The Wispy Flair

I really, really wanted Kim Hargreaves' Wispy when I first saw it, but decided to wait a few days for the excitement to cool off and avoided an impulse kit purchase.  I still have the Carrie kit from last year still waiting to be cast on, so maybe it was a bit of guilt that prevented me from buying another.  And then Siow Chin alerted me to Knit and Tonic Wendy's Flair pattern.  Isn't it great to have knitting buddies? ;-)

Top down and mostly stocking stitch, like Wendy's pattern, but big front bands with two saucer sized buttons, slightly longer sleeves, and knit with Rowan Summer Tweed, like in Kim's pattern.  The Summer Tweed!  I thought I'd never use it again after using it for these two projects.  I didn't like the way those garments stretched (a lot!!) at the recommended gauge of 4 st/ inch, and depending on your color/lot choice, the yarn can be quite rough, as I found out in the stripy sweater.  It goes to show how much I liked the original tweedy Kim design to buy this yarn.  Perhaps it was not the smartest thing to just hope but I thought the tighter gauge for this pattern (4.5 st/ inch) might make it less stretchy and just crossed my fingers that this particular lot of yarn (color is Summer Berry) would be soft (it is).

The biggest modification to the pattern was the button/ button hole bands, which were knit in double moss stitch.  I had knit the 36" size, cast on three fewer stitches on each side of the neck, and used 11 instead of 7 stitches for the bands.  The buttonholes were done over 3 stitches instead of 2.  I used just two rows of seed stitch at the neck, sleeve and hem edges, so that there were no other bands to distract you from the front ones. The edges would probably roll with a sproingier yarn, but the Summer Tweed pretty much stayed where it's finger pressed.  The fabric is stiffer at this gauge, but at least the jacket isn't stretching out.  Six and a half skeins of Summer Tweed were enough for this project.

I hadn't knit much over and after the holidays.  I slept a lot, cooked a bit, spent lots of time with the boys, and lunched with the knit buds.  (Thanks to Siow Chin and Maryann for taking the Wispy Flair photos for me. :-))  Time to go... I should get cracking on those wips of mine!!

Comments

[Nicole]

I love this cropped, swingy cardi. It looks very pretty on you.

Like you, I find that Felted Tweed stretches out. Whenever I wear my FT Salina sweater, the elbows bag out instantly, not an attractive look!

[Agnes]

Very chic! I am confused ... you used Kim's or Wendy's pattern? But anyway, what does it matter? LOL! It's lovely!

[nova]

It looks great! I always like to read about knitters making patterns work for them!

[Sara]

i love your variation on Flair! it looks fabulous.

[polly]

it's pretty. The shape and colour are so flattering. It's the damn summer tweed that is hellish to work with. I can attest to it being much better and less stretchy when worked to a tigher gauge

[grumperina]

Looks wonderful on you! It's such a stylish silhouette!

[Mandy]

Wow - you always knit the most beautiful things! Brava!

[Sue]

Beautiful cardigan, and I love the bands on it too. Very pretty color too. Well done!

[lyn]

I love your version of this cardi and it looks perfect on you! I hope it doesn't stretch out much too, it's a pain when that happens.

[mimi]

It's a very stylish design, and it fits you nicely. Silk and cotton yarns have tendency to strech. I am also using smaller needles to knit my summery knits.

[brooke]

Classic shape and color-love it!

[erin]

It's a chic cardigan, Joy. Love the shade of red and the stylish cut.

[lauray]

That is a really nifty one. Really easy to jazz up a outfit!

[handknit168]

I like the style of this cardigan. It is pretty and the colour does suit the summer time. I seldom knit summer yarn, for I don't like the texture of the summer yarn. Sometimes it feels so heavy and itchy when wearing at HK's wet summer season.

[yuvee]

Oh cute! I love the colour you picked. I just finished working with Summer Tweed too, and while I wasn't sure about it before, I quite like it now.

[Amy]

How sweet! The red really does give it some, erm, flair. :) I love the look of Summer Tweed, but I've never worked with it.

[Peggy]

Cute jacket! You've been really into reds lately!

[Oiyi]

Oh, it's gorgeous!!! The red is beautiful. You and Siow Chin knit such beautiful garments.

I already bought the yarn for Flair,but have yet to cast on.

[Liz Stannard]

I love it!! It reminds me a bit of the Phildar swing jacket I'm knitting at the moment....

[Kai]

I love this on you and the colour is stunnning.. :)

[reluctantmango]

That is so very flattering on you! Love the casual yet structured look of the jacket, just the thing for cool mornings!

[Siow Chin]

I'm a lucky one who've seen the sweater up close. It's really lovely. Love the texture too. Makes me just want to dig out those nubby, tweedy silk to knit for summer.

[Knittypants]

So cute. I love it. Great color, great shape. It's perfect!

[lynette]

i love that jacket on you! i also hungered for the Wispy pattern and bought Flair instead. i hope to cast on for mine soon.

[Jeanne]

Mmm, I like both the Wispy and the Carrie! (I find it much safer to find out about Rowan et al. designs through you and Siow Chin -- my "possibilities" list is much more manageable!)