Pattern: Bridie by Anna Bell, from Knit Knit (Ravelry links all).
Size: medium.
Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton (50% cotton, 50% wool), shade 900, 9 balls.
Needles: Addi Lace 3.75mm.
Tension: 22 sts and 30 rows to 4″x4″.
This cardigan is beautifully designed and beautiful to wear. It was also, unexpectedly, pleasurable to make. I took a lot of my early knitting knowledge from Maggie Righetti and Elizabeth Zimmerman, both of them seam naysayers (although the former is far, far less dogmatic than the latter), and assiduously avoided sewing a stitch wherever possible. But Bridie was too lovely to ignore on principle. I knitted-in the button bands rather than working long strips and sewing as I went – to me, knitting-in seems almost indistinguishable from sewing-on, and much less infuriating.
However, in a very minor revelation, it turned out that sewing-up wasn’t the agony I’d imagined it to be. In, fact, getting everything lined up and carefully bringing the pieces together was deeply satisfying. Better than that, I love the look of the finished garment – the way the seams lend structure, and the pleasing pucker on the insides. Of course, the asymmetric fronts are the very best thing about this design. But on my one, I am particularly enamoured of the green buttons:
Very glam and eminently wearable. I think seams are one of those things I convince myself I’m scared of, but in truth, I’m too lazy to take the time to learn:when I do, I’ll know I’ve graduated from dilettante stick wielder to Super Knitter.
Oh, its gorgeous, I love the colour and the fit on you!