The Peace Cardigan

I knit alomst all of the Peace Cardigan in one week, during the Presidential debates in Lake George last fall. This, despite the fact that it is in fine yarn and made on small needles. So I truly expected that it would be the first DC finished project to appear on the blog in October. I was soooo wrong. First there was the problem of running out of yarn with only a few rows left on the sleeve cap and collar, then there were adjustments to be made, and then there was a bit of finishing that had to be done. After all that, it is finally, happily complete. Thanks again to Restless Knitter Jill for helping me out with the extra cotton glace in the right dyelot. Jill was a lifesaver, and the cardi would not have been completed without her.

The Peace Cardi on a Sunny New Year's Day...Click for a Bigger Pic

Rowan, Magazine No. 25,
designed by Kim Hargreaves
Knit with 8 skeins (137 yards/115m/skein) of Rowan Cotton Glace (100% Cotton), in Splendor (810) on Addi Turbo brass-plated circulars in sizes US2 (3.0 mm) and US3 (3.25 mm), length 24", at a guage of 23 sts and 32 rows per inch.

Pattern Notes:
One of the most important things to know about this pattern is that the yarn requirements section is wrong for the cardigan with 3/4 sleeves. It appears to be on track to generous for the vest version, but I offer you no guarantees. I made the smallest size with sleeves, and it took me about 7 1/4 balls of yarn rather than a mere 7. I consider this to be an important difference. If you make the cardi, I would add at least one skein to the recommended number - two to be really safe. I have been knitting seriously for about 15 years and have never run out of yarn before (despite my practice of never buying an extra skein and designing stuff with no wiggle room for yardage), so rest assured that a mere 7 skeins won't make it. My guage is true.

The second thing to know about this pattern is that it involves miles and miles of stockinette with a 100% cotton yarn. All of this stockinette is regularly (and thankfully!) punctuated by some serious shaping. This combination produces a very unforgiving fabric - you need to have a nice, even guage and a good knowledge of what to do to perfectly "reverse" the shaping to make it turn out well. Your every mistake will be highlighted. Bottom line - not a beginner pattern, and probably not a barely intermediate pattern either. (As an aside, I will let you know that it is my personal opinion that a complicated wool cable sweater is more suited to a new knitter than a delicate stockinette stitch sweater in cotton. It shows fewer mistakes and gives a much nicer result while allowing you to learn a thing or two. Even guage and tension are hard to learn and come with time and practice. In the meantime, however, you can learn techniques, like cabling. Just my two cents!)

This was a cabin in the woods knit for me. Meaning, that the only way all the knitting was going to get done was if I was in a cabin in the woods on vacation, working on nothing else. Luckily, I was. Had I been anywhere else, you would doubtless see me slogging away on a row or two here and there over the course of several years. If you don't concentrate on all that stockinette, you'll likely put it down out of boredom. Still, there was a certain attraction to knitting it, and I think that came from two things: One, the absolute perfection of cotton stitches on tiny needles - mesmerizing. Two, the very prominent and fairly frequent (every 7-8 rows) shaping that occurs. If you're say, a Virgo, or some other fussy type who enjoys seeing things work out just so, this is the cardigan for you! I was in a cabin in the woods, so I was in the right frame of mind for this sweater. That wouldn't always be the case. Bottom line - it requires patience.

Modifications:
I only made two modifications to this sweater, but I consider both to have been rather vital to its tailored good looks:

1. I made adjustments to the collar.

2. I sewed in grossgrain ribbon to reinforce the placket. On the subject of placket sewing, I defer completely to Bonne Marie Burns and direct you to her instructions.

Impressions of Rowan Cotton Glace:
Cotton Glace is a wonderful yarn to work with if you want blindingly sharp stitch definition and vibrant color. For texture, I find it reminiscent of kitchen string, which can take a bit of getting used to if you are a wool gal at heart. Like kitchen string, it can be hard on the hands and knits up rather stiffly. It's perfect for this cardigan, lending it tailored sophistication and structural integrity all at once. I think it would also be great yarn for fun sculptural knits like Annie Modesitt's Fiesta Tea Set, or perhaps a knitted chicken toy. (Everyone needs a knitted chicken toy, right? I sure did after I saw Becky make one!) It's a yarn well-suited to the perfectionist in all of us, and it can be rather addictive to knit. Pick it up when you need a cotton with structure rather than drape.

Possible substitute yarns:
Although I have yet to work with it myself, I've heard tell (scroll down to Ann's June 24 entry) that Paton's Grace is a great poor gal's substitute for Cotton Glace. I got my cotton glace deeply discounted at the Knit Cafe's summer sale, but next time around I may try Grace to see how it works out. The other cottons I've known, like Tahki Cotton Classic and Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece are substitutable, but of slightly larger guage and not really the same in texture. (These are two of my favorites, and I highly recommend them, but if you're looking for the fancy equivalent of kitchen string, look elsewhere.)

Another Photo:

It's Cute Unbuttoned, Too...Click Me!

Tips for Others Making the Peace Cardigan:

1. Heed my warnings regarding yardage and buy an extra skein or two for the cardigan version.

2. Seriously consider modifying the collar and reinforcing the placket. In my humble opinion, all your beautiful work will be undone if you don't.

3. Patience, grasshopper!

Peace Out!