PROJECT DETAILS

    Status
    FO
  
    Started
    11/19/2022
  
    Completed
    1/24/2023
  
    Pattern Name
    April Cardigan
  
    Designer
    Petite Knits
  
    Measurements
    5'4" // B: 35, W: 26.5, H: 38.25
  
    Pattern Size
    Small 
  
    Yarn
    Juniper Moon, Moonshine, Fine (30% Baby Alpaca, 30% Wool, 25% Nylon, 15% Silk) // Color: 1007 + Malabrigo Mohair (72% Mohair, 28% Silk) // Color: 057 English Rose HELD TOGETHER
  
    Needles
    US 6 (4 mm) body // US 4 (3.5mm) hem, button bands/collar, sleeve cuff 40" Circular

NOTES

This cardigan is going to be a wardrobe staple. I have plans for more.

MODIFICATIONS

Body stitch counts: 64-114; stopped at row 115
1x1 Rows 1-29; end on row 30 (RS)
TIP: I only used the fingering weight yarn (not the mohair held double with the fingering weight yarn) for the Italian Bind Off. This helped the yarn not tangle as I worked with a very long tail for sewing the bind off.
Button band: Instead of doing a button band with ribbing, I decided to knit the button band from the Champagne Cardigan. That button band is double knit and adds a nice finished look to the final cardigan.

RESOURCES

Knitting Increase Calculator // Website
No Holes For Sweater Sleeves // Suzanne Bryan // Youtube
Tubular CO in the Round (1x1 Ribbing) // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube
Difference between Italian Bind Off vs Tubular Bind Off // Knitting with Suzanne Bryan // Youtube
Kimmie Munkholm // Champagne Cardigan Button Band + Buttonhole // Youtube (Button Band) + Youtube (Buttonhole)
Double Knit Button // Cotton Gin and Tonic // Part 1 (Youtube) & Part 2 (Youtube)
Attaching Vertical Button Bands // Knitting the Stash // Youtube
Handknitter’s Double Knit Button Band // Into the Wool // Website
Covered button tutorial // KDD & CO // Website

Final Thoughts

I get the most compliments on this hand knit garment. I think it’s the combination of the color and the way it fits. I adore switching out the button band as recommended by several Ravelry users. It just adds a level of finishing that is beautiful and functional - but it does take extra time to execute.

I may still go back and add in a sewn ribbon button band to decrease distortion, but I rarely button the cardigans that I wear so it is not high on my list.

Ravelry Project Page