Botanica Medallion Cardigan

Botanica Medallion Cardigan
My husband suggested that we could use this for an afghan or a table cover when I'm not wearing it. It does look OK here.
Botanica Medallion Cardigan
But it looks OK here too.
Botanica Medallion Cardigan
Botanica Medallion Cardigan

Botanica Medallion Cardigan
I love the crunchy texture of all these stitches in the Blue Sky Alpaca Skinny Dyed Cotton yarn.
Botanica Medallion Cardigan
I followed the pattern exactly (I hope), except that I misunderstood the triple decreases in the center medallion - the pattern calls for a different triple decrease, which doesn't leave the straight line of center stitches that I have here. And, I agreed with several other folks on Ravelry and moved the seam from the center back to under the left armhole. I grafted the seam nicely, but I still wish it was more invisible. Also, the directions have you unwrap all the cross stitch wraps at once, but it's much easier if you unwrap the triple wraps 6 stitches at a time.
Botanica Medallion Cardigan
This is a great pattern - both simple and complex. It's a simple shape, worn in an unusual way. Most people who see it on would never guess that it is a large circle with armholes. The way the row gauge shifts as you move outward on the border stitches is so clever, and the stitches themselves, especially the Indian Cross Stitch, are so pretty. Several people have mentioned that they think the trinity stitch section is wrong-side out. I'd just remind anyone making this that the prettier side of the trinity stitch section is what is turned back for the collar and around your face. So it is right side out, where it counts.

Details:
Botanica Medallion Cardigan,
designed by Shiri Mor, from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2009.
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Cotton, 7 skeins, gravel color (the pattern calls for "clay"). Yarn from Knot Another Hat in Hood River, OR.
Size M/L, though if I had to do it again, I'd make the border in size S, but the medallion in size M/L -- if you are not tall, and not thin, like myself, this might be something to consider.
US size 7 needles for the center medallion and size 6 for the border. Mid-border I switched to Addi lace needles (circular, but used back and forth). I'd recommend these needles, or some other pointy-tipped ones for this project. The trinity stitch was much easier after I switched.

Success? I think this sweater would be better for someone slimmer, with Michelle Obama arms. But then most clothes are. I'm happy with this sweater. It's comfortable to wear, both interesting and pretty. I think the color will be nice -- I'm not finding the neutral color so versatile as I'd thought, but the neutral tone keeps the sweater more casual, which I like. I wore it to my high school reunion last weekend. Only one friend knew I'd made it, but it made me feel more myself all night, to be wearing one of my own hand-knits.

Comments

  1. Te quedó precioso, yo lo quiero tejer, con una amiga intentamos traducirlo pero tengo muchas dudas. Felcitaciones te ves bella con él.
    Saludos

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  2. I don't speak Spanish, but I'll use google translate to reply. Thank you! I wish you well in trying to knit Botanica Medallion. It would be easier if the instructions were a graph, instead of words.

    Yo no hablo español, pero voy a utilizar el traductor de google para responder. ¡Gracias! Te deseo lo mejor para tratar de tejer Medallón Botanica. Sería más fácil si las instrucciones eran un gráfico, en lugar de palabras.

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