"Dollar and a Half Cardigan"

Started:  3-15-07  Status:  Finished 4-14-07

Pattern Source:  Spring 2007 Interweave Knits

Knit by me for me.

My General Comments:

There is an error in this pattern that is not, as yet, acknowledged 

in "Corrections" at the Interweave Knits website. 

Here is the Error:

The photo shows the "cable & lace" worked into the Right Front...

however, the pattern directions have it placed on the Left Front.

[Interweave responded to my email today, and they say that

Corrections for this cardigan will be posted on their website soon]

If you have your heart set on the photo image of the cardigan,

you will have to reverse the armhole and neckline shaping. (I did)

This is not a major issue for experienced knitters...it's a pain...but do-able.

If you are a new knitter, here is my suggestion: 

knit the cardigan according to the pattern directions.

Your "cable & lace" will be on the opposite side, your lefthand side.

  Not a big deal.

Photos of the "Dollar and a Half"

as shown with the pattern.

A Design Problem that I Encountered:

Well, this is a BIG ONE! Please read on!

See how the pattern calls for alternating "stripes"?  

Let's call them "panels" for the sake of our discussion:

"12-row Lace Pattern" panels

&

"12-row Reverse Stocking Stitch" panels

After the 2x2 ribbing is complete, you knit Lace Panel #1 using the

needle size that gives you the pattern "gauge". (I used US9)

So far, so good.

Then...you innocently begin your 12-row Rev St St Panel...

So far, so good?  Well, maaybe not so good.

But...you knit onward and upward...now knitting your 2nd Lace Panel.

Okayyyy...hmmm...things are starting to look at little wonky. 

But, you knit away...finishing the 2nd Lace Panel...and your 2nd Rev St St panel.

OMG!  Things are wonky!

The Rev St St panels are puffy and puckered! 

"Oh, this puckeriness will 'block' out later" you say to yourself. 

Dear knitter, think again! 

This puckeriness does not completely block out,

The transition from Panel to Panel will not be nice and smooth

as shown in the "model photo".

I learned the hard way...I just kept knitting my BACK piece.  I should have

stopped right there and frogged those 4 or 5 panels.

BUT...I pride myself on my blocking techniques, so I was fairly confident

that I could remove the bulging and puckering of the Rev St St panels!  :-(

After aggressivey blocking for days and days...this is as good as it got:

2 photos of my BACK piece, after blocking.

"THE REMEDY" aka PREVENTION

Here is a tip that will  prevent this obscene puckering effect:

Use a needle TWO SIZES smaller for the Rev St St panels!

So for my Left Front, and my Right Sleeve...I used a US9 for the Lace Pattern Panels...

and a US7 for the Rev St St panels.  I changed over to the US7 on the last (12th) row of the Lace Panel.

As you can see by the photo below...here are my two sleeves...on blocking wires and pinned to the blocking board...

ready for the damp towels.  They look better than my BACK does after many days of blocking!  Der.

Note:  I did not do both sleeves the same (the stripe sequencing) as called for in the pattern.

I will adjoin the striped sleeve (A) to the cable & lace Right Front (C)

and adjoin the cable & lace sleeve (B) to the Striped Left Front (not shown).

I think it this brings the pattern "full  circle".  I like the sleeves being different.

Besides, the stripes are not as flattering on my arm as I had hoped.

YUCK

"B"

"C"

"A"

FYI:

I was so discouraged by this shoddy

appearance...I just left it sitting there

on the blocking board on the wires

for days...whilstI worked on a "remedy" for the otherpieces of the pattern: namely, the Left Front and the Sleeves.

I found a remedy (details below)...and

I had full intentions of frogging this sad BACK...and reknitting the entire thing.  However, to myhuge surprise,.

while it sat there...itcontinued to shrink out more of the puckering...to an acceptable state...and I didn't have to re-knit the BACK afterall!

I would not wear it looking like this photo.  Will post photos of my completed "Dollar and a Half" Cardigan

later in the week!

NOTE:

I am renaming her!  She is my

"Fifteen Hundred" Cardigan!

This page was last updated: November 22, 2008

DOLLAR DONE!

MY YARN:

CASCADE "Cloud 9"

Color #104

Fiber: 50% Wool / 50% Angora

Yardage: 50gr / 109yds

Gauge: 4 sts=1" / #9

Wash: Hand wash and lay flat.

www.CascadeYarns.com

NOTE:  Most folks seem to

substitute the yarn from the

"model" yarn.  This MAY have

contributed to the puckering

effects.  I will never be sure.

One thing went right:  the sweater fits good!  I will wear it with pride!