buttons!

… and you know what that means.  Finished cardigan!

 

By now, I’ve even managed to block it and sew on the buttons (bright yellow!).  And after months and months of knitting, slow and steady like, it’s finally ready to wear.

I did, of course, make a few mods along the way … longer sleeves (cozy!), larger-sized arms, longer body (next time: move the side pleats, too), more buttons.  (I think?)  Gauge was the main issue, as I wasn’t particularly careful about getting it spot-on correct.  Turns out, in this pattern row gauge is important.  (See, pleats above.)

But.  Despite these few bumps in the road, the cardigan is super.  I love the lighter-weight yarn, the color is perfect (understated yet a bit unusual, somewhere between purple and grey), the fit and style are just what I was looking for.  The little details–i-cord, pleats, ribbed button bands–really add up to a handsome looking cardi.  In fact, it might be one of my favorite knits yet.  Very wearable, very comfy.

Now here’s hoping the Malabrigo holds up.

And the cardigans first trip out?

 

For some biscuits and hashbrown casserole at the Loveless Cafe, of course.  Delicious.  The perfect end to a busy semester.

Another year almost over.  It’s been a hectic one.  Thanks for sticking around.  Here’s to 2013!