Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Cardigan twins?

Today the funniest thing occurred, and something rare in the life of a knitter, I think.

A new reader to my blog, Miss Margarita, left me a comment this afternoon, and when I went to her blog I discovered an adorable photo of her... wearing a sweater I've actually knit for myself! Miss Margarita, I believe you and I may be cardigan twins! From her blog, it says it was knit for her as a gift (lucky duck!). To add even more intrigue to this story, she lives halfway around the world in Norway.

I had to run right to my drawer and put it on to snap a few photos of the sweater before my brief window of after-work sun faded. So don't mind the tired face.


This sweater was one of the first major pieces of colorwork that I completed, my first time resizing an entire sweater by changing my gauge, and one of my first cardigans. I knit it in the summer of 2009. I changed the gauge from sport to fingering weight, knit bracelet length sleeves and used 13 vintage moonglow buttons that were a perfect match.

 
It's not a vintage pattern, but I feel it's reminiscent of vintage Nordic knitting patterns, which I love and collect. It's a DROPS Design pattern. DROPS is a Norwegian company that writes patterns and manufactures yarn. They've translated most if not all of their patterns into English, fortunately for those of us non-Norwegian knitters.




Now I once saw a woman in downtown Chicago wearing a hat that I've also knit, but it was a pattern that was extremely popular on Ravelry (4,200 people have knit it), so while I was surprised, I wasn't that surprised.

But what are the odds of finding another vintage-loving blogger, halfway around the world, with the same modern hand-knit sweater as I knit myself?? (That, incidentally, Ravelry says only 79 people have knit. And several of those, including mine, were knit during a knit-along with that pattern the summer I knit mine.)

So Miss Margarita, if you read this (you're probably in bed right now in your time zone, lol), you'll have to tell me if this is indeed the same sweater, or just looks similar. Cheers!

14 comments:

  1. It's terribly terribly gorgeous and that color looks so outstanding with your lovely hair all pulled back in the giant bun (which I'm very jealous of because my hair makes a bun about a quarter of that size!). You did a superb job on it! Looks simply dreamy to wear and how fun that someone you know (sort of) has knit the same thing!

    xoxo,
    Sunni

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  2. what fabulous knitting serendipity! You are so darn talented and stylish!

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  3. I love DROPS! That is a great cardigan--I must say I admired it on your Ravelry page.

    I'm also loving the chiffon scarf-as-headband. I bought two more this weekend (red and navy) and I've been going all over the place with a huge bow on top of my head. It feels like having a birthday every day! (I'm one of those people who stick the bows from the presents on top of my head like a crazy person, which I am and proud of it.)

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  4. @The Cupcake Goddess Thank you so much Sunni, I'm flattered! I hadn't worn the cardigan in awhile so I'm falling in love with it again now. :)

    And a little secret about my hair...it's not as thick as when I was little (and always got comments from hairdressers about how thick it was), so it's all in the style of the bun. It's a ponytail, then flipped up and under and pinned all around the sides. Gives the appearance of much more volume than I have, yay!

    @BaronessVonVintage Thank you, that is high praise indeed coming from you! :)

    @Lauren Hairston I really need to find a few more scarves for this type of style. As it's approaching spring I know I'll be doing more outdoorsy things like hiking and camping and need a way to top off more simple updos and still look cute. I am in desperate need of more solid colored scarves for that!

    And I totally do that with bows from presents, too. ;)

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  5. I love that cardigan, it fits you so well! I've been wanting to make it for some time, but alas, my project list is endless. I live in Edinburgh, home of knitwear designers Kate Davies and Ysolda Teague so you can imagine I see a lot of Owls sweaters and Rose Red berets! I haven't made either of those yet myself, but they too are on my list. :)

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  6. Oh, you made a cardigan post already, great :D

    Yes, I'm sure its the same when I see your pictures, the only difference as far as I can see is the yarn and color. What a coincidence :)
    Love the buttons you used by the way!

    And thanks so much for linking back to me :)

    Miss M

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  7. That is a beautiful cardigan...you are a wondrous knitter!xxx

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  8. What a lovely sweater!! You do such beautiful work. :)

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  9. @Miss Margarita What a funny coincidence indeed, I love it! Glad to know it is the same sweater. :)

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  10. Thank you guys so much on the knitting compliments! ♥

    @kristenmakes I've knit a rose red too, I'll make sure not to wear it if I ever get back to Edinburgh. LOL I love Ysolda's patterns!

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  11. It's a great looking cardigan - I like the use of the belt with it. The colourwork is beautifully done.

    How is your Briar Rose coming along? I've just finished the back piece - but I did cast on a couple of weeks ago so am making no claims of super-fast knitting. I'm knitting the pattern as it is but using a fairisle design on the body which is good fun knitting!

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  12. @Anita Thanks Anita! I'm getting close to finishing the ribbing on Briar Rose, having cast on the whole body in the round. You're sailing along, even if you did start early! :D

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  13. Oh my the cardigan is just to lovely for ward, you are so clever.

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