Rhinebeck – the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival – is this weekend, and for the fourth year in a row, and for various reasons, I am not there. Between my traveling companion deciding to go to college after a five-year break and therefore not being available to travel, and my decision to re-allocate my Rhinebeck savings to pay for not inexpensive film and film developing, well, it just wasn’t happening for 2023. Better luck next year.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have a September Sweater to share, and I’m quite pleased with it, which is a relief. A relief, because this is the second time I’ve knit this pattern, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled the first time. Meet my Traveller’s End Cardigan, Take Two.
In 2019 we took a family trip to Ireland, and I intended to knit a souvenir sweater with Irish wool, using a pattern from an Irish designer. And I did so. But I disliked the fit. I couldn’t wear it without constantly tugging and re-arranging, and it was seriously annoying to wear. Add to that the fact that I didn’t care much for the yarn I chose either. Color-wise, and tweediness-wise, it was exactly what I wanted. But something about the drape and the feel of it just didn’t do it for me.
Anyway, the original sweater sat in a pile of unloved sweaters for a while, until I decided that I should try again. I enjoyed knitting the pattern the first time. Plus I was pretty sure I could knit a smaller size with one of my go-to wools, and it would be better. I’m happy that I was right. It’s been only a few weeks and already I have worn this version more times than I ever wore the one I made four years ago.
This is quite the color. Very vibrant. But I love it. And I love that it goes with my artsy shoes, a cup of Ocean City Coffee, and the Jersey Shore so well 🧡
The details
Pattern: Traveller’s End Cardigan by Carol Feller (Stolen Stitches)
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Solar Flare Heather (28287)
Modifications: I ignored the innermost waist decrease and increase. Because my waist is not quite as small as I wish it was in comparison to my other measurements 😜
Buttons: Polymer clay, made by me using this method
P.S. The Wool of the Andes link and the artsy shoes link are affiliate links, but the usual disclaimers apply.
Lisa, it’s beautiful! Sweaters are such an investment, in many ways. While knitting them is part of the fun (for me), wearing them is very important. I have a short stack of sweaters I’d like to remake – love the yarn, not the fit. I wish I got it right first time, every time. Thankfully, yarn is often reclaimable.
Thank you. And so true! In my pile of unloved sweaters, most of them have yarn I can use to knit something else (or to reknit those in a better size) so all is not lost. It’s a shame I don’t like the red tweedy yarn of my original Traveller’s End, but I just gave that sweater to my mother, so maybe it will fit her better and she’ll like it. And if she can’t wear it, she can give it to someone else. Eventually it will find where it’s supposed to be!