I should probably first confess that this cardigan has been a finished object for over a month now. Oops! In fact, I’m nearly done with my next knitted project. It’s just hard to bring myself to take photos of a wool, worsted weight cardigan when it’s 95* outside, ya know?
But anyway, here she is – my newest cardi and and Andi Satterlund‘s newest pattern offering, the Marion!
This was SO MUCH FUN to knit, guys!
Marion is a lovely little cropped, 3/4 sleeve cardigan, knitted seamlessly from the top-down in almost entirely stockinette. There is some fun cabling around the v neck to add a bit of interest (both in looks and during the actual knitting, ha!), but it is an easy, fast knit. Well, for me, anyway. I finished it in just under a month!
I think everyone knows about my love affair for Andi’s patterns, but let me just repeat – I LOVE her patterns! I love the construction, I love the fit, and I love the finished pieces! Every time she releases a new pattern, it immediately goes into my queue.
This is a straight size small, with no alterations. I did size down my needle to a 6 (I find that I knit pretty loosely!), but everything else in the pattern was knitted as written. Going forward, though (because I WILL knit this again… maybe in a lovely grey alpaca? Ooh!), I will probably adjust the length of the sleeves. They hit me in a weird spot when they’re not scrunched, I guess I have short arms? Whatever, not a big deal.
The yarn is from Sonja, a little destashing prezzie she gave me while I was in NY. I actually have a LOT of this stuff left over… I think the sweater took maybe 6 skeins, and she gave me 10. I may have to dream up a matching hat and scarf, yeah?
The yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. I found it very similar to my beloved Cascade 220, but with a little less pilling. I just love this color – it’s the perfect not-quite-cranberry-not-quite-harlot red. It’s also VERY warm. This will be nice in the winter, I guess!
Oh, who am I kidding – it’s fucking freezing in my office these days. I’ve been wearing this a LOT!
The only thing that was a bummer about this pattern is that the cabling looks really weird until it’s actually blocked. That’s why I didn’t show any progress shots – the cables were all lumpy and weird and it just wasn’t pretty enough to photograph! I did give this a proper block – soaking and all – and the cables bloomed out and now it’s basically perfect.
I’m so happy with how they turned out 🙂
There are teeny cables on the sleeve ribbing, too!
Here is how it looks unbuttoned. I don’t think I’ll ever wear it like this – I like to keep my stuff closed – but I thought I’d show y’all anyway. You probably noticed that I didn’t stabilize my button bands with petersham this time. I was planning on it – I even bought some cranberry red petersham ribbon – but the way the buttonband is constructed was going to look really weird with ribbon sewn on half of it. Anyway, I tried the sweater on and the button holes don’t gape at all, so I just sewed my buttons directly on there and called it a day.
Also, here is a picture of Amelia judging me.
And that makes 10 sweaters for me! Fuck yeah, I love knitting 🙂
LLADYBIRD 
Beautiful! I just love to see your finished projects, been stalking your blog for a while. 🙂 I’m knitting Agatha right now and loving it. I’m very curious about stabilizing the button bands with ribbon. How is it done on the buttonhole side? Do you make machine buttonholes on the ribbon in the places corresponding to the knitted buttonholes?
You can either make button holes by machine and then sew the ribbon to the underside of the band, or put the ribbon on first and then cut a hole under each button hole and finish the edges by hand. I know some people also like to sew the ribbon on then machine stitch button holes directly on (through both the ribbon and the knitted band), but I personally don’t like the way a machine-stitched button hole looks on a sweater 🙂
GAH, cute! I’m going to learn this fall (it’s too damn hot to even think about anything resembling a sweater right now!), and I’m stupid excited about it. 😀
Gorgeous cardi! 🙂 I so admire how quickly you churn out knitting projects- my finished panels always sit around in my knitting basket for weeks before I stitch them together! You are spurring me on lady!!
It looks fantastic! My office is the same way with the AC being too cold. I always wear layers so I can pile them on in the office and take them off when I’m in the sweltering heat outside. Your sweater is perfect for that. I love the cables.
SO cute – love this pattern and the neat cables. Great job!
How cute is this cardigan?!
I love Andi’s patterns too, can’t believe I missed this one! And in the basket it goes…
Gorgeous cardigan, your knitting is amazing.
Fantastic! I love the color too. The fit is great, and V-neck is so flattering.
It looks lovely! Happy 10th sweater!
Right. That’s it. I’m frogging my half knitted thing of the moment and making this instead. I like Andi’s patterns, too. I only found her because of your posts and now I have two Chucks! So, thanks.
Your cardigan is as gorgeous as I have come to expect from you:) I love it!
I bow to thee, oh talented one! The most I’ve been able to really make is a wash cloth/swiffer pad with knitting. Brava! Also, your wee kitties look super cute with the buttons you used on the sweater. 😉
-Jamie
ChatterBlossom
I’ve been meaning to knit some of those Swiffer pads for YEARS, and I still haven’t gotten around to it. So you’re doing better than I am, at least at that 😉
And thank youuuu 🙂 I love my kitties 😀
I love the pattern and the color is just gorgeous!
I love your cardigan. You’re right that Andi’s designs are the best.
Love the cardi and its fitted shape. Going to find the pattern now!
