I’ve been lazy about taking photos in recent months, so I have a bit of a backlog of makes to show off - and here they are! I’m splitting them up into two groups with the first being my knitting FOs and current main WIP, and my sewing projects will follow in a post of their own.
Project Comfortable is my ongoing journey towards a genuinely comfy and practical wardrobe that feels like ‘me’, building my sewing and fitting skills along the way, and using some gems from my yarn and fabric stash.
Bereket
Bereket sweater, in decade-old corriedale/alpaca yarn from my stash
Showing off that incredible texture!
My latest big knitting FO is a Bereket sweater, an oversized cropped design knit sideways from cuff to cuff, with dramatic textured bands tapering inwards from the shoulders and upper sleeves down to the waistband. The texture is what really makes this design special, and the long bobbles are well worth taking the time to learn to knit efficiently. I followed the designer’s Instagram video showing how to knit backwards instead of turning to purl on the bobble rows and it made the whole project much more manageable. One thing I love about the pattern itself is the little diagrams in the margin which highlight which section of the garment you’re working on, something especially nice to see in a design with a less conventional construction method.
Pattern: Bereket (Ravelry link) by Ainur Berkimbayeva, made in size 3 (out of 7 total sizes) to fit my 44” upper chest circumference.
Yarn: A thinnish DK weight 80% corriedale 20% alpaca blend from ColourMart which I’ve had in my stash since 2015.
Bubble Cardigan
Bubble cardigan, showing off the shawl collar
The inside looks nice too
Ta-da! :)
My Bubble Cardigan (finished in August 2024) is big, comfy, colourful, and exactly what I wanted. I like the mid-thigh length, and the sleeves fit nicely with the cuffs turned back, which I prefer. Three years of chipping away at the stripes and I ended up with a garment I enjoy wearing. :)
Pattern: Bubble Cardigan (Ravelry link) by Stephen West, made in size XL to fit my 48” full chest circumference. The pattern goes up to 69” chest circumference including 6-10” positive ease. I highly, highly recommend using a weave-as-you-go method to deal with all the yarn ends!
Yarn: Various full and nearly-full skeins from my stash, mostly the now-discontinued Vintage Purls Sock.
WIP: Anyday Sweatshirt
Trying on my Anyday Sweatshirt before I start on the sleeves. I think I need to make a vest next, because I’m liking how this looks on me
A closer look at the texture - the cotton slubs are a lighter, purplish shade against the black wool
My current just-for-me knit is an Anyday Sweatshirt designed by Ysolda Teague, in Calypso 8ply from Bendigo Woollen Mills (not from stash, bought new for this project). The yarn is composed of a strand of crepe spun wool twisted with a thick-and-thin strand of cotton, and it has a pronounced slubby texture when knit up into stockinette. My yarn choice means the little details of the pattern like the triangle motif at the neck are less clear, but I honestly like the way it looks. And I can always knit it again in a smooth yarn if I want to. :)
I’m knitting a size 7 (out of 14 in total), regular length, with no bust shaping. Now that I’ve completed the body of the sweater I was able to do my first proper try-on, and it’s looking good so far! In fact, I’m now planning to make a vest for my next garment knit. The top of my maybe-list is Canyon by Jaq Cieslak which has the option of shaping at the front hem, which I don’t think I’ve seen in a pattern before. It also has deep armholes which would let me wear a loose layer underneath.
But first, I have a stay on Sleeve Island to get through so I can start wearing my Anyday Sweatshirt before the weather warms up.