Hi guys!
Time to take a break from coats for a bit (although if you've stumbled across my blog from Heather's Closet Case files don't worry I will be posting about my Clare Coat real soon!), today I give you my Escher Cocoon Cardigan, a Brooklyn Tweed pattern by Alexis Winslow.
Now I have a confession, I'm obsessed with Brooklyn Tweed patterns! They are one of my favorite knitting companies and in my opinion produce some of the best patterns around. Their patterns are always modern and fresh, and since they use a wide range of pattern designers you are bound to find a pattern to fall in love with each time they release a collection. Speaking of their collections, they totally have my number....they always seem to release one right when I'm in the mood to pick up a new project and then BOOM a new project is cast on before you can say "where are my knitting needles?".
I actually finished this project earlier this summer, intending it as a light weight cardigan to throw on if it got chilly at night but we had a really warm summer so it sat waiting until cooler weather to make it's debut. Now that the cooler weather is here I wear this guy a lot! Although, given the shape of the sleeves, this cardigan can be hard to put a jacket on top of without it bunching up so be forewarned!
Speaking of summer knitting, I'm known for bringing my knitting every where including the beach. We bought a paddle board this year (inflatable! perfect for condo living!), since we only have one we have to take turns unless we rent a second board. So while the #flufflyblondemonster was off paddling one day I was sitting on the beach, happily knitting this cardigan and snacking. Off on the next log (if you've ever been to Vancouver you'll know about the beach logs, a somewhat weird crowd management system using large logs neatly spaced in rows that come with the unspoken 'one party per log' rule) are some university looking kids having a bbq and playing toss with a football. No big deal until I notice that their game is coming really close.... As expected a sombrero wearing, shirtless dude comes crashing into my blanket grinning and apologizing profusely...as if I didn't seem him signal to his buddy to throw the ball right where I was sitting so he could 'accidentally' crash. Anyways, they play on for a bit and then, of course, the sombrero wearing dude saunters over with the classic opening line of "Are you knitting on the beach? You look like my grandma!" "Yes, yes I am knitting on the beach, and if your opening line to a chick is to tell her she looks like a grandma you must really have this pick up thing nailed," is what I should have said but of course I didn't. So I'm looking for an out from this conversation (seriously, it was bad, at one point when he asked what I did and I said I was looking for work he said "what if I pay you a ton of money to come fly around the world and be my personal body guard" yes the girl with the knitting would make a perfect body guard...) He asks if I'm alone, perfect opportunity to mention the #flufflyblondemonster yes? NO! because this is the moment where he's decided to 'test the limits of the board' by intentionally trying to fall off it, so there I am saying "oh yes my boyfriend is over there on the paddle board" "oh the dude who's falling off?" "Yes, that's him....."
Anyways back to the knitting!
I knit this version using some left over brooklyn tweed Loft in postcard for the contrast colour 2 (the triangle bit), using Cascade 220 sport in black for contrast colour 3 and grey for the main colour. Since, like the majority of my knitting, I used all wool yarns the resulting really warm even though it's light weight. This cocoon cardigan (and yes it does feel like a snuggly cocoon) is knit first flat, from left to right across the back, using short rows to create the triangle shape. The ribbing at the cuffs is then added in the round, followed by the ribbing along the outer edges.
I didn't make any big changes to the pattern (I knit the smallest size) other than: electing to sub German short rows as I find them much neater than wraps and turns, and using a stretchy bind off in pattern along the outer edge of ribbing on the bottom and sides to ensure I could comfortably wrap the cardigan around when chilly. The pattern also includes instructions to add a button hole and button to close the cardigan, and while I did include the button hole in the end I decided to leave off the button as I prefer to leave the cardigan open most of the time.
This cardigan is a great addition to my wardrobe because it serves double duty, depending on how you style it you definitely dress it up or down. Here I'm wearing it with a sleeveless version of the Bruyère shirt by Deer & Doe (another awesome dress up/dress down pattern), skinny jeans and flats for a more casual look, but adding knee high boots, and a statement necklace would really dress this look up.
While Escher is certainly a warm cardigan if knit in wool, my arms do tend to get cold since the sleeves really only reach to your elbows. I'm considering making another version and extending the arms by first knitting the cuffs in stockinette in the contrast colour before switching to the main colour and knitting the ribbing. It may detract from the overall shape of the cocoon but would be warmer....what do you guys think?
Also, do you have any hilarious 'knitting in the wild' stories to share?? I have a few about knitting on planes to share with you guys in a later post ;)