ILONA ANDREWS

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A Happy Cardigan

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Despite my best efforts, I finally managed to make a cardigan. I bought this really cute yarn last year.

This is Rainbows and Airwaves from Bad Sheep Yarn. It is a gorgeous yarn, so I wanted to make a fun cardigan with it. I usually make stuff for the kids, but I wanted something for myself and all the colors made me happy. I tried knitting it first, but for some reason the stockinette came out very yellow and underwhelming. Then I tried knitting a textured stitch, but I still didn’t like it.

One of the interesting things about Bad Sheep Yarn is that the skeins are remarkably consistent. They look just like that and one skein is very similar to the other. This is quality dying – love it – but it also causes the yarn to pool a bit. So this was unraveled twice.

I finally settled on a heavily textured crochet stitch alternating skeins with each row.

This is a row id hdc followed by another row of 2 hdc, a double crochet around the post in the previous row, 4 hdc. It helped a bit with the pooling. The sleeves are hdc just for fun. I finished it with knitted rib because at the time my hand hurt too much and the rotation of the crochet hook was not fun.

And here it is, ta-da!

It still pooled a little, because the yarn is just that consistent, but I kind of love it more this way.

It is basically done. It just needs pockets. I love it!

While we are on the subject, thank you so much for all of the yarn recommendations. I ordered samples and will report on success or failure.

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Comments

  4. It is extremely lovable, I am smiling because it is so cute and sad because it isn’t mine 😍🥲😍🥲!

  5. Lovely outcome, kudos on the ability to redo when the item didn’t meet your expectations. Well there be buttons, can’t tell if there’s buttonholes but second viewing maybe no.
    Pretty colours, they made me smile.

  7. That is so cute! My coworker has a jacket made of granny squares, it’s really cute too. It’s shaped like a short yukata. Wish I had one.

  10. Beautiful!
    I hope you feel the happiness every time you wear it
    – and that the people around you feel happy just looking at you.

  13. Lovely!
    I wish I did any handwork quickly, but I am too dyslexic. I have to keep checking that I actually did what the pattern said to do – and ripping out whole rows of the wrong work. Sigh.

    That said, my hobby of yarn acquisition is working very well. (I just had to move the collection to a new house.) How’d I get all that yarn ?! I will never use a tenth of it, even if I never buy another skein.
    But it’s beautiful and soft and I did enjoy shopping for it…

  17. That’s very pretty, and it is cheerful. Somehow I don’t see the cats leaving that alone, though, or claws not getting snagged when you hold them. Of course, that would happen with sweaters and cardigans you buy anyway.

  26. Congrats on such a beautiful project! I’m appreciating your persistence.

    I love pockets. A friend once said there would be peace on earth when either everyone has pockets or no one does.

  32. love it. Do you every do portuguese knitting. I think that yarn might be lovely in the honeycomb pattern. HMMM more yarn in my future.

  36. I love it! It’s so bright and cheery, and will be perfect for Spring (all 2 weeks of it, since that’s all we get here in the Deep South 😜). Well done 👏🏻 Making things is so satisfying. I quilt and cross-stitch, and I think I’d lose my mind without the ability to unplug my brain and make things.

  38. It looks warm and soft-qualities of a good sweater. I find knitting and crocheting is like magic. Despite, many lovely teachers, I have failed to learn to knit. My grandmother had the magic and so do you!

    • If you crochet, and have never seen alternative knitting methods, lookup Portuguese and Continental style knitting.

      As a crocheter first, tensioning the yarn in my dominant hand for knitting just never felt correct.

      There are so many different ways to hold needles, yarn, and control tension. As someone who felt hopeless at knitting for years, YouTube instructors opened the “hook not necessarily required” yarn world for me.

  41. Ooooo / happy yarn turns into a happy cardigan! And we have a happy cozy you:-)

    Now you just need a warm beverage, a cookie, and a furry friend on your lap.

  46. Such a beautiful cardigan. LOVE the colors, I’d probably buy it immediately if I saw it in a store

  47. STUNNING! I am going to start working on a DK weight crochet cardigan for myself, because the fingering weight crochet T-shirt is taking forever. LOL.

    I have also started learning to knit. I have the Knit stitch down, but purling is not working yet. Any hints you could pass along?

    • Puraling drove me nuts when I learned how to knit. I couldn’t get the loop on the needle that it needed to be on.

