Cable Blackwood

Since making my long wool Blackwood cardigan, I've been on the hunt for another sweater knit fabric.  I was having trouble committing to one online because I couldn't feel the fabric through my computer screen.  But when I was at Joann's last month, looking for grosgrain ribbons for my girls' Nutcracker performances, I found this pretty cream-colored faux-cable knit.  It is a polyester/lycra knit, something I generally stay away from, but it felt very nice in the store aaaaand I had a coupon, so I bought 2.25 yards.  I haven't been able to find it online, but as it turns out, I can't really recommend the fabric anyway.

I made the long view again in an XL widened about 1/2" at the hem of the center fronts, tapering to nothing above the bustline.  I also widened the front and back pieces at the side seams, starting from the hem and tapering to nothing at the bottom of the armscye.  I forgot to widen the sleeves above the elbows as I did the last time, but I'm still able to fit the cardigan on over a woven button-down shirt.  I've been wearing this a lot since I finished it; so I guess I like it, although I really don't like the fabric much after all.

First of all, although the fabric felt lovely in the store, it was distinctly plasticky after washing and gave off a weird perfume-y scent while I was pressing it (using a press cloth; I'm sure this stuff would melt like crazy if given the chance).  It didn't take a press well at all, thus the wavy seams at the hem band (which I'm now wishing I had left off; I might go back, cut it off and hem it, but I'm not sure who long this garment is going to hold up).

The fuzz in my serger also had a distinctly I-used-to-be-a-soda-bottle kind of a feel to it - I couldn't clean it out of there fast enough.  And unfortunately, I've already developed a hole on the side of the cardigan; I think the culprit is the rivets that I didn't get installed completely flush on my second pair of Ginger jeans.  Sweater knits are one fabric that I feel you really have to be able to handle before buying; I wish there were a better/larger selection available in stores locally.

It's too bad that I feel like the fabric is going to fall apart after one season of wear, because I really do like how it looks, and it was lovely to have around during our arctic cold snap of early January.  I even braved the single-digit temperatures to get these wintry pictures after a minor snowfall.

My photographer is only eight; she didn't think to tell me that the fabric was caught up on my behind, but I think she did a pretty good job in any case.

As always, thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time!