Copenhagen Cardigan | Part II | Execution

Yesterday we chatted about how I started the planning process of the Copenhagen Cardigan by PetiteKnit, so I thought today I would share the finished object! I don’t post as many finished object posts as I used to because of the podcast, but I wanted to start doing so again this year because it is a really good journal opportunity for me when looking back at my process!

I finished spinning for the cardigan and had about 5 skeins of yarn to work with in the end. I was excited to see what the cardigan might look like, even though I was apprehensive about the colour in the finished yarn – as many of you know, I like homogeneity in the colours that I knit (even if that means the spinning is a bit boring).

After all the spinning, I had over 1600 yards of yarn, weighing 372 grams. My finished grist (for those who are interested) was 2014 yards per pound. The sweater is knit on 4.00mm needles so based on my swatch (pictured last post), I cast on using the suggested needles since I liked the fabric I had created. I was holding the Farmers Daughters Fibers Mohair/Silk together with the Falkland handspun but I still striped the handspun yarn. For those who haven’t done this before, I highly recommend it when working with hand-dyed yarns and handspun. Basically, knit 2 rows and then 2 rows from another skein, alternating back and forth. Yes, it results in a few more ends to weave in but the results are much more homogeneous and it prevents unwanted striping that can ruin the fabric from dye lots that are different or handspun yarns that are quite different!

My friend, Greta, asked on the most recent podcast episode about whether I would card the fibres prior to spinning knowing what I know now. I would. Knowing what I know now and knitting up the fabric, I would card the fibres and create a ‘new’ semi-solid colourway for this cardigan. That said, I love these results regardless and am really happy with the results.

Pattern: Copenhagen Cardigan by PetiteKnit

Yarn: {handspun} Westcoast Colour 100% Falkland held double with Farmer’s Daughters Fibres Mighty Mo in Warm Melted Butter

Needles: 4.00mm (body & sleeves) and 3.5mm (ribbing)

One of the reasons I really liked and wanted to knit this cardigan was the pockets. I fell in love with them at Knit City, which I mentioned in Part I of this series. They are so cool! After knitting them as part of the body of the cardigan, I needed to seam them so I used mattress stitch and finished them off. I didn’t tack them to the cardigan so they ‘float’ behind but after washing and blocking, the pockets sit beautifully.

I didn’t hold the mohair/silk yarn with the Falkland as I knit the pockets because I was quite worried I would run out of yarn otherwise. It was very tight finishing the second sleeve with the mohair/silk so I’m thankful for this decision early on!

While I wanted the cardigan slightly longer, it ended up being a good length in the end. I think I will wear it a lot – especially because it’s not bulky at all and will fit nicely under my rain jackets!

Have you made something recently you’re really happy with? Do you have plans to spin and knit/weave a large project – think about coming over and sharing your progress or participating in our Zero to Hero Make-Along for 2020 – we will help you stay on track!