short and doesn't come around to the front very much, but in truth I started wearing it the minute I made it and I wore it, um, until I made the second one.
Which I know took exactly an hour and 20 minutes to make, because I made it before work on my last shift before vacation, and I was late to work.
Then I had to make a striped one which is exactly the same as the grey one (except in plain merino):
Any tips on how to make the cuffs?
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