Knitting: The Belfast Cardigan

Thursday, July 30, 2015

A few weeks ago I finally cast on my Belfast Cardigan and promptly finished all of about 10 rows of ribbing with what-feels-like only 10 million more to go (ugh, ribbing...). I don't know what it is about ribbing, but I'm not a fan of doing it, and since this is knit from the bottom up, it's first up on the list of things to do.

I know I won't be able to finish it in time to wear it by the end of this winter - I'm not the fastest knitter and following a knitting pattern requires all of my attention, but throw in a 10 week old (!!!) also requiring all of my attention (and refusing day-time sleeps - apparently day-time sleep is for the weak according to Oscar), and you have one very long term project. It's also a really big pattern in terms of the fact that it's a long, loose cardigan with a hood, so it's going to take some time to make purely because of it's size. It's almost like a coat and cardigan combined - a coatigan??

The wool I'm using is Bendigo Luxury wool in Ghost, a really lovely soft light grey, and the pattern is by Quince & Co. I've never made one of their patterns before, but for a person who hasn't followed many knitting patterns (Miette being my first!) it's going along relatively smoothly (I know, I know, I've only done the ribbing...and not even all of it! Tehee). I'll still need my computer close to YouTube for most of the techniques, but I'm sure it's going to be doable. The bulk of it is done in stockinette with just the perfect amount of detail to make it interesting, but hopefully not too hard.

I am actually really excited about getting this coatigan finished though, and keep having mornings where it would have been the perfect extra layer, I just really need to make myself get past the ribbing!

I'll be Raveling it over here. What are you knitting at the moment? Any ribbing involved?

xx
J
14 comments on "Knitting: The Belfast Cardigan"
  1. I completely agree with you about knitting. It's my least favourite type of knitting (that I've found so far). Good luck, I haven't had the guts to try such a big project yet.

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    1. Yes! I think it's because it's so repetitive, but I also still have to think about it that makes it so unappealing...

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    2. yes, perhaps. I don't mind repetitive, i actually quite like "boring" stockinette

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  2. I'm about to start my Strokkur (for the second time, should have swatched, but didn't), it also starts at the bottom, and ribbing. I much prefer stocking stitch, so much faster! Luckily there's a lot of ss in Strokkur till you get near the top when the colourwork starts, now that I'm looking forward to!

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    1. That is a gorgeous pattern!! I'm definitely not ready for colour work any time soon, but this looks like it could be a nice introduction - especially since you're making your second :)

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  3. I've decided it's going to be a goal of mine to finished a jumper/sweater to wear this year. I've started a couple but always seem to lose heart in the pattern/colour/everything halfway through! Can't wait to see this one finished.

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    1. I so know what you mean!! It's always towards the end I seem to lose heart and just need to make myself do it - a little like with this ribbing. There's technically not much more I need to do, I just need to make myself do it.

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  4. Always nice when you pop in with an update! He'll give in and sleep again, I promise, but I feel your pain in the meantime. One of my babies was a nonsleeper, day and night. It's thoroughly exhausting. And yet you sound chipper and upbeat as always. How'd you manage that?

    I started a cardigan (crochet, not knit) more than 2 years ago and still haven't gotten past the ribbing!! Mine is a top-down design, so I got *something* accomplished, but still...I totally agree, miles of ribbing just feel disheartening. BUT. Yes, it's going to take a long time, but I bet we're both going to love these sweaters when they're finally done. There's nothing NOT to love about a great cardigan!

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    1. Hehe, well, this tiny little post was written over a week, if you can believe it!! I'm holding onto your comment about his sleep. I shouldn't complain really, he does sleep nicely during the night now with only one 1 or 2am feed before he's asleep again until 6am.

      I totally agree we'll love 'em when they're done, just gotta get them done!!

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  5. Cute pattern! I'm knitting a cabled cardigan right now which is even more involved than ribbing! It's fun though :) I want to make a cardigan in the same style as you, but I haven't gotten around to it yet!

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    1. I'd love to do cables, but I'm just not quite there yet with the extra little needle I'll need - it'll require so much more concentration, but I remember when you just started out knitting and know you're a whizz! I need to get some more done so I can catch up :)

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  6. In knitting hamlin Peak in quince quince aand co linen type wool. Its knitted from the top down and the rows are getting longer and longer!

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  7. I completely hate ribbing so much. I love the Snow White pattern by Ysolda but I've started it and pulled it out twice because it ALL RIBBING!

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  8. Ooh, what a fun pattern! I'm excited to see your sweater! I'm currently knitting a sweater for my husband, and yes, the ribbing is a total ugh! And there's SO MUCH OF IT in a man-sized sweater! Did I mention that I'm using fingering-weight yarn? :D I may be knitting it for the rest of my life!

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