Alpaca Cardi

I'm not usually one to make garments, for several reasons, the most prominent of those being that I don't much fancy the pressure of having something fit exactly. I've also felt like my knitting skills have been lacking in certain areas. Since I got into the online knitting and crochet world about a year and a half ago, though, the wealth of information that I've gained has been incredible and I really feel like I've made progress.

With that sentiment in mind, let me present to you my first made-to-measure garment, my little alpaca cardigan!

Woo hoo! I couldn't be happier with the way this turned out. It fits perfectly! I felt all svelte and cute wearing it and couldn't help getting some model poses happening!



Pattern: Drops Short Cardigan with Crochet Borders in Alpaca (geez, what an inspiring name), free on the Garnstudio website here.

Yarn Details:

• Garnstudio Drops Alpaca
• 100% alpaca
• 50gr=180m
• colour #3770
• about 175gr used

Needles: 3mm circular and 3mm crochet hook for borders

Like I said, I couldn't be happier with the finished product. The written pattern, however, was another story. First of all, I used waaaaaay less yarn than the pattern stated. The pattern recommended 250gr for my size and I hardly used 175gr. Not the first time that this has happened. Also, time and time again I'm disappointed with the shoddy translations that Garnstudio provides. The instructions are often vague and ambiguous and it's such a shame, really, as so many of Garnstudio's designs are fabulous. Btw, the new season's designs are up on the voting site at the moment. It's so hard to choose just ten!

Anyway, the actual knitting part of this sped along easily, but the finishing was the part that stalled. Such small stitches and all of those seams!

The success of this project has give me some confidence to continue making garments to fit me. There are lots of things in my Ravelry queue...

A final note about the pictures: I was described as looking rather 'boobalicious' in them. To that, my mum says, "it's all smoke and mirrors", and I say, "it's all angles, baby!"