OhSewCrafty Blog

Yarn: Elann Sonata, Burgundy Rose, 7 balls + a small bit of the 8th

Gauge: 5.5 spi on US 6 (US 3 for ribbing)

Size: finished bust 35″ (2nd size)

Time to knit: About 3 weeks in May 2008

This is a great pattern and the finished project is very wearable, and versatile in my opinion.  Nice enough for work, but not super fancy either.  My biggest gripe: I found the yarn requirements totally wrong!  Granted I subbed the yarn, but the Sonata is 100% cotton, just like the original called for, and actually has slightly more yardage per ball.  Still, I used a whole extra ball plus a bit of one more.  All in all, I think I probably used 125 yds over and above the supposed yarn requirements for my size.  About the yarn… I love it!  It’s a nice mercerized cotton with a tight twist and gorgeous dark red color.  There were a few knots, but nothing I couldn’t handle, especially since the total cost was under $16.  The buttons are from G Street, off the rack.  I like the cable pattern on the fabric, and I wanted buttons that complemented and didn’t compete for attention.  For the tie, I cut three longs pieces of the yarn and painstakingly braided them together.  It took forever, but I like the result!  And I can always swap out for a ribbon if I feel like it. 

The pieces of this cardi looked tiny on the needle, and I was seriously concerned about the fit.  The 35″ finished size would give me zero ease.  I have been working out a lot lately and I may have lost a fraction of an inch in the bust, not sure, haven’t measured recently.  In any case, the cardi fits fine, no gaping, not tight either.  The snaps between the buttons definitely help prevent gaping, too.  I used fairly large snaps- probably 1/2″ diameter. 

I’d definitely make another Anna Bell pattern.  I like Pippa… but I’d definitely buy extra yarn!  As for the Sonata, I look forward to using it again, I already have a few ideas.