Leaf Tie Cardigan by Stefanie Japel
Size M sleeves, size S body
6 skeins of Cascade Pima Tencel yarn on #7 needles
I-cord on #5 DPNs.

My obvious modification was to replace the cute eyelet edges with some generic 1×1 ribbing. The eyelet and the color and my decidedly ungraceful elbows… well, I looked like I was channeling Abigail Adams, and not in a good way.

The less obvious modification was that I knit this sweater a size too large, so that I could fit the pythons into the sleeves. I compensated by decreasing twice at each side every sixth row on the body. This (and the ribbing) is why my cardigan looks more fitted than the one in the book.

The reason my sweater looks LESS fitted than the one in the book: I used cotton/tencel. Not elastic! And since I decided last fall that the cool thing to do is to wet-block everything, I soaked the cardigan and set it to dry neatly. It grew.

I was told that you actually can throw Cascade Pima Tencel into the wash. Perhaps a good wash and dry will shrink it back? I’ll have to try laundering a test swatch.

This conversation occurred the night I started the i-cord border.

Me: I don’t know if I’m going to keep this sweater intact for long. I’m not sure that I like the way it’s coming out. See? (slips on nearly-finished Leaf Tie Cardigan)
Him: I love it! I love the color!
Me: But…. it is a boobie-frame!
Him: I love that too!