I’ve been on a bit of an epic quest lately for one perfect cardigan pattern. Something that’s interesting to knit and a little skill-expanding, but that’s still stylistically simple enough that I’ll want to wear it in the end. It doesn’t take much for a thing to be too fussy looking for me, after all. Shape-wise, at this point, I’m pretty sure what I want is a nice, timeless crewneck, hip-length, no cables on the arms. Worsted weight. I think I’ve narrowed it to these three gems. What do you think?
Clockwise from top:
— Acer by Amy Christoffers: killer cables on front and back; bottom-up seamless body with seamed-in sleeves
— Lady Marple by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne: understated eyelet cables only on the front; bottom-up seamless with picked-up stitches for the sleeves
— Neon by Joji Locatelli (pictured is bouillesdecoton’s version): allover lattice stitch; top-down with the contiguous-sleeve method I’ve been wanting to try
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Lady Marple looks the best.
Funny…I have been looking at Neon for my upcoming mint jumper. Nice detailing and texture on that one.
I’ve been meaning to stop by and tell you I share your ongoing fixation with the mint sweater. I never got the one I had my eye on and it still nags at me.
I have been on a similar quest!
Here are my favorites from my Ravelry favorites (in no particular order)
Bailey’s Irish Cream by Thea Colman
Paperboy Cardigan by Debbie O’Neil
paletot point de broderie anglaise by Dany Edan (very interesting pattern….)
I love al three of yours but if I had to pick..it’s number 3.
Thanks for listing thos, Debe. I had forgotten about the French cardi…it is a really pretty stitch pattern! Adding that to my maybe pile!
all three are great.
i love a good seamed-in sleeve though, so if i had to pick it’d be acer!
I think Neon is my favorite. I think…
Been wanting to make the Inversion Cardigan by Jared Flood, but that is not your classic cardigan.
I’ve been wanting to knit Acer forever! It is, I think, the perfect balance of interesting to knit and basic enough to wear regularly, and I love the lace and cables combo. Any of these will be gorgeous, though.
I just listened to the Yarniacs podcast and Gayle was one of the test knitters for Neon. It sounds like a fun knit (like you, I want to try that contiguous sleeve) and I love the all-over lace. That said, I don’t think you can make a bad choice with any of those three.
Thanks for all the weigh-ins this morning! Acer is the one I’ve had my eye on the longest, but every time a new Lady Marple pops up on Ravelry, I just love it. I wouldn’t be surprised if I eventually knit all three, but Acer is probably the most me and the best match for the yarn I have earmarked for this, which I should have mentioned is Brooklyn Tweed in Twig (I think). Neon looks so good in that charcoal grey that I think I’d want it exactly like that.
I don’t think you would be unhappy with any of these gorgeous designs. Yes, knit all three!
I like Lady Marple the best. Neon looks great too, but the pattern looks very repetitive and I think I would struggle to finish it. But that’s just me, and it is a great looking sweater.
I have that same suspicion.
Acer is just gorgeous…and so very, very wearable.
Ooh all of these are gorgeous! I want to make all of them now!
Acer has been in my queue for ages and ages. But I really love Lady Marple.
Acer has been at the top of my list for a while…maybe I’ll frog for the second time an entire sweater I’ve done out of Swan’s Island worsted and jump into pattern bed with Acer and Swans instead!
Okay, scratch that. I’ve got to get onto a 6 for the Acer and my Swans needs a 7 or an 8 at least…time to search the stash :) I think the BT is a great idea~stitch definition without weight, which is always my main concern. I don’t want so many heavier sweaters in the closet but rather a weight that I can layer…I’m trying to remember it’s not always going to be 56 with 80% humidity and wind here!!
I want all three.
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I’ve done the Acer — it is a remarkable and really beautiful pattern — and a stunning sweater. It may not be apparent, but the neckline is lovely and those lacey cables do add a lovely shape. I am considering doing it again in a summer worsted. Lady Marple is in my queue and I’ve adored it in all of its manifestations. Neon is nice .. but, it doesn’t do the wonders for the figure that Acer does (a friend has made it and it is lovely, but . . .)
I’ve knitted Acer since then and agree, it’s a beauty and was a joy to knit.