Fleur Cardigan

A simple textured v-neck cardigan with embossed flowers and garter stitched bands.

Pattern Source: Yarn: # of balls: Notions: Needles: Meterage: Yarn Source: Colour: Size: Started: Finished: Resting Period: Recipient :

Miss Bea's Colours by Louisa Harding Rowan Wool Cotton 22-24sts x 30-32 rows 4 and a half 5 buttons (4 + 1 spare) 3.5mm, 4mm 113m Stash from Liberty January Sale 2003 Moonshine (a dusky blue) Dye Lot 17E1 3-4 year old 26th September 2003 13th October 2003 on and off since it's charted and requires a bit of concentration Alexandra in 2004

Fleur is a great autumn/spring cardigan and ideal for a child since it's so soft and pretty. The first set of buttons that I picked were too large, so I make another trip to John Lewis to find something else. Aren't these pretty? The flowers are echoed in the pattern, and the soft blue complemented the yarn. This is the 3-4 year old size, since there wasn't much difference in # balls between the smallest and largest. Of the 4 Louisa Harding Miss Bea booklets, I think Miss Bea's Colours is the best one. However, I am rather biased as I like doing textured patterns. Complex intarsia patterns for children's wear is fine if I want to try out a technique, but otherwise, I woulnd't bother.. it's just not worth the time invested to sew in the ends and the child would outgrow it too quickly or drop alphabeti sphagetti on it. I would defintely recommend that the chart be photocopied (preferably) in colour and enlarged. The chart has the sizes marked off in colour, and if you do it in black and white, you'll need a highlighter to mark off the size. I also wished that the increases and decreases were written..( you know, something like increase 1 stitch every 5 rows at each end, while following chart until 63 stitches) What I really like is the garter stitch edging for the button band. It's simple and works really well. As long as I knit to gauge, picking up stitches means no anxiety about stetching the band or sewing it into place.

Project Notes

1. The pictures of fleur should give you an idea of the drap and elasticity of the Rowan Wool Cotton. Before blocking it, it had the appearance of a well used dishcloth.



2. After blocking, the reverse stocking stitches really come alive and the pattern really stands out off the stocking stitch.



Here's a close-up of the swatch



3. I found the making up for this pattern to be a bit odd and best countered with mattress stitch. It's not often that I see the body of a garment with bind offs for the sleeves, but no decreases or cast offs for the sleeve caps. I would had thought sleeve caps for an inset sleeve would work better. I must find a child to try this on ... does anyone know where I can borrow a 3-4 year old little girl, so that we can check the fit?





4. Save yourself (or recipient) from future headaches when using non-standard buttons... buy an extra button and sew it into the seam. It's just no fun losing a button and not being able to find anothe one in the same style. ( how many 4 year olds, hand the button over to their parents when it comes off in their hands?)

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