Drops cardigan - done and (finally) dry.
After three full days of drying (and 1 hour on a warm oven), we have sweater!
This might be the fastest sweater I’ve ever knit.
Thing is, it was chunky, but not huge. And it doesn’t read like a superchunky sweater to me. My gauge ended up being about 14st/4 inches.
I still used the version of the pattern written for Eskimo, which called for a gauge of 11, but I knit a Medium instead of a Small.
Because I fudged the gauge and did almost no math, I had to change the look of the front — in the original pattern, the front plackets overlap completely, but I moved the buttons over a bit.
After blocking and adding the buttons, I ended up with a bust circumference of 32″, and a bottom hem of 40″.
In order to support the heavy leather buttons, I sewed them into smaller support buttons on the back.
This might also be the most wearable sweater I’ve ever knit. Great color, simple shape, not too fussy, but still interesting.
The Rowanspun Chunky isn’t quite as soft as the DK weight, but it’s still super cozy. I’m wearing it right now with just a tank underneath, and it doesn’t feel itchy at all. (Though I seem to be less sensitive to wool-scratch than some folks.)
In the Drops/Garnstudio photo, it shows a slouchy collar-up look, but the Rowanspun was a bit too stiff for that, and because of my gauge laziness, I didn’t have the overlap of the original. So it just didn’t lay right.
So we go for the collar-down, classic granny instead.
I think that’s all the relevant info. Oh, other than the fact that I LOVE THIS FUCKING SWEATER!! OH MY GOD, SO MUCH!!
Okay. That is all.
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November 30th, 1999 at 12:00 am
She’s a beauty, Pamela. Fabulous work and fit.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Your sweater rocks. I love the color. Fun photo shoot too! The cookies sound so simple and yummy. Perfect for a rainy day lik etoday. Thanks for sharing.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
It’s super gorgeous Pamela! I love it
September 14th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
You are totally rocking both the knitting and the wearing of that sweater. This is why I love the knitblogging community: I get to enjoy a bit of both the process and the product of garments that I love but whose lines just don’t work on me.
Cute boots, too!
September 14th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
You are so stinking cute in that sweater! Laid out flat, it looks like a child’s coat. I’d never had guessed it would look so fetching on an actual adult. It’s lovely, and way nicer than the one in the pattern photo.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I. Just. LOVE it. It’s such a perfect sweater! For wearability, for how well it fits and suits you, for the colour, the buttons — I could go on and on. Love it!
September 14th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I LOVE it! It looks great, and your mods change the look of the sweater, but in a great ’50s way. Love it!
September 14th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
OMG! I have to make that! Why did I come to your site today? I don’t have time for another project. But maybe this one. I can squeeze it in, right?
It’s just adorable!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
That sweater looks amazing on you! I love the colour. Wow.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
effing YES GUY! You totally own that sweater! It’s awesome, and I love your changes to it - and I love how tweedy it is and I love how cute you are and…..yeah…..
September 14th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Dude. DUDE! It’s amazing. and wonderful. and you look adorable. and I love the color and your mods.
So going in the Ravelry queue.
Have a great weekend!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Wow, this sweater is beautiful! I love the color and your modifications - great buttons
September 14th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
You have a very lovely sweater, lady. I want to steal it.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
I love it too! I love it too! Fabulooouuuss. Thank you for sharing all the details with us. I will come back to this when I start mine, and maybe (just maybe) I will look just as cool when I finish it ..
September 14th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
it’s awesome. thanks for the extra info, I’m about to cast on with my Rowanspun chunky too - we’ll see if I have any more luck with the overlap or the collar, but if not, i can see it still looks gorgeous - I have a little time to fudge over here. You might have the weather to wear it now… I’m still in shorts, flip flops and a tank - thanks for the inspiration! Thea
September 14th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
This is going into my Ravelry queue NOW. This is a fabulous sweater and I love your yarn and button choices. Looks FAB with the jeans and boots. Congrats!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
so pretty! your mods were perfect. This is on my next-to-knit list.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Gorgeous!! Simply gorgeous!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. it’s awesome!!! congrats on a smashing success!!!!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Fantastic job! I wish that sweater were mine, right now, for cozying up as it gets cold out…
September 14th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
I love that fucking sweater too!! And no one does collar-down, classic granny better than you…
September 14th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Your sweater looks amazing. I’m planning to knit one in purple and am still waiting for the yarn to arrive. And I love your solution for the heavy buttons!
September 14th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I left a comment on Flickr, but really, words fail me. It is fantastic. I love it so much and with those jeans and boot?!? Perfection.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Lots of love for that sweater ALL around. Thanks for linking to that pattern in the first place. I really need to find some yarn for that now.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I, too, love this fucking sweater. It’s the perfect use of knitting - making a sweater that you wish Anthropologie carried ;).
