Ribby Cardi!
I am wearing possibly the best handknit design ever. If you haven’t knit a Ribby Cardi, buy the pattern right now and cast on, because this is not only an easy pattern, it is clever and simple and results in a most satisfying garment. This one has quickly raced to the top of my sweater charts, beating even my Cobblestone. I cannot believe I bought the pattern so many years ago and didn’t knit it.
What’s that you said? I don’t look so pleased with it? How about this, then?
The basics:
Pattern: Ribby Cardi from Chic Knits
Yarn: Cascade Eco +, approx 1.5 skeins of the orange (0958) and 1 of the chocolate (8493).
Needles: Size 7 bamboo for the whole sweater, and 6 for the buttonbands and collar.
Gauge: Spot on, 4.75 spi.
Size: the 38-39″ one. It fits perfectly, with just the right stretch and ease in the side ribbing. A size larger and it would have been too loose. Bonne Marie Burns is very helpful and gracious with questions too, which is a big plus. Thanks to her for promptly helping me choose the right size and yardage.
The mods:
I knit the body in one piece, the sleeves in the round and then seamed the raglans. I also added a buttonband instead of a zipper. I don’t like zippers, much less inserting them, so I went with a buttonband instead. If you remember in the last post, the buttonband was vertical, knit with the main body. However, I didn’t like the way the single rib gaped. Since it was knit with the body, my first thought was – oh fuck, now do I have to rip out the whole body? Thankfully, my second and more sane thought was, no, I can just drop the purl stitches in the buttonband all the way down and crochet them back up as knit stitches! Exit ugly ribbing, enter smooth stockinette.
It worked like a dream, and only took me an hour or so to do. Then I picked up stitches along the side and re-sewed the buttons in – the old buttonholes at the edges vanished right into the pick-up seam. This new band is much more satisfying. Otherwise, I followed the pattern straight through and it worked like a charm. No errors. Here’s the regulation macro button shot:
Seriously, this is the kind of sweater I love to knit and wear – clean lines, comfortable fit and sturdy yarn. The Cascade Eco + softened beautifully after washing. I was a little concerned about the ribbed sleeves being a bit tight on my arms, but the soak and block really relaxed them. I love how they fit around the shoulders. If it had not so hot these past few days I would have finished the cardigan sooner; I think I’ll go for a walk tonight just to wear it outside.
Everyone, go knit one for yourselves!
Yay, another well-knit handknit that fits! Congratulations.
Somehow the crochet hook thing never works as well for me as advertised. Perhaps I’m just a coward.
It looks really great, classic and simple (in a good way). Maybe I’ll follow your advise and knit one for myself.
Very nice! The Eco-Wool looks like it was a great choice. Now I want one.
that is great!!! i love the color combination you chose, and it fits perfectly! wonderful!
Great colors, and it just looks like the perfect sweater! I’ve always liked that pattern – but you make me want to really knit it!
I LOVE the colors–and yes, I can see that it’s a nice construction, very wearable without being plain. And I like it with buttons rather than the zipper–I agree on the pain of sewing in zippers. Nice fix on the facings, too!
Wow, that Ribby looks fab on you! I agree with you about zipper phobia and replacing it with the button band works great for this pattern. Great knit!!!
I love the color combination, and Eco Wool is one of my favorites! The sweater looks great on you.
Your finishing and stitches are so clean, it does not even look handknit! As always (I think I have said that way too many times), great job.
Oh that turned out great! I always thought the cardi would turn out really fitted, but that looks absolutely fabulous.
Well Done !!! It looks and fits beautifully.
Wow, it looks fantastic! Okay, it’s going in the queue.
I so want to knit that… but, because I have a bad wrist I can’t knit ribbing. (At least I can still knit!) Instead, I have to knit in stockinette, and then drop down the stitches (like for your button band) and pick the appropriate ones up as purls. I have a feeling that’d be a major headache with this sweater, but I also have a feeling that it’d be worth it… Oh, and I love the colors you used!
Yahoooooo!
Excellent! See, this is the kind of sweater I need to knit — one that I can actually wear.
Love the shot of you being all resourceful with the crochet hook.
I was the stranger who complimented your lovely sweater this afternoon on telegraph. I recognized it from your posts! It is as lovely in person as in photos.
-Megan
OK, see, this is why I love the fact that you’re totally upfront about your ambivalence when you’re not totally in love with an FO — it means when you say something like “I am wearing possibly the best handknit design ever,” it packs a serious punch. And I can’t argue with you, either; it looks fantastic.
I love it! The side ribbing gives it just the right fit. I love that you documented the dropped stitches, too. Great work all around.
That looks awesome! Bonnie is definitely a design genius. I love the spicy colors. I had a good chuckle at the “regulation macro button shot” too
I made the ChicKnits Ribby Shell right after I started knitting a few years ago – and bought this pattern at the same time. I still haven’t made it, but every time I see a great version like this it makes me want to drop everything and knit it (100 degrees be damned. I’m in the AC and it’s chilly!) I love the way this turned out – clever you fixing your ribbing that way
And I love these colors – just a great classic sweater!!