You guys I knitted a fisherman sweater!!!!
Last New Years Eve I resolved that if I really was going to call myself a knitter then I would have to knit a heavily cabled woman sized jumper before the year was out, and I totally have.
I think the idea originally got planted in my head last year when Karen Templer along with a panel of experts hosted an Amanda cardigan knit-a-long. Over the period of a few months my instagram feed was filled with Amandas in all stages from swatching all the way through to wearing and all hashtagged #fringeandfriendsknitalong.
I totally wanted to join in on the fisherman fun but the timing was wrong for me as I had just discovered socks. So I watched from the sidelines and fell deeper and deeper in love with the pattern as each pic and blog was posted.
Then in March, I decided it was time to make good on my New Years' resolution and when gorgeous Kylie of TONOFWOOL offered to send me the wool, I knew my Amanda cardigan time had come. So I ordered the book the pattern came from and once it arrived I wound the wool, set myself a first day of winter deadline and cast on.
And I knitted the back, the two front pieces, the sleeves and then I joined them together and knitted it into a cardigan.
It took a while to get the hang of the cables and I undid it and reknitted it quite a few times but eventually it clicked and then it actually was a really fun knit.
I even reached my June first - first day of winter deadline!
But then I stalled. After all those hours and stitches and cables and buttons I just couldn't bring myself to try it on. What if it didn't fit me? What if it was too tight on the boobs, or too short on my bum or too long in the arms? Eventually, after a few days of watching it out of the corner of my eye sitting all neatly folded up on the kitchen sideboard, I convinced myself that it really didn't matter.
If it was too small then maybe one of the girls could wear it. If it was too big then maybe I could wear it with extra layers underneath. And if it really didn't work for anyone at all - then it would make a very snugly blanket indeed. It was after all a great thing that I'd followed through and knitted it without distraction and I know that I wasn't really very careful with the measuring and swatching in the beginning and couldn't really blame anyone but myself.
But then last Friday night while rushing out for dinner, I grabbed it, chucked it on over the top of the dress I was wearing and it worked!! It fitted well!! It looked great and it is possibly the warmest piece of clothing I have ever owned.
So YAY!!!
You can find all of my Amanda details on Ravelry here.
And in the meantime TONOFWOOL have given me five small 25 gram samples of their incredibly soft and squishy 10ply Cormo for five of you to try out.
If you are interested in having a play with my new favourite wool and you live in Australia, please leave a comment below.
Now that that enormous project is done, I think I'm going to go and cast on something quick and easy.
And then I'm going to get my cardigan off Indi. And hide it.
Big love to you guys, I hope you've got something fun to look forward to.
xoxox
Oh you're so brave! Apart from shawls, I've only knit kid size garments! My Dad has asked for a man size cabled vest, I've cast it on but baulked after completing the waist ribbing....
ReplyDeleteI would love a chance to try TONOFWOOL!! Thanks Kate x
It is beautiful! I made a baby beanie from the Cormo and it was the loveliest feeling beanie - perfect for a baby. It really is nice wool.
ReplyDeleteOhmygoodness that is a work of ART !! Well done on such a beautiful piece. I'm totally inspired and need to get off my backside (okay, well, off facebook and Insta!) and get knitting !!
ReplyDeleteAnd how awesome would TONOFWOOL be ?!?!?! Even the name rocks!!
:)
Lauren
Wow it's stunning. I finally made my Vitamin D cardigan after two years of searching for the right wool. Yes, that's right - 2 YEARS!! I would love to make a cardi like this and a sample of TONOFWOOL could save me years of dithering over yarn choices!!
ReplyDeleteahhh it looks amazing! can't wait to knit one... in the mean time i'd LOVE to sample some Tonofwool <3
ReplyDeleteOh Kate, how stunning are both your cardigan and your Indi!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful,
xxBrenda
Your beautiful daughter compliments your stunning cardigan. i love the icy cool effect of the photo between the trees. Hands up yeah to trying stunning wool. yes please!
ReplyDeleteA very brave knit indeed. I can do cables but have to admit to trembling at the thought of a whole cardigan's worth!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous cardi on a beautiful girl..
ReplyDeleteWould love to try 10 ply. Stitch definition is outstanding in your cardigan
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cardie! Cable is such fun, would love some wonderful wool to knit with.
ReplyDeleteThe wool sounds superb, i would love to try it, feel its texture, know its story, let it talk to me as I knit. Your cardigan looks very lovely indeed, I hope you get to wear it!