      I got determined and started using my thumb to create the pural stitch. It worked. Come to find out that’s the way Scottish knitters do for their purals.

    • I have a lot better luck knitting when I use the continental style of knitting. Not near as many moving pieces and I’m a klutz! Purling is super easy in this style. Youtube taught me. 🤗

  49. I used to knit but arthritis in my fingers got too bad. This cardigan is gorgeous. I can crochet but you are a pro. Love when a craft turns out so pretty. 😍

  51. That is one gorgeous cardigan. I like how the cream (white?) ribbing pops the color out. Enjoy!

    I think that stitch is the crochet version of the basket weave stitch I’ve seen in knitting books.

  53. ooohhh, beauty !
    I am working on a colourwork sweater using malabrigo Rios. I have been alternating skeins each round. Of course, I have 7 projects on the go, lol
    I look forward to seeing your next project.

  54. Money might not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy yarn, which is kind of the same thing … right?

  63. Yes, but it pooled into little rosettes! I love it! What a happy cardigan!
    Congratulations on a beautiful finished project.

  66. You do such beautiful work, and I think you’ve outdone yourself: this is just gorgeous. And I can see how wearing a pretty, colorful sweater would go far to brighten any day. You’ve inspired me…I need a new cardigan!

    I don’t knit, but luckily for me there are several little shops near me that sell handmade goods. I think a trip to one is in order! 😁

  72. Such a fun cardigan!

    This yarn has been popping up on my feed lately. Lovely to know that you like it. Have you ever knit with Blue Moon Socks that Rock? Since it’s gone away, I’ve been looking for something else I like as much as that and would love to know how it compares.

  75. Have I mentioned lately how much I love your Blog? I like reading about your yarn woes and projects as well. 🙂

  77. Did you just make that up? I have NEVER been successful doing that. I’m so jealous and I would totally make that sweater— if I had a pattern.

  82. That is beautiful. There was a competition called sheep to shawl at the PA Farm show in Feb {I wasn’t there but friends were} where they have teams that sheared a sheep, then spin the wool and then weave a shawl in 2.5 hours. I think that would be cool to watch.

  87. It’s lovely and I think the knitted ribbing gives it a very professional finish. It is happy and fun and I think the kids will be a wee bit envious

  90. I don’t knit or crochet and don’t understand some of the terminology used, but I love looking at the yarn in your posts (weird, I know!). You are so talented, that looks absolutely gorgeous.

    • To make it even more confusing, crochet terminology is not the same the world over … we seem to have American terms and everyone else terms … same/similar names but different stitches!

      So you really want to know which system a given designer designed under. 😉

  91. this is beautiful. in awe of all knitters and crocheted skills and patience always. these posts just reinforce that 🙂

  92. Oh I love it! That is so pretty! It looks totally huggable. And I hadn’t heard of that stitch. I need to look it up.

  94. Love it! Gorgeous work. I was so surprised to open the email and see the yarn photo. I made a scarf for my daughter with that colorway! Weird when worlds collide. I’m a yarn collector (including a ridiculous amount of Bad Sheep yarns) but trying to be a more consistent yarn USER as well in 2025. Appreciate the stitch suggestions.

  95. Beautiful! In the future when knitting with hand dyed yarn alternate skeins every row. It prevents pooling.

    • That’s exactly what Ilona did 🙂

      Quote from the article:

      “I finally settled on a heavily textured crochet stitch alternating skeins with each row.”

  98. Wow! That turned out perfect – not that I doubted your ability, but I have a fear of making clothing. I always worry that I will be totally off in one direction and end up with a crop top for a linebacker or worse.
    Can’t wait to see what happened with the scritchy blanket yarn. 😊

  99. That is gorgeous! I am so happy that you can express yourself in so many creative ways, it must give you such joy. I had to stop such endeavors as my carpal tunnel causes my fingers to go numb when I try to crochet now. But I can still scrapbook and I have my first grandchild on the way, so I will have plenty of pictures and scrapping to do. I sent prayers of praise for your crafting abilities, with both yarn and words. So, craft on Dear One, the BDH is waits with anticipation.

  101. That’s just beautiful. I’m currently working on a Tunisian crochet knit stitch amd I hope it looks as nice as yours.

  103. gorgeous! I love the happy colors!

