Posted on by Cathy

New ways – Different ways

You get another reminder that the years are passing when a granddaughter asks if you would knit something for a friend who is having her first baby. Due the first week of June.
How could that be – oh yes they are in their 20s now☹️
‘I’ve seen something I know she would love’…..

Photograph received of unknown baby sucking on a grossly enormous dummy wearing the cardigan that ’I know she would love’….so after going through her enormous pile of patterns it turned out grandma had to pop into the delicious craft rabbit hole called Ravelry to find something similar. Almost the same and a free pattern to boot!


There are so many ways to knit and construct cardigans and I’ve tried many of them ……flat in seperate pieces, all in one to armholes, add sleeves then finish on a yoke – various methods of neck down – haven’t tried knit in the round and steeked yet (scaredy cat me isn’t sure she could deal with the stress of that) but this one was definitely different. Lets just say that if the instructions had been clearer the making would have been easier – and more enjoyable.

The instructions did say it was all in one and knit in garter stitch

how hard could that be??

Two weeks later….many cross words (some not nice) and it was finished.
Not my best effort – to knit to gauge I had to use 4mm needles, the button fastenings were difficult to manipulate so I changed to buttonholes plus I found it difficult to get even looking rows of garter stitch.
This one will go in the charity box and another will be made…..slowly, carefully, neatly.

25 Replies to “New ways – Different ways”

  1. Good to have a challenge. Plus good you’ve had time to make a “full sized sample” that won’t go to waste.

    Especially after the shock that your grand children are adults…

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    1. Lol I get a shock each time I see them Catherine- after all I’ve only just got over the shock of realising my older children are coming up to 60!

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  2. I hear you on the growing old thing. My great nieces and nephews are all in their twenties, and some their thirties.
    That is a very stylish pattern. I hope that your cross words taught you things and look forward to seeing the new ‘improved’ finished product. Though my ignorant eyes thinks the first looks good.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The ‘new improved’ version is on the needles EC. I have taken the time to write up the instructions in an understandable form.

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    1. There’s nothing really wrong with the cardigan Yam, and yes it will be welcomed wherever it ends up – I just wasn’t happy with the workmanship and didn’t have the energy to unravel it and start again. Without ‘washing’ preknit wool it never knits up fresh and clean

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    1. It certainly feels warm Andrew, I contemplated a newborn size but as they are usually tucked up and warm inside during the winter a larger one for cooler days would be the way to go.

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  7. My head would be going round in circles putting that together although the knitting itself looks easy. Looks wonderful on the babe.
    Good luck on the next one

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    1. Maybe I’m becoming a little ‘dimmer’ in my old age Linda, a few years ago I’d have been able to follow the pattern no trouble at all……it just read like double dutch to me. Anyway mark2 is under way now

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  9. I’m not a knitter but the all-in-one construction looks a bit cumbersome to me. Seams are surely easier?
    The “sample” is gift worthy but I’m sure the charity will appreciate it

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  10. looks good to me, but then I can barely put back a hem that has fallen down. no needle skills at all. cant’ wait to see the one you make for the baby and the person who gets this one will be blessed to have it… I like the look of it a lot. Bob and I have 5 grand kids and all of them are in their mid 30’s. that is scary

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    1. When the little ones are cute and tiny you can never imagine as big and sensible – yes I’ll agree with you on that, it’s scary now that has happened

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    1. I’ve ‘saved’ your site and will have a good look once no.2 is finished- even though it would turn out larger I could maybe give it a go in 3ply. Thanks for the chance to experiment- we’ll see how the mood takes me

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  12. PS F wants to know why your grand-daughters didn’t get you to teach them how to knit that for the friend. F’s grandmas taught her to knit and crochet – she reckons it skips generations.

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  13. First of all well done on making sense of that. About as straightforward as the Highland cow! And yes they are all growing up fast. Step granddaughter had her 21st birthday bash last weekend and she is driving me to the christening tomorrow.

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    1. Some things are sent to try us and this was certainly a test of the patience dept. I’ve now written the instructions out in terms I can understand and have ‘the real thing’ on the go. Fingers crossed I can actually understand what I’ve written😊

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