September 14th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Love this! Also love how you are rocking it with the skinny jeans and boots.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
That turned out really cute! I definitely like yours better than the model, including the folded collar.
September 14th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Damn that’s cute!! Your sleeves look a little longer too, I like that. Please do not be alarmed when I copy you shamelessly.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Holy crap I love this!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I love all the changes you made- a sweetly vintage sweater without being saccharine or twee. Well played!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Pam, the sweater turned out absolutely beautifully! All that green, tweedy goodness puts me in the mood for autumn.
Great photos, too.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Well, it’s AWESOME. And you look very cool indeed.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Your sweater is AWESOME! It looks great on you, the color is perfect. Great job on it : )
September 14th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
that is an AMAZING sweater!!!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
i swear you call in a professional photographer to the house when you have FO pic to be taken. everyone should look this good, no fair!!
oh, and the sweater is absolute perfection, btw.
September 14th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I love it too! I can’t wait to make it but I have another sweater to finish first, dang it! It looks awesome!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Looks so great! Love the color you picked!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Your sweater is absolutely beautiful! I printed this pattern out a few weeks ago, and planned on getting around to it sometime, but now I must get started immediately!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
So. Cute. It really looks great on you! Of course, I want to knit one now too
September 14th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Oh my goodness, how lovely! The color is absolutely perfect. What a find on the buttons too– they compliment the design so well. Beautiful work. Congrats!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! totally worth the wait!!! and you look fantastic in it - although you look fantastic in ANYTHING!
September 14th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
beautiful!!!
September 14th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
That’s really sweet! I like it so much better with your collar than that slouchy collar on the pattern picture.
September 14th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Love it! Also love: your boots.
September 14th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
SO cute! i want to make it in a heathery purple i think. i love the mossy green of yours though!
September 14th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Wow. I’m not sure that I can fully express my love for this sweater without actually making out with it. SO gorgeous, so fall. And so perfect with tall brown boots!
September 14th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
OMG. That is one of the cutest sweaters I have seen in a long time. How can you beat it? Fastest sweater ever and so awesome. It took longer to dry than to knit didn’t it? Too funny. You look awesome in it!
September 14th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Fabulous, Pam! I like the fit very much. I think it looks good without the complete overlap.
Thanks for including all the gauge info. I think I need to swatch and do some math. I have some Raspberry Lamb’s Pride bulky, and this may be the right pattern for it.
Have a great weekend!
September 14th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Can mine looks half as good as yours? I don’t think so, yours is so frickin’ fabulous. I love it. I like yours better than the Drops version. Note to self: “copy Pam and all of her fabulousness.”
September 14th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
And why wouldn’t you fucking love it? It’s gorgeous, and I think I even like the non-total overlap better than in the original picture.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
And OMG, it looks GREAT!
September 15th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Gorgeous. The color is perfect. Great job!
September 15th, 2007 at 12:43 am
It’s fabulous! I love the color and the tweedyness…it dosen’t look bulky at all.
September 15th, 2007 at 12:56 am
Super cute! And I fucking love your hair!
September 15th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Gorgeous knitting!
September 15th, 2007 at 2:15 am
Okay, that is a brilliant sweater, seriously lovely. And perfect with those boots!
September 15th, 2007 at 5:10 am
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s looks effin’ fantabulous. I expected it to turn out nice, but dayum Pam. you’ve outdone yourself.
September 15th, 2007 at 5:45 am
Love your sweater. Great job. Thanks for providing your notes and changes. I’m just about finished the right front of mine. It’ll be great for Spring in Melbourne.
September 15th, 2007 at 6:35 am
Wow. How did that sweater escape my radar? That’s it, it’s on my list of things to make, now! The color and the fit look great on you, Pamela! I love the whole outfit too.
September 15th, 2007 at 6:41 am
I love it too! This is one gorgeous FO!
September 15th, 2007 at 6:45 am
what can i say that hasn’t been said yet?
the sweater looks AMAZING! arrghhh. i want it. drool.
the color is just gorgeous on you too!
September 15th, 2007 at 11:10 am
amazing! I liked the cardigan when I saw it - but you made me love it!
September 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
looks even better on you than on your stove!
i love the collar and length. both perfect.
September 15th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
I think I may love it as much as you do!
Great photo shoot too!
September 15th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Love that sweater, must add to ravelry queue, now!
September 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Cutest sweater ever!!! I love it, and your mods make it so much better than the original. I just might have to rip out Tailored Scallops and knit up one of these, instead.
