Introducing Calligraphy Cardigan

Meet the Calligraphy Cardigan - a perfectly cozy cardigan to dress up or down.

This may look familiar.  It is in fact the Gooseberry Cardigan from Weekend Knits of 2009.  I've made a few modifications and now making it available for purchase as the Calligraphy Cardigan, named after the beautiful shade of tosh dk that the sample is knit in.

Photos by Laurie Savard, modeled by Ariane Caron-Lacoste of Falling Stitches.

finished measurements Chest circumference: 34.75 (38.25, 42, 45.5)49.25, 52.75, 56.5, 60”

Length: 27 (28.5, 29.75, 31.25)32.75, 34.25, 35.5, 36.75”

yarn 6 (6, 7, 8)9, 10, 12, 13 skeins Madelinetosh tosh DK (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 225 yds / 206 meters) in Calligraphy

needles US6 / 4.00 mm: • 24” or longer circular needles • set of double-pointed needles (dpns) Adjust needle size to obtain correct gauge.

notions Stitch markers, split ring markers for buttonhole placement, tapestry needle, 8 (8, 8, 9)9, 9, 10, 10 1” buttons, sewing needle and matching thread to attach buttons

gauge 22 sts and 28 rows = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch

$4.95

I know some of you are waiting for Breezy Cardigan to release - it's next up, hang tight!

New Beginnings

All my spring pattern's released successfully...and exhale.  What a relief to have that behind me.  And now to relax and enjoy some mindless knitting.  Oh no, wait!  Like a crazy person I committed myself to all kinds of new projects and deadlines for fall! Ahhhhh!!!!  It's so easy to say yes. Well, at least I get to play with some beautiful materials.

Today I am experimenting with:

Sparrow, the new organic linen from Quince.  It's lovely and not rough on the hands as you knit, amazingly enough.  That hasn't always been the case with other linen I've worked with.

An old favorite, Canopy Fingering.  One of the new projects I am working on is inspiration based.  Though the plant this color is named after, yerba mate, is native to South America, today I am thinking of seaweed washed up along my Maine coastline. Hmmmm.....

Spud and Chloe at the Farm Giveaway!

***** The Winner is Carol Haines.  Congratulation! ***** I am excited to be hosting the 2nd day of Susan B. Anderson's blog tour as she promotes her new book Spud and Chloe at the Farm!

I've always been a fan of Susan's fun pattern collections, which include Itty-Bitty Nursery and Itty-Bitty Toys.  She has a gift for designing three dimensional knits, and at the Farm is a testimony to that.

Look at what you can knit!

There's a mother hen and chicks, piglets, a farm dog, brown cow, barn cat and a barn and picket fence.  And of course Spud and Chloe themselves - isn't Spud adorable?

Susan has a pattern for a lamb in Itty Bitty Toys which I knit for Jonah.  He loves him!

Spud is even rounder and squishier, I may have to add him to the collection.

If you've never knit anything like this before, don't be intimidated.  Susan's instructions are always very clear and uncomplicated.  Just follow along and before you know it you're holding an adorable little knitted animal!

Susan's books appeal to children with their bright photographs of fun knitted toys and babies and children wearing adorable knitwear.  At the Farm takes it one step further - there's a 9 page Spud and Chloe cartoon at the end of the book!

Thanks to Artisan Books, I am happy to be able to offer a copy of Spud and Chloe at the Farm as a giveaway!  Leave a comment below to be entered in the contest, and I will choose a winner at random on Monday, April 18.

Congratulations, Susan!  What a fun book.