Friday, September 14, 2007

Modified Enid Cardigan

Finished!!

The original design was Enid Cardigan by Véronik Avery and it can be found in Interweave Knits Fall 2006. I think the cardigan in the magazine was knit with Reynolds yarn, could the name be Whiskey?? I don't have the magazine here close by so I will not check it now, but I have never seen this yarn. I used yarn from Studio Maisa Tikkanen which is Finnwool and the needle size I ended up using was 3 mm. I used little less than 400 grams alltogether, which is not a lot and this dress is very light and I'm sure I need not to worry about the weight pulling this down.

I made quite a few changes. First of all the yarn and the colours. Then I did not want a cardigan but a short dress or a long sweater. I changed the order, I started from the top and not from the bottom as suggested in the original pattern. I made few adjustments to the sleeves, I knit mine a bit wider than what it seems in the pictures in the magazine. And added little details to the sleeves. The bands around the arms echo the band around the neck. (I think the sleeves must be my favourite part of the dress.)

It looks like there is a side seam but it is seamless and that is a fake seam. If I was to do this again, I would leave this seam out but I try not to focus on it...

This is the way I will be using this as well, as a long sweater with jeans.

I loved this knit!

I'm a bit sad that it is all over now and I really don't know what to knit next... I have been searching and even swatching a bit but so far no luck. I still miss to hold on to 3 mm needles and this light yarn. Very often I enjoy knitting but once the project it over the love fades but not now. This feels very comfortable and fits well. If only I could find something as good as this now...

62 comments:

  1. The sleeves are very nice! The whole dress is spectacular and the colors so organic and earthy along with what looks like a perfect fit. Well done!

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  2. Taas kerran upeaa neuletyötä!

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  3. Oh, how beautiful Enid turned out! And she fits perfectly with jeans. I love the sleeves! And the colors are fabulous!

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  4. So great - and the sleeves part makes all the difference ... very exquisite!

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  5. Anonymous22:15

    Simply beautiful. You have inspired me. I have just ordered Veronik Avery's new book Knitting Classic Style but do not have the link to all her flickr photos. Google should find them.

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  6. Anonymous22:42

    Kaunis!

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  7. Its been wonderful just watching you make it. Gorgeous.

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  8. If only I had your figure and could pull off an item like this! Kudos on the beautiful project and maintaining the body to model it!

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  9. Anonymous23:03

    Absolutely beautiful Lene. I am sure you will enjoy wearing Enid for a long time to come.

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  10. Very, very beautiful!

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  11. Anonymous23:16

    Your sleeve modification turn it into a classic--that garment will never go out of date! Fabulous modifications!

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  12. Lene, it's gorgeous! Your modifications enhance the original pattern and make it more "you." I love the sleeves in particular.

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  13. Thank you Lene. You are always enthusiastic, and articulate. Your work is beautiful (Henry too!), but Enid is perfect on you.

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  14. Anonymous23:55

    Wow. Just ... wow. Lene, it's absolutely beautiful. The mods make it almost a different sweater, but honestly I like yours better, I think. I'm currently in love with the new Veronik Avery book, not sure if it's shown up in Europe yet.

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  15. It's very beautiful - nice work, as always!

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  16. It looks so good on you, Lene, or perhaps it is one of your dtrs. The sleeve detail is wonderful and I think it makes that long expanse of turquoise better. I think you made a wonderful choice of colours!

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  17. Will you stop annoying me! You take a complicated pattern like this and airily say, 'I started from the top down, and I made it a sweater not a cardigan, and I used my own yarn and I used my pattern...' Lene, SOME of us can't GET as good as that! You're making us feel really useless!
    (And I shouldn't worry too much about not knowing what to start. These things have a way of sneaking up on you!)

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  18. I really like the fact that you've made it longer; it gives it another look.

    I've just gotten the book Folkstyles, from Interweave and there are a few interesting things in there.

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  19. Anonymous03:00

    I LIKE it!

    Looks great on you. And as an earlier commenter said, I especially like the changes you made to the sleeves.

    Gray Mist next?

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  20. It is wonderful and the changes are perfect for wearing when it gets chilly. I like the sleeve details too, especially the ribbing.

    The sweater I'm making now has a purl stitch under the sleeve from the gusset to the wrist. I can't find any reason why it is there. Last night I was thinking that next time I would prefer to leave that out too.

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  21. Anonymous03:35

    FABULOUS !

