the slouchy cardigan

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

If you have been here for a while, you know Greetings from Knit Cafe is truly one of my favorite books. It was published in 2006 and I still love it as much now as I did then. I'm not exactly sure how I ever heard of it, or how I received it. Did I buy it from my local yarn shop? Did my mom give it to me? I wish I could remember. But, what I do remember is that it's pages were turned by my hands so often that they are worn and remind me of this time. My kids were young. I knit every single night from 8pm-11pm.  I'm not kidding.  At one point I wanted to challenge myself to make everything in this book!

The author of the book is Suzan Mischer.  Suzan was a former CBS vice president and the owner of Knit Cafe, a sleek yet homey neighborhood yarn store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.  Oh, how I wish I had gone there. (It's doors are closed.) The book is a result of the shop and includes 30 patterns ranging from hiking socks to a bikini.  There are baby items, pillows, bags and my number one favorite the Slouchy Cardigan.  I made three of them and documented two here and here.  The cardigan has a hood but I omitted it in two of them and love them just the same.  They are still my most favorite, wearable sweaters in my wardrobe.  
My mom loved the pattern equally as much and made four of them!  This is her sporting one last week when Libby and I went for a quick visit.   The original book has a few pattern corrections.  I'm pretty sure they are on Ravelry.  Feel free to reach out if you need any help.  I also made some changes to the cap sleeve.   Those are documented here.
The bell sleeves are such a love of mine.  As are those hands.

(I have a hardcover but it looks like you can get a hard or soft cover here or here.)

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16 comments

  1. Isaida1/15/2019

    I bought this book on your recommendation a while ago to make the sweater and have yet to do it. I must add to my list to make this year.

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    1. a friend to knit with1/15/2019

      oh yes isaida! i think you would love it! xx

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  2. Julie1/15/2019

    what a gorgeous cardigan!! I have had this book for years, thank you for reminding me that it still has great patterns in it- I need to look through it again.....

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    1. a friend to knit with1/15/2019

      you could have this finished in no time julie! it's a pretty simple pattern! xx

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  3. gigi knits1/16/2019

    Thanks for reminding me .I have this book for long ago .

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    1. a friend to knit with1/16/2019

      so glad you have this book gigi! it really is a great one. xx

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  4. Kim1/17/2019

    Hi Leslie, I enjoy your blog and I feel we have similar style so I have ordered this book. However, when I click on the link for pattern corrections for the Slouchy Cardigan nothing comes up. I was wondering if you could share with me the corrections to the pattern for the cardigan? I have made note of the sleeve cap corrections you made as well. Thanks! Kim

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    1. a friend to knit with1/24/2019

      Hi Kim! Absolutely! I will dig out my book and look at my notes. Can you also please email me at lesliemfriend @ gmail dot com.
      thank you! xx

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  5. Pennywise Cottage1/20/2019

    I purchased this book after seeing yours...however, the slouchy cardigan pattern is too small..One day I will sit down and figure out if I can make it bigger..

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    1. a friend to knit with1/24/2019

      ooooooooh! I'm sorry Faythe! Please let me know if you need help! xx

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  6. Deborah2/02/2019

    Hi Leslie! Beautiful cardigan! No wonder you love it so much..me too! It looks gorgeous on your momma! I bought that book a few years ago on Amazon. Have a great weekend ....Hugs! xo

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    1. a friend to knit with2/08/2019

      awe. thank you deborah! glad you have the book. it is a good one! xx

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  7. Julie Turcotte2/08/2019

    I was about to type the exact same thing! I was a new knitter then so thought the slouchy cardigan was out of my league :( Going to get it out today and start searching for yarn!

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    1. a friend to knit with2/08/2019

      oh yes. it is a great first sweater! let me know if you need any help with the pattern! xx

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  8. Suzanne2/13/2019

    It is so cool that when you look up the pattern on Ravelry, yours is the cover photo!

    Of course this post is loaded of faces that I love to see...always.

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