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing! I would love to be able to snuggle into one right now. Next winter might be more realistic for me, but I think I could manage to cable a beanie out of one of those wool samples this season! Your Indi looks just stunning in these photos. x
ReplyDeleteOh wow! So happy for you. It is great to celebrate our crafty achievements with each other and I am glad you shared it here. About four hours before you posted this I was showing my m-i-l your beautiful cardigan on Ravelry and we were looking at the Ms Gusset Rav and Etsy pages falling in love with the beautiful hand dyes and here you are offering a sample of the 100% awesomeness. So here I am unashamedly "being in it to win it".
ReplyDeleteMy m-i-l was very impressed with your knitting. She says that she has knitted cables before 'but not as complex as your Amanda' . We had a lot of fun ooh-ing and aah-ing over your cardi and the wool samples on screen. Thank you for raising my awareness of another Australian hand dyer and supplier of natural fibre art yarns. :-)
That looks great, I have only ever done basic cable knitting. I would have pulled my hair out if I made that cardi!
ReplyDeleteWhat an epic jumper! Such exquisite designs and a lot of work it looks amazing. I was just admiring a fisherman jumper on 84 year old Neen Pendergast reminiscing on the old Jindabyne Town. I was thinking they don't make them like they use to and I really need to up my simple knitting garments to this. Really show some workmanship. Old school is where it's at! I would love to try some toneofwool to get the ball rolling:) xx
ReplyDeletejust the knid of cardi I love!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and well done.
Miss
It looks absolutely fabulous! I wish I would be able to knit, I would make that cardigan for myself!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Austria
Emma
It looks lovely. You need to make one for each of the girls now.
ReplyDeleteOh Kate it's stunning! I have had this pattern on my wish list for simply ages and I've even gone shopping for the yarn twice. But then I stand there thinking 'cream?', 'grey?', 'or how about a lovely deep green?' .... I haven't managed yet to make a final decision but I know I will make this sweater one day and I really hope it turns out as beautiful as yours... Well done. xxx
ReplyDeleteThe sweater is beautiful but so is Indi. What a beautiful young lady she's becoming.
ReplyDeleteit's completely stunning kate! well done and congratulations!! enjoy your heirloom cardigan for ever and ever. and oh my your girl.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Kate! WHat a beautiful cardigan. Right up my alley. Cables and all, creamy wool... Brings me back to my Scandinavian roots. You have all the right in the world to feel proud of this creation. Reading this blog post I am now promising myself to make a cable sweater or cardigan for myself one day. And I don't even knit. I guess I better get to it. Time to learn a new creative skill.
ReplyDeletePS Love the blouse. It goes so well with Indi's braids and your cardi. Lovely pictures. Lovely girl. Lovely knit. Lovely everything. Gosh you inspire me. :)
Xxx
I love knitting cables. So much easier than they look. My mum is a cable queen. She's so quick!. My boys (two and ten weeks) look so sweet in cable jumpers and cardigans. Between my mum and I they have loads!
ReplyDeleteI love the colour you chose. Reminds me of a big cable cardigan my mum knitted my dad in the seventies. When he didn't wear it anymore I took it and wore it like a blanket in winter.
Beautiful. I thought when I saw the photos that it was your oldest girl with a funky hair-do. You do look alike! It is a fantabulous sweater. Don't get the cuffs too grubby weeding and planting!! You need to crochet some arm covers! Jo x
ReplyDeleteTotally gorgeous! all those squishy cables look so cosy, and the cormo showcases them perfectly. Enjoy your new cardigan!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so wonderful and warm!
ReplyDeleteit's absolutely perfect and these photos are a dream :) <3
ReplyDeleteIt's just beautiful Kate!! Jan x
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cardigan and model! Well done Kate! Thanks for the chance to win a little bit of the wool. I've been eyeing it off. xxoo
ReplyDeleteOh it looks absolutely gorgeous Kate. I have never tried that wool before but it sounds delightful. I think you may have to knit Indi one of her very own. Cables are so much fun and keep you very warm during those cold nights too.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all well done! I am also a wee bit scared of knitting a huge cardigan so I wimp out and knit little kids' stuff. I have read a lot about Kylie and her tonofwool project and listened to a podcast or two about her also. And now it seems to be all coming together and it is time for me to commit to a big one. Thankyou.
Wow, that's amazing, so much time and effort put into that, you'll have it for the rest of your life. I recently got a feel of the TON OF WOOL roving from a friend who'd bought some and I'd love to have a play around with some 10ply, thanks for running such a great competition and showing us your amazing cardigan. happy knitting!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful accomplishment, and one that will last you for many many years. I'd love to try the TONOFWOOL - I've just been commissioned to make a man's aran jumper, and I'm casting round for the right wool to do it in.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you knitted that! Your so clever! I suck at knitting lol but I keep trying ! Love this outfit, super cute :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful sweater! I wish that I could knit something besides a scarf!
