Swingy Garter Yoke Cardi

It's done! It's done! It's done! (And it only took 3 1/2 months.)

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I had hoped it wouldn't gap at the front. And I was sad at first. But, it's growing on me. If at some point I don't want the gap anymore I can just sew some snaps to the button band and fix that right up!

I made these increases just under the yoke and added a few more at the underarm to give it a swingy A-line silhouette.

I sewed grosgrain ribbon to the wrong side of each button band. I'm so glad I did! I may go back to another older cardigan and add ribbon. It gives the sweater such a more finished look.

I also went for snaps instead of buttons after the grosgrain ribbon made buttoning my buttons too difficult. I like the snaps! I may just add ribbon to all my future cardigans.

I would definitely knit this sweater again. The original pattern is fitted and I might make one of those (you know, just knit the pattern instead of messing about with it). I think this pattern also would work with some stripes or lacy pattern at the bottom.



Here's my full list of modifications to the Garter Yoke Cardi by Melissa LaBarre:

1) Knit yoke with a needle 2 sizes smaller than necessary to obtain gauge.

2) Immediately after finishing yoke, on first round of stockinette, add increases. I increased using a 3 stitch repeat of: purl into the front and knit into the back of the same stitch, knit into the back and purl into the front of the next stitch, knit one stitch. If I were to do this again I would have knit 4 - 5 stitches next to the button band and then started increases and continued increasing all the way to the raglan increases.

3) After separating the sleeve stitches knit 1 inch at the underarm. Increase by knitting in the front and back of the same stitch 4 stitches from either side of the underarm marker (increasing 4 stitches each increase round). Knit about one inch and do the increase round again. Note: I only did this 2 times. I think I might have been able to get my cardigan to stay closed in the front had I done more increases on the “front side” of the underarms.

4) Don’t do the waist shaping.

5) Sew grosgrain ribbon to back sides of button bands. Sew snaps for closure.