honeybee lace cardigan

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 | crafting, design, knitting, musings, patterns, sweaters

Is it obvious that I love cardigans with all my heart? I don’t remember the last time I wore a pullover!

I started this lace project quite a while back, but had a bunch of screwups that resulted in several ripping sessions. Now I definitely, definitely know how to knit this pattern though!

This is the Honeybee lace pattern in Socks that Rock Mediumweight “Rose Quartz” (I think I posted a photo of the swatch awhile back). Took longer than necessary with all the ripping, but this has now become this:

I didn’t know how far my yarn would go (I have 3 skeins) so I cast on provisionally for the body, knit up to the underarm, cast on provisionally for the sleeves as well and knit a seamless set-in sleeve for the upper body. I love it! The yarn amount situation is looking good, too.

Now I’m going to knit the sleeves down a bit, then decide what to do with the body. The idea was to just have the lace from the waist up, but now I’m wishing I’d done the whole thing in honeybee! I love this pattern. But I think what I’ll do is keep it as sort of a cropped shape, with a wide stockinette hem at the bottom. Still needs button bands and a neckband too.

The pattern for this one will eventually be released as well, but it’s going to be pretty complex to work out because of the patterning and the set-in sleeve! My math could probably use the challenge though.

28 Comments to honeybee lace cardigan

1 Constance
June 23, 2009

I love the yarn/stitch pattern combination! SO pretty. I’m looking forward to the result!

2 Kate
June 23, 2009

I hope you do publish it! It is absolutely gorgeous – the color and the lace work so well together.

3 yarnpiggy
June 23, 2009

Ooooh, I really love this one…I can be patient!

4 Nadia Lewis
June 23, 2009

Looks great!

5 Lisa
June 23, 2009

Oh wow, I like that very much. I think I’d like a garter border on it. Oh wait, slap me! I’m not the designer….. I’ll be very interested to see what you come up with.

6 juniperjune
June 23, 2009

this looks great; that colorway looks fabulous with that stitch pattern. i’ve been looking for a good lace cardigan pattern, so i’ll keep an eye on this one!

7 Amanda
June 23, 2009

Ooh, I really like this one, and the yarn you chose. Definitely will be buying when it’s available!

8 grumperina
June 23, 2009

The stitch pattern is so beautiful, especially the way it shows up in that color! I hope you are able to write up the pattern.

9 Tanis
June 23, 2009

Love the pattern, and such a pretty colour. I can’t wait to see it finished!

10 Hannahbelle
June 23, 2009

Laura, I’m sure you don’t usually have anyone but your close friends test-knit for you, but I’d really really love to test knit this. I’m not a stellar lace brilliante, but I’d probably be quick to notice anything confusing. And I have two skeins of Noro Sock that would be GORGEOUS in this pattern.

11 Rhonda
June 23, 2009

Really a showstopper. I will definitely take a shot at this gorgeous cardigan when you publish it. That lace pattern opens up so beautifully in the Socks that Rock, too. Yum.

12 lily boot
June 24, 2009

That’s truly beautiful – the pattern is gorgeous as is the wool. I so know what you mean about ripping and knitting and ripping – and then finally, the pattern is *cemented* in my head and I find myself chanting it for days! Nice to know that someone as talented as you experiences this dilemna!

13 Carrie :: The Rocking Yak
June 24, 2009

Very beautiful. I too would love to see this pattern made available.

14 J.
June 24, 2009

Hahaha, I’m the same way – I can’t deal with wearing pullovers, because I get too hot, so I stick pretty exclusively to cardigans nowadays.

15 jodi
June 24, 2009

It’s shaping up just beautifully! I love the colors, as well as that gorgeous lace.

16 Seanna Lea
June 24, 2009

Very pretty. I find that I make a fair number of pullovers (often turtlenecks), but wear my lone cardigan the most. Obviously I need to make more cardigans! I will happily wait for this one to come out.

17 bekala
June 24, 2009

wow! I’ll be waiting for that one to be released, too–it’s fabulous!

18 Clumsy Knitter
June 24, 2009

Beautiful! I can’t wait to see the finished project (and get my hands on the pattern)!

19 Cassie
June 24, 2009

You’re right, that lace pattern is great, and I love fingering weight cardigans! Can’t wait for the pattern.

20 Boo
June 24, 2009

I’m SO buying this!! Soooo pretty, your cardis are the best

21 Debbie
June 24, 2009

This is going to be a gorgeous sweater! Please, make it into an available pattern!

22 SamLaTricoteuse
June 24, 2009

That’s very nice – can’t wait to see if you do it in larger sizes and when someone will knit it… maybe me !!!!

23 Sara
June 25, 2009

I love cardigans too.

Yours is coming along beautifully!

24 jody
June 25, 2009

Oh my this is so lovely! I can’t wait for the pattern!

25 emy
June 30, 2009

Love the pattern!

26 Pamela Leo
July 3, 2009

As I’m learning to keep bees, this would be the perfect cardi for me to knit over the winter. Please publish it soon.

p.s. The first card I ever knitted was your top-down raglan 2.0. Years, later, it’s still one of my favorites. Thanks.

27 Shannon
July 5, 2009

Hey Laura,

I have been reading your blog on and off since for the last four years, and although I never comment I love reading it. Your funny, and you makes me feel less alone in my ineptitude. I am a smart girl, but I am always fighting with my knitting. I recently bought the callie, and I have been working on her all summer. Sad, but true. I actually picked the callie, because the pattern had nice lines, great shaping and rows and rows of mindless stockinette. I work in film and summer is my busy season so on the weekends I want to sit, knit, and unwind. Your patterns are beautiful and I have loved watching your process evolve.

Shannon