Inspiration
Introducing: Bolin Cardigan
Am I allowed to have a favorite from Norah Gaughan’s three gorgeous cardigan designs for MDK Field Guide No. 28: Renewal?
Because it’s Bolin. It’s always been Bolin: love at first sight, sparks flew when I first laid eyes on it—all of that.
Why do I love it so?
It’s cropped—gently, landing at the hip bone, a beautiful place for a hem to land.
For years I’d thought a short cardigan was not for a seasoned gal such as me. But I’ve seen the light, and I’ve been waiting for the perfect cropped cardigan to pop over my beloved long shirts and short sack dresses—and to accompany my experimental forays into high-waisted trousers—which are so à la mode at this moment that they are inescapable. Bolin is the one!
That fabric—so plush. There are definitely trends in knitting, where we all get a good—very specific—idea at the same time. A trend that I thought was my own idea was holding a strand of fuzzy laceweight together with a strand of something woolier.
As it turns out, Norah was really into that idea already. Her favored recipe—Felted Tweed + Kidsilk Haze—makes a fabric that is equal parts luxury and practicality. Flecks of tweed AND a misty halo of kid mohair! The shine and strength of silk. This is a perfect knitted fabric, even more special because it’s so distinctive, and so hard to find on the rack of a shop.
There are infinite combinations of Felted Tweed and Kidsilk Haze. In the interest of saving you 4,000 swatches and a year of experiments, here are our favorite pairings. We’ve brought in bounteous quantities of these particular colorways, so we hope you’ll love these as much as we do. Find your quantities and sizes here. Kidsilk Haze here; Felted Tweed right here.
Those sleeves—in the words of Napoleon Dynamite, they’re real big. The dramatic drape of a generous sleeve, embellished with a deep and dimensional cable, elevates Bolin beyond a basic. I am going to feel so extraordinary, and so well dressed, flouncing around in this thing!
And finally, the clean, elegantly integrated front bands. Gah! I love it.
Here’s where I was on my Bolin as of Friday afternoon, but I’m going on vacation this week, so stay tuned for amazing progress!
All three are gorgeous, I love them all. Thanks MDK and Norah
Same—all of that! You know you need a Keyhole Dress to pop that over, right?
https://alabamachanin.com/products/keyhole-dress-kit
Don’t mention it.
Squirrel! ️
Haha. This cardigan is so beautiful it makes me want to drop my many WIPS ASAP!
Where can I buy the wool in Australia, and also get a copy of the pattern,please
Love the detail on the sleeve.
So cozy! Can’t wait to see yours Kay.
I missed the live chat with Norah and happily watched it this morning. All the projects in the Field Guide are amazing. Kay, I look forward to seeing your finished sweater. The color is gorgeous and I can almost feel the lushness of the fabric through the screen. Happy vacationing.
Kay!
Yesterday I was watching the Vimeo recording of the Norah launch (bc of COURSE I had to work on Friday so I couldn’t join in live) and was absolutely drooling over your knitting! Love this combo & the pattern too (HUGE Nora Gaughan fan I tell ya, YUGE!)
Then, at the very end, Ann mentioned that which you had previously hinted… a Makers for Kamala live on line gathering happening Sunday at 5… Wait WHAAAT??? it IS Sunday and right now it’s… it’s… 5:03!!! So I dashed over (DASHED I tell ya!) and logged in! THANK YOU both for your role in getting that put together (Hi ya Franklin!!).
Sadly, none of the links provided would work for me, a US Citizen Expat in Canada, since none could handle a non-US postal code for donations. I posted in the chat that I’d be supporting by buying on-line Makers’ merch that supports Harris/Walz & ActBlue since there were so many links (Kamala Quilt mugs for my MAGA aunts? t-shirts for hubby & me?). However, since then, I missed (but will watch after-the-fact) the Americans Abroad for Harris/Walz and I can donate through them! Yeay!
Thank you for Makers!
Thank you for Renewal!
Thank you for more Nora!
ps – Jacobs is still my fave pattern & I hope to be able to put in an order soon for at least a Field Guide bundle or mini subscription (decisions decisions). Glad that Jane AND Felted Tweed AND KSHaze are all (now) long term stock staples in the MDK shop so I can continue to support all that you are doing!
Love!
Love!
Love!
Very pretty design. Is there an alternative for those of us that itch at the very thought of mohair?
@Brenda, I have the same problem with mohair. I use suri as a substitute and I love it, I recommend trying it. Its alpaca based and also comes in luscious colors, available from many yarn makers and at different weights too.
Thanks for the suggestion of the suri. The thought of mohair here in the south makes me sweat just thinking about it. Of course alpaca isn’t much better, only a few days a year can we wear it. Lol.
I used suri laceweight on a sweater earlier this year, marling it with a wool, and it was divine.