August 22, 2005
Dreamcatcher Medallion Cardigan!
Rather plain Jane cardigan at walking toward you, but walking away - Wowza!
(mouseover the picture for the back view, or click here for a pop-up.
Pattern: Dreamcatcher Medallion Cardigan from the incredible Loop-D-Loop book by Teva Durham. I made the size Medium (38 1/2" chest) and love the fit
Yarn: Suedish from Artfibers (sadly, discontinued). This was my celebratory yarn splurge after finishing my master's, and it feels good to have finally knit it up!
Needles: Denise 7's
Started: July 4th Weekend
Finished: August 21st. I actually finished the entire body in two weeks, but then stalled out a bit on the sleeves, and then stalled even longer over the finishing.
Comments: I knit the body all at the same time - at the top, this involves four different balls of yarn and 8 simultaneous shapings to keep track of (right front neck, right front armhole, right back armhole, right medallion, left medallion, left back armhole, left front armhole, left front neck). I didn't chart or even write down my progress - I just mentally kept track. I know I'm bragging a little, but by God, I think this is an accomplishment!
I read the pattern wrong and knit the sleeves a good 2" longer than they're supposed to be (I thought it was taking forever, and I was right!). However, they're the perfect length. I've said before that I have orangutan arms, and I'll say it again.
As soon as I finished the body piece I went ahead and did the medallion (the pattern has you binding off and then increasing in the back to make a big hole, which you then fill in with the medallion at the end). Without it, the hole tended to gape and hang strangely, and I couldn't tell if it was going to fit or not. Plus, I wanted to see what it looked like. Then I wove in all of the ends, and had a vest for a while.
When I took the class with Teva Durham in July, I brought the vest to show it off. It was the first one she'd seen anyone else knit, so it was pretty cool. I wish the entire sweater had been done at that point, but I did have to work and sleep.
I worked on this sweater in San Francisco, so it's a cross-country project. I also took the vest with me to Artfibers to show off their yarn being put to good use. I love their yarn, yes I do.
I've seen one other completed sweater (on craftster), but otherwise I haven't seen it mentioned very much in blogland (though I have gotten a few google hits off it being listed in my sidebar). If anyone is thinking about it or working on it, let me know!
wow! in the book I didn't like it as much for one reason or another, but yours looks fantastic! impressive! and it fits beautifully! congrats! :D
Posted by: jess on August 22, 2005 10:03 PMIt looks great! I have to go find it in the book again. And I LOVE your hair - so cute!
Posted by: Cara on August 22, 2005 10:09 PMVery cool Sarah! I love it and it's going on my "to knit" list.
Posted by: sharlyn on August 22, 2005 10:29 PMi agree with jess... in the book, that wasn't one of my favorites, but yours is fabulous! the color is fantastic too!!
Posted by: kim on August 22, 2005 10:29 PMLooks great! I'm another one who wasn't sold on it in the book, but I really like yours!
Posted by: sarah b. on August 22, 2005 11:10 PMThat's my favorite sweater from the book, now that I've seen yours I definately want to knit it. Jane
Posted by: jane on August 23, 2005 06:46 AMWow Sarah! I love your cardi! I must confess I had stopped reading you for a while... Itīs nice to know from you again!
Posted by: Joji on August 24, 2005 04:02 AMWow, that's really cool. It will come in hany in all sorts of fashion situations.
PS I like your hair short like that. It's supa-sassy!
Posted by: Anne Marie on August 24, 2005 04:43 PMWow again, not only will that sweater come in 'hany'...it will come in handy as well.
PS I'm an idiot.
Posted by: Anne Marie on August 24, 2005 04:44 PMI linked to your blog from craftster. I've been looking online for a while trying to find people who've made this, but like you said it seems very few have. This was the sweater I fell in love with on my first look at the book, but decided to make an intermediate-advanced one first (the assymetrical mock cable sweater) and then move on to the advanced medallion. So it's nice to see someone tackled it successfully (and easily- you totally have bragging rights).
I have to say, it was the small guage that put me off. But a little over a month, with two pauses, sounds pretty speedy to me.
Good job- it's absolutely lovely.
Great job! I've been wanting to make this one since I cracked open the loop-d-loop book and it's nice to see it in the real world. I just need to find the right yarn...thanks for the motivation!
Posted by: maya on August 25, 2005 11:20 AMSarah, that looks fantastic! I had seen the sweater in the book, but not until I saw this lovely FO did I consider it. It is just amazing. The fit is very flattering too! You look great (and your hair is SO cute) Great job on a beautiful cardi.
Take care~
Posted by: Lolly on August 26, 2005 07:15 AMI'm glad to have gotten to see your progress from this garment from a vest to an FO. And it looks fantastic!! Absolutely beautiful work, you should be proud of your accomplishment. Now I want to make one!
Posted by: Jenna on August 27, 2005 02:09 PMFab sweater! It's definately on my to knit list. Looks wonderful on you! I'm a huge Art Fibers fan too. Hmmm I have some Art Fibers Sherlock, I wonder if it would make gauge for the sweater?
Posted by: Marie on August 28, 2005 06:49 AMGirl, you TOTOALLY have bragging rights for keeping track of all of that s*!t!! Nice job!!! It came out great!
Posted by: Lara on August 28, 2005 12:37 PMI love the cardigan. SOmehow I got the idea that Teva Durham's book was all chunky bulky knits. So not true?
Posted by: Elizabeth on September 1, 2005 04:03 PMAwesome cardi! It looks fabulous on you & I love the color! I love that book as it is so very different!
Posted by: Eilene on September 1, 2005 11:12 PMGreat job on the sweater! I found your site by doing a search for the medallion cardigan, since I am just finishing up the second sleeve and needed some inspiration. I have definitely had to keep track by writing down where I am with the decreases and even then my notes are sometimes puzzling... I'm not sure how you did it!
Posted by: Katie on September 18, 2005 09:46 PMI have been enjoying your blog. Here is a link to a completed medallion sweater made by "blogfriend" Jane. http://sisterknitter.typepad.com/photos/finished_objects2005/dsc01696.html
I hope that works.
Don't you just hate those spam comments!?
Happy Knitting
emmy
Hi, I just finished Teva Durham's Lace Leaf and the next project from that book would be this cardi. Reading your post gave me an idea - I haven't seen Suedish before but I've always wanted to use Berroco Suede. Actually I have 5 balls for another project ... which I am ready to change for this cardi. I've done swatching and the gauge seems to work. I've seen another cardi (other than the craftster one) on the web:
http://www.mayarn.com/photos/knitfest_2005/dscn1586.html
I like yours best ... and I think the reddish colours are the best for this cardi. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Posted by: Agnes on February 12, 2006 03:54 AM