A Yarn Discovery & A Knitting Adventure

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Hi Everyone, 

A while back, while searching for the perfect yarn to knit Andrea Mowry’s Winters Beach Cardi, I stumbled upon Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. It was love at first stitch! I originally bought it in the color Romance, but I was so taken with the yarn that I couldn’t resist adding Oyster Heather and Olive Heather to my collection as well.  

With this beautiful yarn in hand, I turned to my pattern library and found Laurel by Amy Christoffers—a design that seemed like a perfect match.  

The Unique Construction  

One of the things I love about this pattern is its interesting construction. Instead of the usual bottom-up or top-down approach, Laurel is knitted side to side. You start with the sleeves and upper body for each half, working a striking large cable that runs from front to back. The two halves are then joined using a three-needle bind-off at the center back. After seaming the sides and sleeves, the lower body is picked up and knit downward.  

Adding My Own Twist  

I wanted to add a bit of contrast, so I incorporated black accents throughout the sweater—on the sleeves, within the body, and as a finishing touch with an I-cord bind-off.  

To make this work, I used a provisional cast-on for each sleeve, allowing me to add the black trim later. I also introduced a few rows of black in the lower body for extra dimension. When picking up stitches in black, I knit the first row on the right side and purled the next row before transitioning into seed stitch.  

One adjustment I had to make was in the stitch count. Since I picked up more stitches (297) than the pattern called for, I needed to decrease to 227 stitches over seven rows—a little extra effort, but well worth it for the final look!  

Final Thoughts  

In addition to the modifications, I should have added a pocket for both function and style. A cozy cardigan always benefits from a place to tuck your hands or hold small essentials! 

This project was both a challenge and a joy to knit. The side-to-side construction, bold cables, and personalized color details made it an exciting departure from my usual projects. Sometimes, the best knitting experiences start with discovering a great yarn and letting creativity take the lead!  

Have you ever modified a knitting pattern to add your own touch? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!   😊


Happy Knitting Everyday!

Jackie

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