Kathryn Ivy

March 11, 2008 - Posted by Alice Schnebly

Feel the Rainbow

Tulip Sweater.

Project Specs
Pattern: Tulip Cardigan by Lindsay Pekny
Pattern Source: Dream in Color Designs
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted, 16g Shocking Pink (35 yds), 17g Tiger Lily (37 yds), 22g Pollen (48 yds), 29g Lettuce (63 yds), 30g Olive (65 yds), 59g Tuareg (128 yds), 24g Continental Blue (52 yds), 22g Purple Mystery (48 yds)
Needles: US 7 and 8 Knit Picks Options Circulars and Clover Bamboo DPNs
Size Completed: 4 years, 28” chest
Date started: 3-5-08
Date completed: 3-10-08
See it on Ravelry

I imagine the only thing better than knitting with eight different beautiful colors of Malabrigo is getting to be the Camdyn wearing her Tulip Sweater, knit in Malabrigo Worsted.one who wears the sweater made from them. Isn’t Camdyn the luckiest little girl? Really though, whenever I saw a version of the Tulip Sweater online, I always thought of how gorgeous (and soft!) it would be made from Malabrigo. I’ve heard great things about Dream in Color Classy, but Malabrigo is a little more budget friendly and seeing that it is Malabrigo March, I really couldn’t justify using anything else.

The subtle variations in the Kettle Dyed Solids really lend themselves well to this pattern. The rainbow of colors is already gorgeous, but the fact that there are even more shades present within each individual color makes it even better. Bright sweater for a bright day!Malabrigo can’t be beat either with their color selection. There are so many beautiful color combinations that are possible. Could you imagine a Tulip sweater done all in shades of blue Malabrigo? Or a firey version from reds and oranges? I even love just the thought of it!

This would be a great pattern for stash busting. For all the colors but Tuareg (which I used for the borders, cuffs, and ties as well as a stripe) I used between 35 and 65 yards. A Tulip Sweater would be the perfect use for those partial balls of Malabrigo that you may have laying around. In fact, the purple I used in this sweater was leftover from Camdyn’s Tomten Jacket. Even if you had smaller amounts, you could vary the width of your stripes for a fun and crazy look.I love the wrong side of the sweater as well. Especially the neat line of slip stitches created when picking up stitches for the border.

There is only one thing I’d change if I knit this sweater again. Next time around I’d add a color (or two or three maybe if I knit the size 6) to make the sweater longer. By the time I realized it was going to be shorter than I had expected it was too late to add in a different color. I really had no idea that the larger sizes would require more than 8 stripes when I ordered the Malabrigo for the sweater. Thank goodness for blocking, is all I can say. The sleeves were very cropped before washing and blocking. Now it seems to fit Camdyn well, at least at the moment. Overall I’m still pleased with how the sweater turned out, though I don’t think it will fit her as long as I had planned!

I love Malabrigo!Other than the length issues I had, the pattern was really easy to follow and fun to knit. Because of the stripes and the fun color change rows it didn’t drag on at all. It was so fun to see the colors flow into each other that it was hard to put down! I really love how the applied i-cord edging gives the sweater a finished look. Of course this means lots of picking up stitches which is just fine by me! I’m really beginning to realize I have an unhealthy love of picking up stitches. I guess we all probably have our knitting quirks!

Camdyn is such a lucky girl!


 

Comments

  • March 29, 2008, 5:06 pm - Katie (http://grevillea.wordpress.com)

    This is just lovely. There really should be more rainbow striped things in the world.

  • March 18, 2008, 4:04 pm - Deborah (http://deedeenetblog.blogspot.com/)

    You've knitted Spring!

  • March 17, 2008, 4:10 pm - Octopus Knits (http://octopusknitting.blogspot.com/)

    Very nice - love your Malabrigo version : )

  • March 17, 2008, 8:12 am - Haley (http://www.tales-of-a-knitting-mom.blogspot.com)

    what a cute and fun sweater! lovely colors.

  • March 16, 2008, 5:35 am - Emily (www.ehirschklau.blogspot.com)

    I love it! She looks great in it.

  • March 14, 2008, 10:14 am - apixiegirl (magicpixieknitter.blogspot.com)

    lovely sweater.. why didn't I think of stash busting for this sweater.. (^_^)

  • March 13, 2008, 7:00 pm - Katya (www.katechrist.com/snakesurly)

    Those colors are luscious!!

  • March 13, 2008, 5:21 pm - Nicole (http://www.coco-knits.blogspot.com)

    Oooh, in Malabrigo! What a great idea for leftovers! I knit one of these sweaters in the suggested yarn and it is very very lovely stuff. But Malabrigo is in a whole other stratosphere of softness.

    Camdyn is adorable, as usual. Lucky girl indeed!

  • March 13, 2008, 4:14 pm - Jessica (http://www.one-sweet-dream.net/)

    What a stylin' tot! :)

  • March 13, 2008, 2:21 pm - monica (http://passionknit.net)

    Great idea to sub with malabrigo. Camdyn looks adorable and I want her pink boots!

