Thanks to everybody who’s jumped on the MDK Field Guide No. 6 Love Train! We’re looking forward to a springtime of knitting up all these projects, thinking about transparency, and generally celebrating a new season where the knitting’s lovely and light.
A new Field Guide means new knitting for us—we look forward to the glorious day of publication so that we can cast on with you.
On Thursday, I couldn’t wait—I cast on Amy Christoffers’s Cockleshell Cardigan, using Blue Sky Fibers Hand Dyes, one of the yarns we’re offering to go with this pattern.
You can see all the details over at the Cockleshell Cardigan Ravelry page.
I can’t think of another time when I’ve made a garment this fast.
Granted, it is as tiny a garment as can be, for a 6-to-12-month-old baby, but still: this sweater pretty much made itself.
I had hoped to have a lovely series of step-by-step pix to show you how it comes together. But honestly, this was a two-night gig, so by the time I remembered to take photos, the whole thing boiled down to pretty much one step: knit a while, and before you know it, you’ve got an adorable baby sweater.
I do have a very damp Cockleshell to show you.
It’s such a great bit of origami, this pattern. You make two identical halves, casting on at the cuffs and motoring away toward the center.
The sweater comes together with a three-needle-bindoff that runs up the center back of the sweater. I’m looking forward to the thrilling moment when this comes off the blocking board and I fold it in half to see it become a cute little cardigan.
Two seams to make along the sleeves and sides, and I’ll be done.
Just saying, you could make a week’s worth of these for a deserving newborn in a couple of weeks.
Just saying, when the baby shower that slipped your mind slips back into your mind, this is a can’t-lose last-minute present.
Just saying, it is possible to hear that your friend’s water just broke and have a Cockleshell Cardigan ready to give before the newborn figures out how to latch on.
Come share your own Cockleshells over in The Lounge, at “Cockleshell Cardigan from MDK Field Guide No. 6: Transparency.”
It might be smart to order up a few skeins of Blue Sky Fibers Hand Dyes and Nutmeg Fibers Hearth—this is the sort of project it’s good to keep on hand for emergencies. You know, those “Break Glass in Case of Imminent Baby” emergencies.
It’s so sweet! Might have to make it for the gift stash. Thank you!
It’s such a great knit – fast, clever and rather satisfying, too.
gosh, leave it to Amy to figure out something like this! Amazing and so pretty to boot. Right to the top of my preferred Baby Knits it goes. Thanks Kay and Ann for midwife-ing this one!
Thank you! This looks awesome!
I just heard the new Royal Baby is here. Better send one off to the palace. Blue, I think.
I’d like to see this in adult sizes
You are a riot!!!!! Thanks for the good humor – what a way to start the week!!
Awww, I miss your writing! I’ve been reading the blog like, forever, and I have a yearning for the good ol’ days when it was just the two of you writing back and forth. (Note: I’m still here.) Both of you are such GREAT writers! I’d love to see more.
I must not have had enough coffee…if you fold it and seam up the arms and sides, where does the head go?
the three-needle bindoff is only up the back, leaving the fronts open.
I still can’t see where the head goes.
Uh oh!
(No, seriously, it looks as if you don’t seem up the whole back it just half of it.)
It’s lovely and clever! Where can I buy the pattern? I can’t find it alone. Thanking you kindly.
The pattern is available exclusively as one of the four patterns in MDK Field Guide No. 6: Transparency, in print/ebook and ebook editions.
Oh thank you for letting me know!
Why not an adult version? Maybe not so bulky…
I am about to start the cardi – directions say to get gauge in Rev St – this is not described in the pattern (or I didn’t see it) What is Rev St.? Thanks, and can’t wait to get started on this for baby shower at end of Aug.
It looks so lovely, would love to make it, for grandson, but cannot afford pattern.
Any other way that I can try to knit this ?
Ashamed to ask, but that’s how life is being presented to me.
Thank you.
J.