Late last year I decided I was going to try to invest in a handmade wardrobe. As I have noticed the quality of the clothing I was buying has really been going downhill. Even from ‘good’ brands.
I’ve been knitting for well over a decade, but it was mainly beanies and blankets. Sometimes baby clothing and booties.
I love a cozy knit for our not so cold Queensland winter or just to throw on in our freezing office. So I have decided to dive into sweater / cardigan knitting.
This is my first sweater, it is the Step by Step sweater by Florence Miller.
I initially cast on for size D, but when I tried it on, there was too much positive ease for my liking. The sweater was swimming on me, so I frogged it and ended up knitting size C. It still has positive ease, but is a better fit.
Yarn was Drops Nepal in Pomegranate (previously named Deep red) and Off white. When I gauge swatched, I only swatched and blocked in Pomegranate. When I blocked the cardigan, the red dye ran and tinged the white slightly beige. I don’t think it is too noticeable, but I will be more cautious using this yarn in future.
One of my goals lately is to make all of my clothes going forward, whether sewn or knit, for the same reason. It’s getting more difficult to find well made clothes that fit correctly.
That is a very cozy looking sweater. Great job!
3 Likes
AIMR
(Linda -In the year 2025, I am happy to be alive! :us:)
3
First sweater? Wow! It is lovely and so versatile! I also would like fewer but more well-made clothing in my wardrobe. I really don’t like the “throw-away” culture that seems to be way too prevalent these days. Your piece certainly fits the bill of being able to wear it multiple ways and to multiple functions.
I agree, I have a few great quality basics that are pushing 10 years old. When I have tried to replace one or two of the pieces I have found the quality to have declined. Even if it is the same brand.
A few of my friends definitely have the “throw away” mindset.
Your sweater is so nice! It’s a shame the dye ran but I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t mentioned it. And thanks for the warning - I recently knitted red and white socks from Drops yarn and I haven’t blocked or washed them yet. It’s true that the quality even of “good” brands has become terrible. It’s such a shame, I hate how wasteful we’ve become as a society.
Yours is great inspiration!
