Just after Christmas, after months of making things for other people, I had the urge to knit something for myself.
I love Artesano (and was gutted to find out recently that they have gone into receivership – another independant yarn shop gone) and I found this lace cardigan pattern on their website, for free, no less. Here’s the link – download it while you can as I assume the website will be offline soon: – free lace cardigan pattern
The suggested yarn was their Alpaca Silk Lace, so I went ahead and treated myself to four skeins of ‘French Rose’.
The lace pattern is a simple repeating pattern and, although I lost concentration and made a few mistakes, the pattern is quite loose so they don’t show at all.
Fast forward to May and the goal was to take it to Spain as a light cover up in the evenings. Well, the knitting was finished in time….but not stitched together, so I took all four panels with me with the intention of finishing it on the first day or two of our holiday.
I blocked it.
I even sewed it together.
Then it came back to England with me and I forgot all about it until the other day.
Re-discovered underneath several WIPs in my lovely sewing cabinet, I dragged it out and sat down, determined to make the flowers there and then.
Look, matching nails and dress, too:)
Half an hour later, the flowers were completed and all that was left to do was the chain cord that would act as a buttonhole, joining the two flowers.
Finally…….Tadah!
It’s quite special as cardigans go, so I thought I’d glam it up with a pair of designer mules for the photos.
I love the scalloped edge at the bottom.
It’s so easy to wear and not at all restrictive.
The pattern calls for twelve knitted roses dotted about on various seams, but I left it at two, on the front opening edge.
I slapped on a matching lippy and met hubby for a drink at lunchtime and he loved it. Or was it the heels…….?
September 8, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Love, love, love it! Gorgeous colour. I’ve said before, I used to wear that colour a lot and don’t any more, but am so envious each time I see you in it. Must make a goal to knit something in it. Looks like an old shale lace pattern? Well done you. It’s a shame the sewing up stopped you getting it finished before your hols – but I totally identify with that sewing in ends/sewing together challenge. And do send it over here if you get bored with it 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Thanks Bekki, I’m rarely pleased with anything I knit for myself, so I’m chuffed to bits that I love this one. Hope to see you knitting yourself something pink very soon. Why do we procrastinate about the finishing off to such a degree? It’s never as bad as we think it’s going to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 5:29 pm
Glad you love it. You’re right we do procrastinate when it’s really not that bad – however I am still sewing those ends in on the fair isle baby cardigan and have been doing it for days!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 3:43 pm
OH MY !!!!! what a GORGEOUS cardi, it suits you like a match made in heaven …and of course that what is caught Hubby’s attention …the heels a close 2nd no doubt 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 4:54 pm
Thanks Roma, I’m particularly pleased with this make and will probably wear it to death.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 4:58 pm
I should think so too ~ I love it
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Love the cardigan AND the shoes! Go PINK!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Gita love a bit of pink overload!
LikeLike
September 8, 2016 at 6:39 pm
*Gotta
LikeLike
September 8, 2016 at 4:58 pm
This is such a beautiful cardigan! It looks really great with your white ensemble and the heels are just perfect. I envy your ability to knit and finish a project – I have 4 knitting projects that have been wips for a long time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 6:31 pm
So have I – this is one that I just happened to finish! Thank you for such kind words:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 5:21 pm
It looks amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Thank you:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 5:54 pm
Very glam indeed! What a gorgeous colour on you and so lucky you had all those matching accessories, right down to the nail polish and lippy. I would be a bit worried about catching the lacy bits with jewellery or, as often happens to me, on door handles (or dog claws) but being a bit more careful is a small price to pay for such a glamorous look. You easily match the original model for showing off the design.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Aw, thanks so much! I think this is the type of design that suits all figure types, from the tall, slim model down to short, chunky me. I have worn it all afternoon; in the pub at lunchtime, school run and through two sewing classes and must admit to catching it a few times already. Maybe I’ll save it for those quiet days. Wait a minute – I don’t have any of those!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 7:54 pm
You look amazing in it. Such a simple but pretty design. 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 8:04 pm
Thank you – I think the secret is in the lack of style. It’s just four rectangular panels stitched together which lets the yarn and lacework speak for themselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 9:28 pm
You go girl your shawl is stunning and you are rockin it! Love the color on you. You could have even stood a darker lip but I suppose that is for night. 😀 I am going to try to learn to knit but I definitely won’t be making anything that dainty anytime soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 10, 2016 at 3:03 pm
Thanks Robin, it was a long project and definitely not for a beginner – start with something much simpler! I’m not wearing lipstick in any of the photos, but the one I wore at lunchtime was a s vivid as the cardigan:)
LikeLike
September 8, 2016 at 9:46 pm
What a posh cardi, it’s a shardi – a cross between a shawl and a cardi! You really suit the sexy pink, but I’m thinking you were right about the hubby admiring the heals and your legs rather than your handy work. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 10, 2016 at 3:04 pm
I think so, too – men don’t notice things like nice knitted cardis – they notice the high heels and bright pink lipstick!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 8, 2016 at 11:03 pm
The colour and design are brilliant and suits you so well, looks to be an very relaxed and elegant cardiy either to dress up or down 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Oh, I do love it, which is quite a relief after all that work. You’re right, I think it will dress up or down quite nicely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 5:04 am
You look beautiful in that Cardi! It’s so important to make something for yourself every once in a while, too! Loved these pics!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 1:06 pm
Thank you, it actually makes a change to knit something that I like! I used the self timer for the photos – you should see the out takes!!
LikeLike
September 9, 2016 at 9:34 am
I love it. Such a dainty pattern and elegant wear. The roses are super, I think they give it the perfect finishing touch. Great shoes, to match and all. Wow, really stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 1:02 pm
Thanks so much Joey, I don’t think I’ll wear heels with it all the time though, I’ll have to buy some ‘everyday’, more practical shoes. Or keep the cardigan for occasional wear only, which seems a shame after all that effort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 12, 2016 at 9:49 am
I love it, it is way to pretty for occasional wear. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Beautiful cardigan lovely colour you look great
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 9, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Thank you – I really am a pink kind of girl:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 11, 2016 at 7:44 am
It’s stunning! I love that colour on you. Glad you got it finished.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 11, 2016 at 11:34 am
Bright pink isn’t for the faint hearted, but I love it. I only wish I’d finished it sooner so I could have had more time to wear it over the Summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 16, 2016 at 9:58 pm
Wow – that’s stunning and the colour looks great on you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 17, 2016 at 10:27 am
Thank you – This is one item of me made knitwear that will actually get worn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 19, 2016 at 2:59 am
It’s a beautiful piece and it looks smashing with your white pants and brightly colored mules. I’m glad you took some time to make something for yourself.
LikeLike
Pingback: Sunday Sevens #160 | Sewchet