Crowberry is a simple but pretty cardigan pattern that I published in July and never got round to making a blog post about - sorry if you have been waiting for more information!
This cardigan is ideal for spring/summer or warm autumn days where an extra layer is needed. It is knitted in DK weight yarn at a loose gauge to provide a soft, drapey fabric that provides warmth but not too much weight.
Knitted from the top down as one piece in reverse stocking stitch (which when knitted flat is just as easy as normal stocking stitch) it has 3 cute buttons to keep the top closed and then flares flatteringly over the waist and hips. The waist shaping gives those of us without any waist a flattering figure. It is the little details of this cardigan that I love so much such as the pretty eyelet holes that form the shaping of the yoke and the i-cord bind off that finishes the edges perfectly.
I don't know about you but the thing that puts me off reverse stocking stitch in the round is the row after row of purling.... This cardigan has none of that as the body is knitted flat and then the sleeves are knitted in the round on the wrong side(!) which means that you knit the sleeves rather than many rounds of purling.
The berry pattern and cardigan name was inspired by walking in the Pennine hills where I live. Crowberries (Empetrum nigrum) are lovely bright yellow-green glossy-leaved shrubs that can be found on English moorland. Every autumn they produce crops of dark purple berries that are edible and can be made into pies or jam.
The crowberry pattern has both charts and written instructions for the berry detail and a schematic to help with sizing and blocking. This cardigan needs a good block, particularly of the edges. Full instructions are given on how to make the berries and for the i-cord bind off so don't worry if you have not tried these before. They are easier than they look.
I knitted this cardigan in the very soft and pretty Woolyknit Bluefaced Leicester DK yarn. It gives the cardigan a lovely drape and shows off the berry pattern very well. It is such a soft yarn and the natural shades are perfect for knits with textured details. The sample has been hanging up in the Woolyknit yarn shop since July if you would like to see it in person. You can see all the lovely natural colours in their BFL range in this photo:
The pattern has been on sale on my website and on Ravelry since July, thank you to those who have purchased it. I hope you enjoy knitting it as much as I did! I will be uploading it to Craftsy and Patternfish today as well.