    I’m also impressed that you can knit AND crochet! my Mum knits, while I crochet (learned from my Grandma). We’ve tried over the years to teach each the other process and neither of us can get it!

  105. Beautiful! Love the colors too. Hope it feels like a warm hug and brings you happiness every time you wear it.

  112. I am so late to this thread – “I Crochet because murder is illegal.” I have this haging on my wall in the hallway. Cute lil dragon just one hdc at a time. My hands have been so bad for so long. I am currently having a hard time with tension and holding the yarn. I thought one of those rings would work but I can’t figure out how to use it even with the tubes instructions.

  113. Beautiful! It looks like a perfectly cozy, snuggly, cardigan. I would wear it once it had pockets. The colors make me happytoo!

  114. I learned a trick a long time ago to prevent a lot of pooling in variegated yarn since I use it more than solid color yarn. Look at the color yarn that ends the skein and then look at the color that begins a new skein. If they match, choose a different skein with a different start color.

    You may get some pooling if you use the same dye lot. If there is too much color pooling doing the suggestion above, you might want to consider a different dye lot to incorporate into your project.

    I’ve mixed different dye lots in crochet blankets and knitted sweaters. It makes for unique, interesting projects. You will have one-of-a-kind blankets, sweaters, scarves, or anything else. 🙂

  116. What a beautiful cardigan, and so happy! I missed the yarn hunt post, but I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that my parents’ store, Earth Guild, has some beautiful yarn, including a line called “Dragon Tale Yarns” in sixteen different colors. Their craft store has been in business since the 1970s and won’t be around forever. I hope you find some more happy yarns there!

  119. Gorgeous!!! I love your perseverance! Sometimes you just have to keep trying until the yarn is happy too.

  122. That is just amazingly comfy looking! I would love to wear that just to feel how snuggly it is. So… my birthday is the 24th.. just saying. 🙂 <3

  124. So very pretty!!!! And snuggly. The best kind of cardigan. Just in time for our “winter”. 😍

  125. I love your cardigan and yarn! I don’t knit as much as I used to but mostly made socks and scarves. I would be intimidated by this – I am left handed and tend to knit /crochet a little differently so try to avoid a left and right side, I made fingerless gloves once and had to get help from the knit store when I made the thumb hole.
    I will check out Bad Sheep Yarn. Thanks for sharing!

  126. Pockets make everything better. My mother could knit and crochet ,she was German and learned in school. I never had the patience. I have several things she made..

  131. Have you tried Mountain Meadow Wool Mill in Buffalo, Wyoming? I live there and they have some great wool. It’s the only wool mill that sorts, washes, spins, dyes, and knits from start to finish. I don’t knit or crochet but some of my family does and they haven’t said anything bad that I am aware of about the wool.

  132. That’s really cute! Do you have any store recommendations for people sell *soft* knitted things?

  133. i turned out wonderful. and the addition of pockets will make it perfect!

    i had to look up what pooling was, i’d never heard the term before. i can see why you’d want to avoid that and would frog it twice before finding a stitch it worked with. it was worth the extra effort. thank you for sharing.

  135. I love it! Definitely a happy sweater and I would wear it all the time because it looks warm and snuggly. Might have to turn up the A/C in the summer but beauty has a price. I hope you have many happy wears.

  137. I didn’t understand any of the technical stuff, but I love the outcome. Tbh, I wouldn’t add pockets to this. I know pockets are very practical. But I think in this case, they would detract from the look. At any rate, this really is a very happy cardigan, and I hope you’ll be happy wearing it.

  142. Feb finished project!!!! All the great choices to reduce pooling paid off, looks like the perfect amount of drape and ability wrap it around yourself with some nice give! Huge congrats!!

  144. A most excellent FO. I am working on Grid Gambit cowl and it’s so FUN! Happy pink-which I rarely use is making me happy too!

  146. It’s so pretty and colorful that it actually *looks* happy!
    We could call it The Happy Jacket. 🙂
    (Note to the Universe At Large: I’d like MY straight jacket to also be this colorful, comfy, and happy…please and thank you.)
    Yes, yes, yes to all the pockets. Once it has pockets it’ll be perfect.

  151. *Clap-hands!* Very fun. I have had panels of a partially knitted sweater packed away among my knitting things for many years now. Six maybe? Six years. One day I hope to have an actual sweater.

