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Giveaway: My Favorite Cardigans to Knit

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my favorite cardigans to knit giveaway

Congrats to Suzanne!

I’ve never been a fan of knitting cardigans, but all of my big cozy sweaters (that I wear at home on top of other sweaters because I’m just that cold all the time) are cardigans.

So I guess I understand a little when Birgitta Forslund says cardigans are the best things you can have in your closet. She uses her cardi designs as a way to get into a person’s life, to be inspired by what they do and what they’re passionate about, whether that’s farming, playing the violin, writing poetry or playing soccer.

Her book My Favorite Cardigans to Knit features 24 different designs, mostly knit and for women, though there are three projects shown on men and a couple that are crocheted. Each one is inspired by a person’s passion and tried to incorporate that into the style. A dancer gets a bolero, for example, and a vintage loving beach goer gets a bombshell-style slip stitched design.

These projects are a lot of fun and suit a range of people and personalities.

If you’d like a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Nov. 30, and I’ll pick a winner at random.

I’d love to know how you feel on the pullover versus cardigan divide. Have you knit either or both? Which do you prefer, to knit or to wear?

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing! Good luck.

 

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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Comments

  2. I prefer cardigans as I have a tendency to feel too-hot quickly. I prefer the shawl collar with no buttons, but if the instruction is clear enough, I would love to try buttonholes.

  3. I have knit both a cardigan and a pullover sweater. I have a harder time with the cardigan because of the edging.

  5. I love cardis! Since hot flashes have taken over my existence, I love the ability to take my sweater off quickly!

  7. Thanks a million for the nice words about my book. I hope that the winner will be inspired by the book

  8. Would love to receive this book. Was a knitter but due to work schedule it has been put on the back burner. I have retired now and looking for more ideas and styles to get back into knitting again. I wear both pullovers or cardigan depending on the occasion.

  12. I adore cardigans and wear them as fashion items…I would LOVE this book to continue my passions of both knitting and wearing cardigans!

  13. I knit both as sweaters are quicker, but I wear cardigans more as they are easier to take on and off!

  14. I like to knit both pullovers & cardigans but I do find that I wear the cardigans more often!

    JKnits51 on Ravelry

  15. Around this time of year I always wish I knitted a cardigan. I’m mostly a hat, mittens, small project knitter but want to start knitting cardigans. This would be perfect for me! Thanks for the giveaway!

  17. I prefer cardigans. Don’t like to pull things over my head, getting makeup on the collars and messing up my “glorious” hairstyle. Plus I prefer to layer so I can control the warmth factor. I would LOVE this book. The first sweater I would make is the red/white featured sweater. I hope, I hope, I win. It would make my day and trust me I need some good things to happen in my life but I imagine we all do.

  18. I prefer a cardi to a pullover for convenience. I’ve knit a pullover sweater but have not sewn it together yet. I’m worried it won’t fit after it’s done.

  19. My DGDs love their cardigans…so that’s what I make them. But I love pullovers–especially the part where when you finish the sweater you don’t have to go shopping for buttons!

  21. I prefer a cardigan. A cardigan may be worn instead of a jacket or, when buttoned up, it may be worn instead of a pullover.

  22. Cardigans seem harder to knit (button holes, more edges) but easier to wear somehow. Avoids that sweater over the head/mussed hair look which is so attractive.

  25. I like both… Depending on the occasion and the likelyhood of needing to take it off and on (want to avoid mussing my hair). I’ve been known to make a cardigan sweater pattern into a pullover and vice-versa. In any case, I’d love a new book… Looks good!

  26. The only cardigan I’ve made so far was for a toddler. I do like to knit them, but they take dedication because they can take a long time to make!

  27. Havn’t knit a sweater yet, cardigans are back in style and figure the “fit” won’t be as critical if I attempt one.

  28. I get too hot with a pullover sweater although I prefer the way that they look! Ah well — it’s all good in the world of wool. 🙂

  38. I love cardigans because I am either roasting or freezing! I’m a fairly new knitterr and haven’t mustured the courage to try a sweater yet. This book may give me the courage to try!

  41. I get hot so easily that cardigans are always my choice – I have to be able to take my sweater off. That being said – I really love sweaters and would be thrilled to win this book!

  42. I have 2 yarns stashed in sufficient quantities to knit a couple of cardigans – I need this book!

  43. Prefer to knit sweaters but have knitted some cardigans. Have plans for both in my stash. Thanks for the giveaway!

  44. I am definitely a cardigan overtop of a pullover kind of girl. I love to knit both styles, and because I’m also always cold, I wear more than one sweater at a time. I would love to win this book and add more sweaters to my wardrobe. 🙂 Thanks.

  45. I am a machine knitter and hope to build an open knit device next year. Check out their website http://openknit.org the videos are fun to watch. At the moment I am enjoying learning the basics with my silver reed 150. I have made a few pullovers, a vest and a few scarfs just this year. I am hoping to make a cardigan for my mum’s 70th before end January 2015.

    Great review of the book. I think cause my mum is big into quilting I will try a design that emulates that in the design. So glad I read the article as gave me some inspiration as to what to do.

    Always curious as to why woman prefer cardigans to men. I suppose man still see cardigans as something an old men would wear. I suspect comfort is the reason most woman like cardies. Although I think a new trend.

    Ps I do wish there was a good ipad sweater pattern design software.
    I currently use a PC version to do all the maths for me.

    Good luck and congrats to the winner. Cheers.

  47. Ps funny typo in my first comment I meant woman tend to prefer cardigans while men pullovers. But came out slightly odd. Made me laugh though 🙂

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]