Get Cozy with the Granny Cardigan

I’m sure you’ve heard of a grandpa cardigan, which I imagine as a kind of shapeless, probably oversized, V-neck, button up cardigan you might find on an old man or Mister Rogers. There’s nothing wrong with that style, but where are the grandmothers in all that? Don’t you think they’d have better sweaters?

Enter the Granny Cardigan from Joji Locatelli. This cabled cardigan retains some of the boxy shape of the grandpa version, as well as the V neck and buttons, but on the whole it’s a more refined version, like a hug from your granny.

The design is worked from the top down and involves minimal finishing since the sleeves are picked up from the shoulders and worked in the round from the top down and the button bands is knit in one piece all the way around the body.

There are 10 size options with a chest measurement ranging from 38.5 inches (that’s 96 cm) to 69.25 inches (or 173 cm). It’s meant to be worn with 5-10 inches (13-25 cm) of positive ease, but she worked in a little less ease on the smaller sizes so little frames won’t feel like they are totally swallowed up in the sweater. Unless you want to be, in which case choose the amount of ease that you prefer.

The pattern calls for a DK or light worsted wool, so make sure you check your gauge before getting started.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

Looking for more fun cable knitting projects? Check out this collection of cable knitting patterns to help boost your skills and confidence with cable knitting. And if you’re looking for more great cozy cardigan knitting patterns, I’ve got you covered with these easy cardigan knitting patterns. Or maybe grab another one of Joji’s patterns, perhaps for some fun cabled socks to go with your cabled sweater?

[Photo: Joji Locatelli]

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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