    Enid is beautiful. You look gorgeous wearing her. I greatly admire you, and your beautiful knitting.

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  22. I love this. You did an exceptional job with the colors and modifications. Outstanding!

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  23. Anonymous03:55

    I love your sweater, especially the sleeves. I really like all the changes you made, which really make it uniquely yours. That is the creative artist coming out, for sure. I wonder what you will make next? Do you have enough of that yarn left to make something to match the sweater--a hat, perhaps?

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  24. Oh, Lene -- that's fabulous.

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  25. Anonymous06:27

    You are so clever - what a beautiful knit.

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  26. oh it's lovely lene!! and wouldn't you know, i just started a cardigan of my own design and the lower sleeve matches yours!! totally by chance.

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  27. Beautiful! I like your sleeves a lot.

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  28. Anonymous09:32

    Beautiful - I really like your version much more than the original!

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  29. What a beautiful knit. The colours are lovely.

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  30. Anonymous10:37

    Hey, nice one!

    In fact I like it a lot better than the original cardigan version!

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  31. Anonymous12:00

    I can't believe how very, very beautiful this is! The colors go along so well together, and it seems to have the perfect fit indeed! Fantastic work!

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  32. Looks great on you. I love the sleeve detail. It's inspiring to see how you modify a pattern; should spur me to be more creative myself.

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  33. Anonymous19:06

    Beautiful! I love the sleeves!!!

    Next..........
    Grey mist is not a bad idea but, what about Plisse`? I know, I know.......the gauge thing. Certainly you can sort that out. I have faith in you. I think it may my next project. Nudge, nudge :)

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  34. Oh defo the Plisse is gorgeous and on my to do list. The sweater dress is gorgeous.

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  35. Anonymous22:35

    Oh my goodness it is stunning! I could never pull off something like that - something about California and sweater-dresses just doesn't mix. I'm jealous of you a little, in your beautiful country and beautiful sweaters. Wear it well!

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  36. Anonymous23:32

    Ai jai, upea!

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  37. Anonymous01:13

    randqy






















































    Lene, Your sweater/dress is "eye-candy"! I looked and looked at the pictures. The sleeves with the purple bands and ribbing make the sweater/dress look perfectly balanced! I would love to see the colors, textures and "mood" of the landscape of your beautiful country interperted by you into a garment.....you are so good at it!!! Take care......Jeanie

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  38. The whole dress is amazing. Very Pretty. Congrats on the finish.

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  39. Anonymous20:34

    bravo, Lene, it's beautiful as it is!

    Luisa

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  40. Lene, this is beautiful! And only someone as thin as you could look that good in a long narrow sweater-dress. Gorgeous colors, beautifully done, and great modifications!

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  41. Anonymous06:21

    Mazel tov (congratulations). It looks lovely.

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  42. Lopputulos on kaunis, vaikka muutoksia on paljon! Uskomattoman keveä naule. Mistä Maisa Tikkasen lankaa oikein saa ostaa?

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  43. This is really gorgeous Lene, I have been enjoying watching it take shape, and it really makes me want to knit the original Enid, as I think its a lovely design, and I could really do with another cardigan, nothing in my stash to suit at the moment though!

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  45. I really like the original little cardigan in the magazine, but I love what you did with it! Congrats on your finish.

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  46. Wonderful knitting! Loved the sleeves, too!


    Beijinhos
    Ana

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  47. Your sweater turned out amazingly well! I love the changes you made, especially the sleeves.

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  48. Anonymous19:46

    Wow!

    That sweater will be like the velveteen rabbit - thoroughly loved and worn.

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  49. I love it! It looks so great with your jeans, and the colors you used are beautiful!

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  50. Anonymous06:43

    Exquisite!! Your interpretation of this sweater is just brilliant. And it looks gorgeous on you!!

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  51. This is very beautiful!

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  52. Congratulations!
    I'd realy like to knit this sweater, looks beautiful.It would take me ages though..

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  53. Beautiful modifications and an amazing result. It couldn't fit you any better! Congratulations on such a lovely garment!

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  54. Wow! Stunning!

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  55. Anonymous04:02

    Lene,
    Since you love this sweater/dress so much, why not make another one in a different color combination?
    It is very beautiful!

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  56. simply stunning! especially the sleeve detail.

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  57. The little details and beautiful colors unite to make a real knitting masterpiece!

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  58. Anonymous18:45

    It's gorgeous! I just love the sleeve details you added there and it looks so wonderful on you!

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