assemblage is now assembled

I am back on track - still finishing up those WIPs I committed to finishing after having too many drinks on this girls' weekend. One of those WIPs was my Assemblage cardigan.

• Pattern: Assemblage by Norah Gaughan, from Berroco Norah Gaughan Collection #3.
• Yarn: 7 sk Cascade Eco Alpaca in Natural (100% baby alpaca, 220yds/100g)
• Needles: US 6 (4,0mm)
• Size: 40" finished chest
• Mods: just a few  . . . (more below)

This whole Norah Gaughan booklet is out of this world, and Assemblage was just one of many sweaters I wanted to make from its pages. The stitch pattern on the collar and sleeve cuffs was just the perfect touch of "interesting" in an otherwise all-stockinette-stitch sweater. And when I started it we had just received our first shipment of the Cascade Eco Alpaca, a buttery soft 100% alpaca with amazing yardage and all natural colors - it was just way too easy to make 2 plus 2 add up to 4!

 
That stockinette stitch simplicity that drew me to the pattern is what ultimately did me in. I busted right through the back, and then lost steam about 5 inches into the fronts (I worked both at the same time). I set the project down somewhere around August of last year, and didn't pick it up again until mid-Sept (THIS year).

But fortunately for me, it all went together pretty quickly thanks to a new technique I learned from a Carol Feller pattern for picking up sts in a set-in-sleeve armhole and using short-row shaping to make a sleeve cap and knit the sleeve down in one piece. Now that I have discovered this - - - no more sewing in set-in sleeves for me! Ha ha! 

 
 
The only other mod I made was to change the stitch pattern to the round for the sleeve cuffs (since I was knitting the sleeves in one piece from the top-down), and I found that to be a bit challenging. Once I could "read" the pattern I just worked it visually, rather than following the pattern. I actually found it easier and more intuitive in the round than back-and-forth, like the collar (no surprise there).

 
 
This sweater is SO aboslutely wearable, I just am in complete love. And I had the perfect buttons in my stash, thanks to Erika W. Three little slices of reindeer antler from Canada - perfect for the design and the overall feel of the sweater. (And I'm sorry - I know - same outfit as the last post's pics - what're you gonna do about it???) It's comfy, cozy, stylish, and gosh darn it - I made it!

:)

Comments

[Sandy Lutgens]

Sarah love the look of the sweater. The clooar and sleeves are really nice.

[Melanie Reaves]

Very cute! I love how the sleeves flair out slightly...my favorite type of sleeve :)

[leslie]

did i ever tell you that pattern is one of my all time never made sweaters?!!! and you totally ROCK IT!!!!

[Kathy]

love the sweater!!

[willemtje]

Lovely sweater. Another advantage of "knit-in" sleeves is that those nasty ridges underarm are gone and that you can try the sleeves on regularly to see if they still fit.