Inspiration for designs comes in many forms. Sometimes, its a garment I've seen in real life or on TV, sometimes its a construction method or stitch pattern. For my latest pattern, the inspiration came from the yarn itself.
If you have Hook, Stitch & Give, you will know that I am a huge fan of Ripples Crafts yarn. It features in at least 2 projects - the shell scape shawl and the thrummed mittens. Helen, who also lives in rural Scotland, creates colours that really speak to me on gorgeous bases. I simply can't get enough. And when I saw her Stormy Seas colourway in 4ply BFL at Woolfest, it had to come home with me.
Originally intended for a shawl, the yarn sat on my desk for a few weeks convincing me it needed to be a ripple cardigan.
Now, ripples are beautiful things - one of the elements that crochet does so well- but shaping in ripples is...ah...difficult. And grading across a large number of sizes like that is a nightmare. So simple ripple panels are added to this to give the sense and texture of ripples, but with the ease of shaping in UK trebles and doubles.
The pattern is sized from 0-6months to 10 years. It has seamless set in sleeves that are created by using short rows - which are easy to do once you get the hang of it, promise.
This cardigan would work well in any 4ply or sock yarn. In fact, sock yarns are great for kid's clothes as they are very hard wearing and washable. You will get up to a size 4y in 2x100g hanks of sock yarn (and you won't be far off a 6y if you shorten the hem to underarm length).
You can find the pattern on Ravelry in both UK and US terms.
***I have had a lot of questions about an adult sized version and the answer is, yes, its on its way***
Georgia wanted me to make sure that "the people on the computer" know that this is her cardigan and her name is Georgia.