  • March 13, 2008, 12:56 pm - Lisa (http://hyeknitter.wordpress.com)

    Oh, that jacket is so beautiful. And Camdyn with her cowboy boots - too cute.

  • March 13, 2008, 7:38 am - Ginger aka Beethoven (http://twoguineapigs.blogspot.com)

    Cool jacket! Wish there's guinea pig's version.

  • March 12, 2008, 6:51 pm - Zonda (http://zknitter.blogspot.com)

    Love that sweater and those pink boots are too cute. Reminds me of my teenagers when they wore their red ones. :)

  • March 12, 2008, 5:39 pm - melissa (www.knittingschooldropout.com)

    it's totally adorable. i'm loving all those great colors!

  • March 12, 2008, 4:43 pm - Sourire11 (www.lifeincleveland.blogspot.com)

    Completely adorable! What a lucky little lady!

    You should enter this into the Malabrigo March Best Use of Color contest - I think you'd probably win.

  • March 12, 2008, 3:45 pm - ducky (http://www.freewebs.com/dragonflyducky/myblog.htm)

    Love it! Camdyn is one lucky girl and you are one lucky mommy to have such a cutie to knit for. Oh my goodness -those pink boots just push the cuteness factor over the edge!

  • March 12, 2008, 1:54 pm - Em (http://aemmeleia.wordpress.com)

    It's adorable! What a great springtime sweater.

  • March 12, 2008, 1:35 pm - Oiyi (www.oiyi.blogspot.com)

    Your Tulip is gorgeous! What a lucky girl to be wearing all those Malabrigo colors!

  • March 12, 2008, 1:11 pm - sheepishone (sheepishone.blogspot.com)

    omg, this rocks! i can't imagine a more perfect sweater for such great colors. awesome work. i want to squish the mmmalabrigo. and camdyn! too cute.

  • March 12, 2008, 11:05 am - Karen (www.yarnforbrains.blogspot.com)

    So cute!! The Malabrigo looks amazing. Great colour choices too. Isn't the i-cord edging fun? I loved that part too.

  • March 12, 2008, 10:22 am - Heather (http://theaddknitter.blogspot.com)

    Fantastic! What a great use for that Malabrigo...I might be copying you on that one as well;)

  • March 12, 2008, 9:33 am - Claire (justclaire.blogspot.com)

    Just fabulous!! Pink cowboy boots, a jeans skirt and a stripy Malabrigo cardigan. What more does a little girl need?!

  • March 12, 2008, 8:25 am - whitney (http://whitknits.wordpress.com)

    I love your version! That must feel absolutely delightful...lucky Camdyn!

  • March 12, 2008, 2:13 am - yaiAnn (www.yaiann.com)

    With the pink boots, too!! LOVE!!

  • March 11, 2008, 11:14 pm - michelle (http://textilejunkie.com)

    Adorable! You do have a great eye for color - oh if we could all dress in rainbows :) I'm another one really liking the pink boots.

  • March 11, 2008, 10:35 pm - jenny (http://bcjennyo.livejournal.com)

    It's gorgeous!! You have such an eye for color. I bet Camdyn loves it.

  • March 11, 2008, 9:39 pm - Adrienne (http://www.yarnforbrains.blogspot.com)

    Wow, it looks fabulous in Malabrigo! And the jean skirt and cowboy boots are perfect. So cute!

  • March 11, 2008, 9:28 pm - Rachel (www.happycollegeknitter.blogspot.com)

    oh my goodness ADORABLE. Malabrigo gorgeousness. Seriously too cute.

  • March 11, 2008, 9:05 pm - Julia (http://moontea.typepad.com)

    Sooooo cute! as usual. :o) The bright colors are so adorable on a little girl...with pink cowboy boots. :o)

  • March 11, 2008, 7:59 pm - Suzanne (foofanagle.wordpress.com)

    I love that pattern so much. But I hear you about the Dream in Color price. I never thought of using malabrigo...but what a great sub! I thought about Cascade - but the colors are too flat. your malabrigo tulip is gorgeous. As always, a total inspiration.

  • March 11, 2008, 7:51 pm - Denise (http://theknittingden.blogspot.com)

    Very cute, she looks so sweet in that. And gotta love those pink boots :-)

  • March 11, 2008, 7:44 pm - Jodi (www.caffeinatedyarn.blogspot.com)

    Too cute! It must be heavenly soft in the Malabrigo. The good thing about the Dream in Color is that you can machine wash. It's soft, but not quite as luscious as mmmmmalabrigo.

  • March 11, 2008, 7:20 pm - Shannon (www.minervaturkey.com)

    This sweater is gorgeous. I love the girlie cowboy boots too!

  • March 11, 2008, 7:19 pm - Jennifer (nuttyirishmanknits.typepad.com)

    Alice--this sweater is off the charts beautiful. I'm jealous!

  • March 11, 2008, 7:10 pm - WonderMike (http://www.yknit.com)

    Such a cute sweater and those pink cowgirl boots? The bomb.


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