Novice Cardigan – Mohair Edition

A simple sweater makes for a very satisfying project (and a great sweater), and Petite Knit is really, really, really good at that. Besides designing patterns for beautiful, simple silhouettes, she does a lot of combining of fibres, which creates a depth of colour and texture that goes beyond what you can get out of a single strand. The Novice Cardigan Mohair Edition is designed with 2 strands of a lace-weight mohair, like Drops Kid-Silk, held together. There are a few different ways you can go about this:

1. Same Yarn & Colour (Identical Twins)

You can use (ie. Drops Kid-Silk) like the designer has done in her sample (see the picture above for a closeup). Easy, peasy, no thinking, falls under Keep It Simple Sister.

2. Combine Two Colours (Fraternal Twins)

A second option could be to use two different colours of the same yarn (ie. Drops Kid-Silk). If you want to create a depth of colour chose two that are close together, and their fuzzinesses will blend together and make them look like something new. Below are a few examples of to illustrate my point ….

3. Combine Fibres (Kissing Cousins)

The option that gets me really excited is to combine different fibres in colours that complement each other, thereby creating a dept of colour and texture – something you’ll never find in a store-bought garment. For this pattern I’m crushing on Fibre Co Meadow (On Sale to Sept 6) paired with Drops Kid-Silk. A lighter shade of kid-mohair will brighten up the base yarn, while a colour that is closer to the base will blend more, and create a halo. The most important thing is that the base tones match. For the the following examples I’ve eyeballed and scrutinized the skeins in natural light to make sure they work together, or as Erica says ‘make sense’. (FYI, if you’ve only got 1 skein of Meadow see the bottom of the page for a smaller project)

4. Single Strand of Yarn (Friends of the Family)

Lastly, you can use a single strand of DK Weight yarn (something that knits at around 22 to 21 sts/4″) … made in the right yarn, like Fibre Co Acadia, Malabrigo Arroyo, or even Kelbourne Woolens Scout could make for a very happy cardie!

Size

• XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL
• Finished Bust circumference: 96 (100) 105 (111) 120 (129) 140 (151) 161 cm OR [37¾ (39¼) 41¼ (43¾) 47¼ (50¾) 55 (59½) 63¼ inches]
• Length: 52 (54) 56 (58) 59 (60) 61 (62) 63 cm OR. [20½ (21¼) 22 (22¾) 23¼ (23½) 24 (24½) 24¾ inches] measured mid back
• Designed to fit an approximate bust circumference of 80-85 (85-90) 90-95 (95-100) 100-110 (110-120) 120-130 (130-140) 140-150 cm [31½-33½ (33½-35½) 35½-37½ (37½-39½) 39½-43¼ (43¼-47¼) 47¼-51¼ (51¼-55) 55-59 inches].
• Designed to have approx. 10 cm [4 inches] of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be approx. 10 cm [4 inches] larger in circumference than your body. (This means that if you, for example, measure 90 cm [35½ inches] around your bust or widest upper body part (measure yourself around your bust, or your widest point, using a measuring tape), you should knit a size S which has a circumference of 100 cm [39¼ inches]. This will give you 10 cm [4 inches] of positive ease.)

Yarn Options

1. Drops Kid-Silk: 8(8-9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14-15) balls in one colour
2. Drops Kid-Silk: 5(5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) balls in each of TWO colours (you may end up with an extra ball of yarn this way, but it’s better than running out)
3. Drops Kid-Silk: 5(5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8) balls, AND Fibre Co Meadow: 2(2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins (ON SALE TO SEPT 6)
4. Any DK Weight Yarn : 850(850 to 950, 950, 1060, 1060, 1166, 1272, 1378, 1484 to1590)m

Other Materials

• 3.5mm/US4 – 32″ circular needles
• 4mm/US6 – 16″ circular needles
• 4mm/US6 – 32″ and/or 40″ circular needles
• 3.5mm/US4 double pointed needles
• 15mm buttons: 9
• tapestry/darning needle
• Pattern

Oslo Hat – Mohair Edition

FYI, if you’ve only got 1 skein of Fibre Co Meadow (On Sale to Sept 6) pair it with 2 balls of Drops Kid-Silk and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous hat!

Size

Fits head circumference: 47-48 (49-50) 51-52 (53-54) 55-56 (57-59) 60-63 cm [18½-19 (19¼-19¾) 20-20½ (20¾-21¼) 21¾-22 (22½-23¼) 23½-24¾ inches]

Materials

• Fibre Co Meadow (On Sale to Sept 6): 1 skein; and Drops Kid-Silk: 2 balls
• 3mm/US2.75 – 16″ circular needles
• 3mm/US2.75 double pointed needles
• tapestry/darning needle
• Pattern