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Get Great Texture with the Ropes and Twines Cardigan Knitting Pattern

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This is probably just a personal problem, but I always feel like cable patterns need to be knit in a solid color of yarn. If I’m going through all the work of making cables, I want them to be seen!

But the Ropes and Twines Cardigan from Joji Locatelli shows me that a yarn with a little bit of color to it can still make pretty cables that stand out.

This top down cardigan features a cable that runs across the back and down the sleeves, and the fronts and back panel have a lot of texture on their own worked in broken rib, but after the knitting is done, I-cords are braided into the fronts and back, adding another cable-like look without cabling.

These I-cord forms being added on top of the knitting makes them stand out even more for a really dramatic look.

The pattern is worked in worsted weight yarn and is available in 10 sizes, to fit a bust circumference of 33 to 60 inches (83.8 to 152.4 cm). The actual measurement of the sweater ranges from 34.5 to 70.5 inches in the chest, or 86 to 176 cm. It’s meant to be worn with 4 to 6 inches/10-15 cm of positive ease, but you can alter that depending on how you like to wear your cardigans.

This project looks like it would be a lot of fun to knit and to wear, and you could make a version in wool for colder weather and try it in a cotton blend for warmer months.

You can get your copy of this pattern on Ravelry.

And if you’re wondering about knitting all that I-cord, I wrote a post not too long ago that includes three different ways to make I-cord: by hand with needles, using a French knitter or spool knitter, and using a crank-powered I-cord machine. Joji actually used a DK weight yarn for her cords, so you could make them on a machine if you have one handy!

[Photo: Joji Locatelli]

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Comments

  1. I understand the plane wool re cables, I have knitted in the amazing Donegal Aran wool, which is like a tweed effect, and is just super looking, I might give this multi colour ago, for my next project, I am just finishing a lovely Aran , knit from a cotton acrylic mix, as ,y son is unable to wear wool, pity, I love knitting cables, I love to knit a lot of Aran jumpers xx enjoying this post

Have you read?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]