September 15th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Lucky girl! You have the most awesome cardigan to pull out and throw on for brisk fall days! Glorious!
September 15th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
love love love! you and your fucking sweater look fantastic.
September 15th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
I feel compelled to reiterate how great this sweater is, that’s just how great it is. And I just noticed how cute your haircut is, especially from the back. Hope you’re having an awesome weekend!
September 15th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Oooh - the sweater is so purty! You always pick the best colors. I’m a sucker for a granny collar - it is such a classic look and has always been my favorite collar style.
September 15th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
That is one great sweater!!! Well done!
September 15th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Fantastic is all I can say! I feel like chucking away everything and knit this NOW!
September 15th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
This has been on my list for so long! I really am going to make it one day!
I love the yarn color choice and your unintentional mods.
It looks GREAT on you!! I love it!
September 15th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Wow - that is gorgeous! You are so right - the color and fit are classic and yet it’s terribly interesting!
September 15th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
What a fabulous sweater! Fits you perfectly. Love your color choice and the buttons.
Who took all those great photos?
September 15th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
it looks AMAZING. and honestly i like your version (no complete overlap) much better.
and you’re so clever with the supporting buttons (though i don’t really get how that works).
cool!
September 15th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Ummmm, I’m in love. I predict that much like your modified wicked this is going to be the next big “fave” on ravelry!
This is absolutely fantastic & your photo shoot is perfectly styled! I can’t wait til it cools down enough here for me to pull my boots out of the closet!
September 15th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
So glad it finally dried. It’s gorgeous and you look fabulous in it!!
September 15th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
i’m fully inspired + your photos are fantastic. so how long did it take? about a week or so? or is it one of those awesome sweaters that take longer to block then to knit?
September 15th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Absolutely adorable!
September 15th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Absloutely stunning!!
[And thanks for your kind words re Sheeba.] x
September 15th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
What more can I say that 81 (81!) other people haven’t, but that the sweater is fracking AWESOME. Love it!
September 15th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
that’s one great knit!
Fits like a dream, I can see you getting lots of wear out of that one!
The blue fleck in the wool is just lovely, too
September 16th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Over the moon.
September 16th, 2007 at 1:19 am
love the shape. and great idea with the buttons.
on the oven? that’s brave. or desperate.
September 16th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Hmmm I may need to be a copycat and make this in some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky in Pecan. Yes, that’s the ticket.
It looks amazing on you. And I love the photo shoot.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:24 am
Wow, there is comment OVERLOAD on this post! Guess this sweater gets the thumbs up from everyone? ;0)
Anyway, i have to agree, and because there is no better way to say it than the way you did: i love this f***ing sweater, too!!! This means a lot coming from [generally] a non-swearer. :0)
September 16th, 2007 at 4:53 am
PERFECT! And this is totally what I needed to see to feel inspired to finish Kooch (that sweater coat from Rowan I started ages and ages ago but can’t seem to complete) which uses the same yarn in the same color. This is fab. Nice work!!
September 16th, 2007 at 5:35 am
Love it!!!!! It looks fantastic on you! Love the photoshoot too!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
I almost never use the sweaters I knit, but I might try this one … it looks incredible nice!
September 16th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
love it! looks GREAT. i am definitely adding this to my queue.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Oh. My. I love your sweater. That’s it. I will be making this. Thanks for the extra info.
September 16th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Your sweater is gorgeous!! I actually think I like it better with the slightly overlapped front plackets. The fit looks fantastic and comfortable. A perfect beginning to fall knits!
September 16th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Ok. I love your sweater so much that I just searched eBay and managed to nab 10 skeins of Fern. So excited!
September 16th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Absolutely wonderful. This is gorgeous, and it looks just perfect on you. It made me go immediately to print the pattern!
September 16th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Look at how many comments you have!
Well deserved, the sweater is to die for and don’t even get me started on those boots.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
That’s it! This is going in the queue!
September 16th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
ok, I can’t remember if I commented on how wonderful you sweater is, but I guess I will do it again. That Sweater is AWESOME!!! I know your rendition will inspire so many people to make this!! Great job!
September 17th, 2007 at 12:12 am
love it! What a fantastic sweater - a bit of tweediness, good shaping, texture, and quick? NICE! Enjoy it.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:21 am
Damn, you look gorgeous in that sweater! Love the last photo with the hot jeans and boots. And look at the number of comments! Wow. Beautiful sweater, and love the fit.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
It’s so cute! Love the way you’ve knitted it in a finer gauge yarn.
September 17th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Do want!
