Cascade Falls Cardigan knit in Rowan Merino dk

Ever since I finished my Georgetown Cardigan in light gray, I have wanted a similar open cardigan in dark gray, because one gray open cardigan is never nearly enough!

I considered designing my perfect cardigan - set-in sleeves, open front, longish length, and a pretty cable right at the opening.  Then, after an exhaustive Ravelry search of the pattern options already out there, I found exactly what I was looking for:  Cascade Falls by Amanda Scheuzger.

My cardigan is very close to the original pattern.  I just changed the construction a bit.  It is designed nearly seamlessly, with the body worked bottom-up in one piece, and the sleeves picked up and knit down.  With this heavy merino dk yarn, though, I wanted the strength of seams to help it keep its shape, so I knit this in pieces and sewed them together.  My sleeves are, as always, several inches longer than the design.  After blocking, they grew even more in length, so now I have the unusual (for me) luxury of fold-up cuffs!

The gorgeous, soft yarn is Rowan Super Fine Merino dk, which appears to be discontinued.  That is a crying shame as this is a lovely mid-weight merino.  Yes, I am sure it will pill.  Most soft yarns do.  However, I will be ready with my de-pill-er, and it is an inconvenience I can live with for next-to-skin softness.

You can still find Rowan Merino dk at various online shops, but I can't find this color, Suit, anywhere.

Sweater Decisions

The weather is turning here.  It has not been a hot summer, and the leaves are already falling.  Having just finished a nice cardi (photo evidence to come soon), my thoughts are turning to the perfect fall/winter pullover.  I am wanting something a bit over-sized (at least compared to my usual body-con picks) and textured.  I have been all over the Brooklyn Tweed site checking out the patterns and have narrowed down my options.  Of course, their new patterns for fall drop in a few days, so I won't be making my final decision until I see those options, too.  :-)  What do you think?

(All pics are from Ravelry, and links take you to the Brooklyn Tweed site.)

AUSTER
This one calls to my dramatic side, but are those sleeves tooooo dramatic?

RIPTIDE
An interesting, but classic sweater.  I won't have to worry about this one going out of style.

KEATON
This one looks so easy to wear but not boring, and I love a good cowl neck.

BRACONDALE

This is probably the one I'm most viscerally drawn to (is it healthy to be viscerally drawn to a sweater?).  The diagonal cables lend some drama, and the construction sounds interesting.

DRIFTWOOD
Another nice classic in a cozy shape.

HUDSON
I have had this one on my radar for years.  Maybe this isn't the exact shape I'm pining for at the moment, but I do see this in my future.

The last two options are more ponchos than sweater, and I already have one BT poncho.  How many does a girl really need?  These are so gorgeous, though!

VALE

KIRWIN

What do you think?  Are any of these screaming out at you?

Vogue 1439, kind of

Has it REALLY been more than three months since I've posted?  I guess moving really takes it out of me!  Well, I am pretty much settled into Pennsylvania now.  There are still plenty of pictures to hang on the walls and rooms to be painted, but I have been in my new sewing space quite a bit lately, and I have some things to show for it.  

First up is some pink pants.  These are not at all my favorite pants ever.  :-(  They came out pretty baggy, probably due to the stretchy fabric, and I forgot to lower the front rise, so they sit higher on the waist than I'd like.  I'm trying to embrace them as more of a casual chino style than the skinny pants I am used to wearing these days.  We'll see...

 I used the same pattern as my favorite red pants, Vogue 1439.  I think the problems are, as I said above, the fabric is stretchier than the red, and I didn't lower the rise.  I also added some standard pockets, going for more of a jeans look.  That makes it harder to adjust the width at the hips later.

 Looking at this side view, I'm kind of hating the combo of the leg width and where it hits at the hem.  Ugh.  I am thinking maybe just taking in the side seams an inch or two and see what happens.  It couldn't hurt to try.

 The fit is good, though.  I just don't love how the style turned out.  The look great in the back!

Today, I tried to wear them more casually, rolled up a bit and with sneakers.  I like them more today, but I still don't love them, and they have grown through the day.  The fabric is a stretch denim from JoAnns, but it's a very lightweight denim.  

What do you think?  Leave them as is?  Take in the side seams?  Just let them go?