ReplyDeleteyou really are a knitter - that looks phantastic!!! :-)
ReplyDeletex
Kate its so BEAUTIFUL! How clever you are, and I bet you'll live in it.
ReplyDelete(..and your lovely big girl, well, she's lovely x)
Wow, that is really gorgeous. I made a great one for my son when he was a toddler, but doing a full size one still feels pretty daunting. Maybe soon..... Especially if it comes out looking as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteyou really are going to have to hide it from Indi especially if it is as warm as it looks great job cables are fun and make such an impact i am using some on a shawl at present and really enjoying bit then the next one will have celtic cable that i have seen Just don't ever try to knit a black cable jumper i did one for my brother years ago we were travelling around Tassie in the car at the stage just as well the only place i could get enough light to work on it was during the day in the car. lots of cable since but no more black ones.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful jumper, all those cables and details, gah...looks so cozy! I went and had a look at tonofwool too, some gorgeous wool in their shop. Congratulations on completing a New Years Resolution!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. Such a beauty! Not only your girl, the jumper too! ;o)
ReplyDeleteOoooooohhhhhhhh you could have been Irish and lived on Inis Meáin with Fisherman Bren! This is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWell done, it looks stunning, and yes those cable knits are so toasty and warm, I knitted one years ago and it has eventually gone quite yellow looking......no idea how to reverse it back to the lovely creamy white, any help would be great.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try the lovely new yarn on an interesting project .....school scarves all finished but not exciting at all
ReplyDeleteKate you are a knitting super star. yes you are. I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this I wish I had the skills and attention span to knit something like this!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely want! I have a few other projects on the go but this may drag my attention away - much to the dismay of hubby who is waiting for his socks :)
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love it. It is gorgeous, just my kind of cardi! Times like this I really do wish that I was a better knitter :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that you told how you had to undo and reknit. All day I've been working on my first mitts and reminding myself--as I unpick and reknit--that learning is about the process, that no one gets it right right away. Congratulations on this wonderful finished card!
ReplyDeleteOh Kate it is beautiful!! I've always been shy of cables but this has inspired me...maybe once I finished my 1940's 4ply sweater I should knit a beautiful chunky cabled cardi?
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel about being afraid of hand knits not fitting...my sweater is the first item of clothing I'm knitting and sometimes I look at it on my needles and think - what if I finish it and it's too small? But finish it I must!
Hope you're having a good week,
Sarah xo
PS I think that TONOFWOOL brand is beautiful!
OH WOW Kate - totally stunning! TracyR xo
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful Kate!! I bet it was such a good feeling when you finished it :) it looks so cosy! I have just started knitting recently ~ baby steps ~ but I will def check out TONOFWOOL. Sounds lovely :) happy weekending. Fleur xx
ReplyDeleteOh my, I love your Amanda! I have always loved Aran style as I love doing cables. This looks amazing! And a giveaway for Australia - yay! I've never heard of that wool so taking a look now.
ReplyDeleteI just got this book and Amanda is the one I want to make the most. Yours turned out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteRav ID fishgirl182
Oh my - how talented you are! That looks so professionally made. Congratulations on a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteCardigan looks amazing, and I would love to ret a damp,e of that wool!
ReplyDeleteYour cardigan looks amazing. I would like to make some socks , I have some experience but I am looking for a really great pattern do you have any recommendations ?
ReplyDeleteLove it I'm not to this knotting standard but I wonder if I could convince my mum to knit me a yellow one :)
ReplyDeleteYour cardigan is awesome Kate…and I reckon if you can knit socks you can call yourself a knitter :)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great job! It looks so warm and cozy. And makes me wish I wasn't allergic to wool! Lovely photos, too, as always.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great job! It looks so warm and cozy. And makes me wish I wasn't allergic to wool! Lovely photos, too, as always.
ReplyDeleteYour cardigan is so beautiful as is the blouse you're wearing underneath!! I love the colors!! Enjoy your weekend. : )
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
Cormo is the yummioest yarn I have ever knitted,i have toget another ball shortly as I want to make my Elder tree shawl a little bigger and will be ordering a 100g of the black top to spin as well, beautiful fisher cardigan too,well done
ReplyDeleteCormo is the yummioest yarn I have ever knitted,i have toget another ball shortly as I want to make my Elder tree shawl a little bigger and will be ordering a 100g of the black top to spin as well, beautiful fisher cardigan too,well done
ReplyDeleteOn your self-designed Cardigan .we want you to be happy and satisfied. We are ready to help you in every step of the way. Any questions that you have can be discussed either by phone, email or through our designer for Cardigan . And our design team is ready to help and discuss any ideas and concepts that you may have.
ReplyDelete