Grandpa Cardigan by Joji Locatelli
I started this cardigan on January 1; the first of my 2016 Stash Down projects. I’m using some “old” Birte I had in my stash, in an OOAK (one-of-a-kind) “Soup Pot” colorway that’s a bright, rich burgundy / raspberry color.
My OOAK’s truly are one-of-a-kind, non-reproducible colors, too, so as much as I’d like to reproduce this color, it’s probably unlikely. My OOAK’s are basically left-over dye that I store in large bottles, by color. So, I have large bottles for reds, blues, greens, purples … and any leftover dye goes into the appropriate bottle. They’re a real mishmash of colors. Then, if the color isn’t quite what I like, I’ll add additional colors until I like the result. They are truly a “soup pot of color” (I envision the soup I make from leftovers in the refrigerator, to which I always add other veggies and such until they’re just right). Hence the name.
Anyway, back to my current project. I had this lovely Birte in my stash, and I’ve been wanting to make a cabled cardigan for a long time. I searched and searched, and kept coming back to Joji’s beautiful pattern. It was what I wanted. Birte is my DK weight superwash merino / cashmere / silk and is one of my favorite bases. Grandpa Cardigan calls for a DK weight yarn but, after swatching, I just could not get gauge (which is really unusual; typically I’m right on and sometimes ::gasp:: I don’t even swatch). I’m wondering if this is actually Sunna and not Birte. I don’t know. It wasn’t marked (because, you know, “I know I’ll remember what this is!” ha. More likely not; I label everything now). I went back to the drawing board and searched for a pattern that would fit my gauge, but I kept coming back to Grandpa.
So I did what many intrepid knitters do, and I made it work. I’m getting 27.5 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches, instead of the 22/28 called or in the pattern (luckily the pattern is mostly written in inch measurements for length). I’m knitting a size 46-48 because, after doing the math, this is the size which most closely corresponds to the 38-40 I usually knit.
I love these cables so much
This is a fun pattern, because it’s knit from the top down, seamlessly. Provisional cast on, knit one side of the front to the armpits, then the other, pick up the provisional cast ons and knit the back and then join them all for the body. I was two rows off pattern when I went to join the fronts to the back (nobody’s perfect, right? I am the queen of compromise in my knitting. Well, sometimes, anyway.), so I knitted two extra rows across the back and voila! matching patterns to continue on with the body knitting.
Almost done with the body!
I’m looking forward to the sleeves; they’re knit in the round from the top down, using short rows. The pattern needs to be worked into the short rows as it’s knit, which should be fun and perhaps slightly challenging to make sure both sides match.
Cables are so addictive. I’ve found myself still knitting “just one more row” at midnight on quite a few nights. Which is okay because I can’t wait to finish this sweater!
Now, I had 8 skeins of Birte in this color when I started. I’ve used about two and a half skeins for the body of the sweater, which means I’m going to have yarn left over. When I’m finished, I’m going to gift it to a lucky blog reader because, hey, I don’t really need more than one project in the same color when there are so many other colors to knit! It may not be enough for a sweater (unless it’s a smaller size) but it will certainly be enough for a good-sized project. So, stay tuned for that; I’ll do the give away once my sweater is finished.
In the meantime, Joji has generously donated a free pattern to a lucky blog reader. So, if you’d like a copy of the Grandpa Cardigan pattern, just leave a comment and I’ll pick a random winner on Sunday, February 14! Happy Valentine’s Day!
I too love cables they always look so sophisticated and comfy at the same time. I would love to make this cardigan.
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Like all of Ms. Locatelli’s patterns, this one is gorgeous and your color is lovely!
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That is a beautiful sweater – and I just happen to have a sweater’s worth of Birte in my stash!
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Not only one but TWO generous offers……..how can I resist? I just finished my first big knitted garment in a long time and it turned out pretty well, so this pattern would be a good, next challenge.
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The last sweater I knit for myself was 40 years ago. I love this pattern maybe it’s time to make myself another sweater.
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Love that pattern and this blog
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Thanks, Donna!
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What a beautiful pattern! I’d be honored to be entrusted with the benefit of your generosity and talent!
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Love the color and texture. I also love that you forgive yourself that it’s not perfect and you adjust as you go along to make it work!
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Thanks! Reminding myself that nothing in life is perfect really helps with the occasional foibles in knitting 🙂
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What a great pattern! I have had my eye on it! Scuddeb on Ravelry
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Beautiful sweater, love the color.
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Lovely pattern! And the color of your yarn is beautiful!
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It’s looking good!
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Love the explanation of your soup pot colors and this one really shows off the cables to perfection!
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Beautiful! I love Birte and I love cables – the two together are amazing.
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Wow! That is one stunning sweater you are knitting.
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Thanks! 😀
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Um, everything I love- topdown, cables and BIRTE!
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😀
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This is a beautiful cardigan. I’d love to win it. Am looking forward to a picture of your sweater too?
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I’ll definitely post photos when it’s done!
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Hi Ardis! You’re the random winner for the free pattern coupon! Please email me at info@spirit-trail.net so I can get it to you!
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It’s a beautiful sweater and even more wonderful in your OOAK color. I’d love to knit the “Grandpa Cardigan” for one of my eleven grand-daughters!
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Eleven grand daughters! Wow, Mary, that’s awesome! If you knit one, though, you might have to knit ten more – they’ll all want one 😀
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I’d LOVE a copy of this pattern! I’ve loved knitting cables since I was a teenager. I’m not sure what the appeal is for me, but cables and any other kind of texture in a pattern is a weakness for me!
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I really love the cables, and your color choice is beautiful!
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Thanks 😀
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I’m just learning cables. I love this cardigan and would love to make it. I LOVE joji’s patterns! I hope I win it. :). Thanks.
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This pattern will get you really good at cables :-). I have completely perfected my cabling-without-a-needle on this one!
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I agree that color is absolutely delicious! I love Joji’s patterns, and I was just telling a friend this morning that I was in the mood to make a cabled sweater my next project. This one would totally fit the bill! Thanks to you both for your generous giveaways!
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Thanks! 🙂 and you’re welcome. This is a really fun pattern to knit, and I just love the design so much!
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Love this pattern! I’m also a dyer and I am going to try some soup pot dyeing. What a great idea! Thanks for the Valentine giveaway ❤
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It’s a good way to not waste leftover dye (which I seem to have sometimes no matter how much I calculate 🙂 ).
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Love this color and Birte is a favorite base of mine (Sunna too)! I’m making Baikeys Irish Cream in birte Chaceldony right now.
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Ooh, look forward to seeing your sweater when it’s done!
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You are both very generous. The sweater and colorway are both lovely. The winner will be blessed. Texasjill on Ravelry
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i loves loves loves that color
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Thanks 😀
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It’s beautiful!
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Thank you 😀
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