Knit the Perfect Argyle Cardigan

Confession time: I have had the yarn to knit an argyle vest for longer than my daughter (who is about to be 14) has been alive.

It’s a pattern from the book Picture Perfect Knits by Laura Birek, which came out the year before she was born. I know I bought the yarn around the same time because it’s the actual yarn called for in the pattern (and even some of the same colors the designer used).

I don’t know why I haven’t knit it.

I just unearthed the yarn the other day because I’ve been cleaning out my yarn cabinet. Maybe this is the year I actually knit it.

This project is on my mind not just because I just found the yarn again, but also because I recently came across this super cute argyle cardigan knitting pattern, which also might need to be on my to-knit list.

It’s a pattern from Marly Bird, and it’s a great one if you’ve never done an argyle pattern before, because it has a lot of detailed instructions and links to videos to help you with the intarsia if you haven’t used that technique before.

Intarsia is different from Fair Isle or stranded knitting because, instead of carrying the unused yarn across the row, you work a section in a color with one piece of yarn, then pick up a new ball for the next section and leave the old yarn where you finished working with it. Because of this it’s easiest to work intarsia in flat pieces rather than in the round, so a cardigan is perfect for that.

This one uses four colors, and the back and sleeves are plain knitting and a solid color, so the cardigan fronts are the only colorful bit. The pattern comes in seven sizes, with a finished chest measurement of 40 to 70 inches, and is meant to be worn with 4-6 inches of positive ease.

You can grab the free pattern on Marly’s website.

[Photo: Marly Bird]

Knit a Single Color Argyle-Style Vest

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There are certain things that just make sense to knit at this time of year, and market bags are one of them. We tend to use our canvas bags more often in the summer with trips to the farmer’s market and the library, but string bags and market bags are great to use all year.

I love the Three Oranges Bag by Hana Cho, which looks just like a knit version of a plastic shopping bag, but with three cute oranges stitched on. The bag uses intarsia to make the oranges, but you could use duplicate stitch or intarsia to add a different design if you like. It calls for fingering weight yarn and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Sharyn Anhalt’s Market Square bag (also on Ravelry) uses worsted weight yarn and a mosaic pattern to make a pretty bag you’ll want to use every time you go shopping. The bag comes in two sizes and is worked in two colors of the same yarn for a fun mixed up effect that’s almost like weaving.

Speaking of fun colors, the Market Bag from Hubbabubbie Art uses a multicolored cake yarn (specifically Lion Brand Mandala) to produce fun color changes without any extra work. This bag is worked from the bottom up with a crocheted bottom and knit mesh sides. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry.

The Pike Place Market Bag from Blue Bird Pine Shop looks like a massive bag to hold all your market goodies (that is a child holding it, but still). The bag calls for worsted weight cotton yarn and the mesh is worked on extra large needles to help it open up to hold everything you want held.

The Knit Farmer’s Market Bag form Design BCB is another good one, made mostly of mes with a little stockinette for extra stability. The base is also worked in stockinette so items you put in it will sit flat.

This mesh bag from Sheep and Stitch doesn’t have a base, and the body is worked flat before being joined in the round to make the top and handles. That makes it easy to make the bag just the size you want because you can stop knitting whenever you feel it’s big enough. The pattern includes a step-by-step video if you need extra assistance.

And the Eco Market String Bag from Mama in a Stitch has a solid knit base worked in a contrasting color from the mesh body. It’s an easy project that comes out a great size for your market needs without being too huge.

Do you have a favorite knit market bag pattern? I’d love to hear about it!

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