  152. Looks GORGEOUS!! It came out so nice!! I’m working on my first cardigan now, the Andrea Mowry Big cozy Cardi. I’ve got grey tweed merino for body and green air soft for the neck part, but it’s taking sooooo long to knit but I want something for me so I must persevere!!! Also I’m a knitter not a crocheter but my fiber group swears by the tennis ball method on end of a crochet hook that helps them!

  154. I have no idea what most of the yarn terms mean in your post, but the sweater is adorable. And you’re adding pockets?! In my dreams to have this much patience and dexterity. Enjoy!

  155. Ooh, pretty! I love the colors, and I agree that the way you got them to distribute in that cardigan is beautiful.

  156. Ooooh… pretty colors!

    Absolutely unrelated question for Mod R/House Andrews that I’ve been wondering for a while now: is there a chance that a box set of Kate Daniels will be released since the main arc is complete? I’ve been thinking about buying the main series for my husband who prefers physical books to digital. We have the Arcane Society versions of Blood Heir and Iron & Magic so I’d love to have a nice hardback edition to keep consistent. Just wondering if something was on a burner somewhere to wait for.

    Hope everyone gets to enjoy a lovely Valentines’ Day!

  158. What a creative solution! And knitting the same wool more than once is very recognizable, the family teases me with it: 2x lol van dezelfde wol (twice fun with the same wool, but in English it is not as funny as in Dutch..)
    Many happy hours wearing this 🙂

  161. Bad Sheep has awesome yarns. And she has a Livestream on Thursdays (Facebood, Instagram, & YouTube) where she’ll show you how some yarns knit up, and what colors can go together nicely. Very informative and fun.

  166. Very pretty! I downloaded a cardigan pattern from Lion Brand and wasn’t satisfied with it. This I love and with pockets it’ll be perfect. I especially appreciate the addition of Knitting on the rib. Thank you

  168. Two comments:

    1) I don’t knit, but I do a lot of crafts. I always love hearing other craftspeople talk about their work.

    2) You mentioned your hands hurting before. Something I learned is to take 2 basins and fill one with water as hot as you can stand it and the other with ice water. Put your hands in one for a bit, then after a while put your hands in the other for a bit. Go back and forth several times, and when you pull your hands out they will feel better. Hope this helps.

  169. Gorgeous! I am so impressed with your yarning expertise & talent.
    I wish I could knit & crochet well. I am very crafty & artistic & can do most things in those areas well but knitting & crocheting allude me. ARGH!

  172. Lovely and oh, so fun!. Hope every time you wear it, you’re smiling, because you feel beautiful and wonderful, because you are. ❤️

  176. The cardigan is stunning! I found a pattern recently and knitted my first cardigan, it had the same edging, but was all knitted so not nearly as pretty as yours!

  177. Is there a possibility that “one” could get a pattern for this beauty? I would love to attempt to make it! 🥰

  179. That sweater’s gorgeous and wearing it would make anyone happy the entire time! Thanks for sharing your knitting/crocheting projects.

  180. You knit like I read.
    It makes us happy….
    know that your writing is as beautiful as the sweater you knitted.

  181. I recently discovered a video from Kula Cottontail Farm about why you should never stop your wife from buying yarn and it made me giggle.

  183. The sweater is gorgeous! I love the textured stitched; that cheeky little double crochet around the post in the row below makes it fun. I understand (from my own experience) about being forced into certain crafting decisions by the state of one’s hands, but the much flatter standard knit border makes the textured crochet fabric even more eye-catching IMNSHO. Well done! And thanks for sharing.

  184. It is a very happy cardigan, indeed! I’d wear it every day if I had the chance, just to uplift my spirit or the people around me. Congratulations, Ilona, you are a master knitter, too! 😘

  186. Oh that sweater turned out SO beautiful!

    I remembered you stated on one of your blogs on how difficult it is to find good gradient yarn. I remembered you liked Wendy’s Wonders. I use gradient yarn in my colorwork knitting also rather than using individual skeins for fades (hate weaving in ends).
    Have you ever used Wollelfe merino/silk yarn (https://wollelfe.at/en/merino-yarn/merino-silk-gradient-fingering/) or Freia Fibers (https://freiafibers.com/product-category/yarns-by-color/ombre/)?? They are gorgeous yarn bases with amazing colorways and soft transitions. I thought of you when I was buying my recent splurge!! 🙂

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