Omg is that a hula hoop I see in the background of a photo?! I’ve been reading your blog for ever so long but if you’ve shared that you are a hooper I missed that! I love hooping. 🙂
Haha don’t worry, I don’t think I’ve ever shared it before 🙂 Yes, I do have a hula hoop – and I made it (with the help of my friend Lauren W, who is a legit hooper) – but I wouldn’t call myself a hooper. I can mostly just keep it up, but not do any fancy stuff. I like to hoop while I watch tv hahaha 🙂
I love it! I can’t believe how many amazing things you make in such short time. I wish I had your energy and your skill!
Lovely, this is on my list too. I am just finishing up the Miette, picking up the neckline now. I think the Marion will have to be next on my list!
First of all, this is just gorgeous! You’re a natural knitter – not that I am surprised at all. You’ve convinces me to make one in black WOTA. I love Knit Picks for sweaters. So cheap and such nice yarn for the price!
Second, can you give us a play-by-play of a typical week for you? I would love to fit in more craft time, but I never seem to be able to. It would be great to see what you do every day for a week, and how it all works out to so many beautiful finished pieces. (Major things only, not things like “brush my teeth for 2 minutes” LOL!)
Umm, it deleted the “pretty please” I included in my weird request, but I swear it was in there 🙂
I have been asked this question LOADS (although more of a daily-type, not weekly ;)), and I’m in the works of compiling some type of post to answer it. So… soon! 🙂
Awesome! Can’t wait. Now time to get off my duff and go sew for a bit tonight 🙂
Delightful…just delightful! And you liked the wool of the Andes yarn? I’ve only used the swish and billow thus far and they both pill and shed like nobody’s business! I don’t think I’ll ever use either again.
I do like it! I think it’s very similar to Cascade 220 (which does pill, boo, but at least when you pick the balls off they don’t come back!). I’ve worn this sweater off and on for a month and I haven’t noticed any pilling yet.
What a pretty and preppy cardi! It will be great when the Autumn weather actually reaches you.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CurvyTiffy?ref=seller_info_count
I already told you I love it, but I love it! Oh and how weird is this? You’re considering knitting it in a grey alpaca… I’m knitting a cropped cardigan in a grey alpaca right now! Spooky… hahaha 😀 (Although I’m stuck on it at the moment, boo! Oh I should switch to making a Marion with it lol! Just kidding :P)
But seriously, I gotta make this, yours is stunning and the bold red matches the cabled element really well 🙂 Cuteness!
I love how much we are unintentional knitting twins 😀 off to lurk your Ravelry favorites again, HA! 😀
I think red is the perfect color for this cardigan and this shade of red is especially nice. And I really like how it looks open.
Looks lovely. I really like those short little knitted cardigans (I feel like cardigans are part of my “uniform” but I feel like I’ll never get around to learning how to knit, so I guess the thrift store is for me!
Sheesh that cat really is judging you! This is such a lovely cardigan, the cables make it special and they must have been pretty fun to do.
Every time I read your blog I feel so unproductive! I really need to get some sewing and knitting happening ASAP. Your cardigan is gorgeous. I love a red cardigan.i have a heap of red yarn just waiting to become a Miette cardigan. By the time I g it done though winter will be over!
Love it! I’m just finishing a miette in this wool, and I LOVE it. Plus, it’s very reasonably priced. Not to be a pusher or anything but they are having a massive sale on the Knit Picks website right now. I just stocked up!
Argh, you’re so amazing it’s almost irritating 🙂 This is gorgeous, of course, and makes me want to go and knit one right now. Andi is amazing and you are the perfect dealer of her pattern crack!
Dude- this is seriously epic. And side note- grey cropped cardis are the goods. Get on that wagon!
How nice of you to model this cardigan for me. Now give it to me. I wants it!
I really dig the (denim?) skirt. Is this handmade?
It is (both denim and handmade, I mean :)). It’s the Hummingbird from Cake Patterns. Here’s my pattern review post if you’d like to see more of it 🙂
Thank you so much, Lauren! I’ve got your blog page open every day. 🙂
Aw yay! 🙂
Just wanted to say that finding your posts on your experience knitting your first sweaters got me going into knitting mine. I am nearly done, took much longer than expected because I had to let it aside for a while but I am happy 🙂
You have a lovely blog and it really makes me want to learn sewing now as well.
I am next going to knit the Marion sweater too, I have a lovely red cascade 220 at home. I had a question, does it get softer after washing? I have never knitted with it yet!
Awesome! I’m so glad you found my posts helpful (and yessss, get into sewing, do it! ha!).
I can’t answer for sure on whether or not Cascade 220 softens much after washing, because I don’t actually wash my sweaters (call me gross, but I find a good airing out is sufficient enough for now. It is wool, after all :)). They all went through a thorough pre-soak blocking, and I think the fibers softened a little (wash a swatch and see what you think!). I also don’t find wool itchy at all, so I’m not sure if that’s a factor to consider. You may want to ask the pattern writer; she uses Cascade 220 a lot so she has lot of experience with it 🙂
I don’t find it really itchy but I hesitate because the Marion is a bit closer to the body than what I’m used to. Will ask her 🙂 Thanks!
Can’t wait to start sewing, but I will start with a pillowcase, haven’t touched a machine since I was 12 ^^.
Oh and I don’t think you’re gross ^^, I usually don’t wash my cardigans very often either (my non knitted ones, seen as I haven’t finished my sweater yet). And I don’t think most knitters do anyway.