September 17th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Gosh, that is one lovely, lovely, lovely cardigan/jacket. Yet one more Drops pattern clamouring to knock everything else off the To Knit list! You look great in it too. Definitely worth all that time waiting for it to dry
September 17th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
That looks amazing! I love Rowanspun - it has such a great look!!!! You outdid yourself on this one. The buttons - perfect!
September 17th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Gorgeous sweater! It fits you the way I wish my knits would fit me…spectacular.
September 17th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Love love love love LOVE. Eeek!
September 17th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Oh my, what a gorgeous sweater!! It looks fabulous on you.
And I love your boots
September 17th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I don’t often comment (on any of the gazillion blogs I read), but wow! That is indeed one of the most wearable hand-knit sweaters I’ve ever seen, and it looks fantastic on you! Well done!
September 17th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
It looks beautiful! I think I may have you beat on being sensitive to the itch factor. Every single sweater I have ever knit for myself has bugged me including the one I just posted a picture of today. You did awesome on your sweater. I love the color, I love the way it fits you, it is just plain awesome!
September 18th, 2007 at 2:01 am
Wow. I love it. Love it!
September 18th, 2007 at 2:39 am
Love the sweater AND the boots!
September 18th, 2007 at 6:17 am
So lovely. I like it better than the one on the pattern. Beautiful sweater and excellent shots. Your hair looks great too!
September 18th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I wandered over here and found the cutest girl in the best looking sweater ever! Congrats on a very wearable item.
September 18th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Holy crap, this is the best sweater ever and the quintessential fall sweater to boot. Green is really your color.
So, I’m late reading (just got back from vacation), but I’m drooling over your cookies from last post. Where do I get these vanilla bean scrapings you speak of? Do I actually have to scrape vanilla beans?
September 18th, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Oh, that color!… Why, why, why did Rowan discontinue this stuff?
And it looks fantastic on you (especially considering the chunky gauge! How’d you get chunky yarn to be so flattering?…)
September 19th, 2007 at 3:52 am
Oh. My. God. I need to knit this RIGHT NOW. I need to. It looks that good.
September 19th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Well. Now I think I know what I’m doing with that mess of Scottish Tweed Chunky that my husband bought me. Your sweater is gorgeous!
September 20th, 2007 at 12:12 am
I’m late, but that’s freaking gorgeus!
September 20th, 2007 at 2:07 am
your sweater just blew my mind.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:27 am
I saw the same cardigan on another blog and fell in love with it too. She did mention yours, and yours looks absolutely fabulous in that awesome green color too. I will have to cast on for my own very soon I think.
September 20th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I adore this. It looks wonderful on you. And your outfit is awesome - especially the boots.
September 20th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Holy crap! That’s gorgeous! Definite must have. Nice work.
September 20th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
comment 123 (holy moley!)
GORGEOUS! and i LOOOOOVEEE that last pic. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
My ravelry queue getting longer -thanks for that.
September 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pm
*Jaw drop* That is so insanely fabulous. How could you not be in love.
September 24th, 2007 at 1:01 am
I started this last week. I didn’t even notice it was written in two gauges until I had already ordered yarn AND cast on. Yeah. But I’m glad to know you LOVELOVELOVE it, even with the bulky yarn and all the fudging and whatnot. It looks incredible and I’m going to stop commenting and go work on mine right. now.
September 25th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
totally, totally rockin sweater!!!
September 28th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Wow. I know I’m commenter number #127, but this sweater is fantastic. And your shots are great too.
(I’m officially adding this pattern to my must-knit list - thanks for the inspiration!)
November 8th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
That’s a TOTALLY amazing sweater.
I WANT one!!!
Great job!
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:25 am
Love the sweater!
BUT WHERE DID YOU GET THE BOOTS?!? Love. Need.
Thanks!
December 27th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Very nice sweater!! I love to buy my sweaters from Coldwater Creek store through couponalbum site…
February 15th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Dude, you’re rocking that fucking sweater! I recently finished one too. SUPER wearable!
March 25th, 2008 at 7:25 am
[…] drops cardigan that i first fell in love with here, ravelry link here. i’m making the lighter weight. yarn: tahki tweedy alpaca - from my […]
May 6th, 2008 at 4:37 am
[…] but still nice and soft, and I love the colour. I had the same problem with the stiff collar as Pam did, and I’ve been wearing it with the collar turned down and the top button unbuttoned. I […]
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:54 pm
It’s super fabulous sweater!! It looks so good on you. It would be my next next project. Or maybe next. Can you tell me where to find this pattern? Thank you. I am dying to knit it!
August 21st, 2010 at 2:32 pm
[…] as the other ones I’ve seen that first inspired me to add this to my queue–e.g., the Flintknits olive green version–maybe I just need to try knitting yet another one? Or style it with dark skinny jeans instead […]