cottington's so crafty: A Magnolia Mini to Grow Into

The second I saw this pattern design, Magnolia, by Camilla Vad, I knew it had to be MINE.

But wait!!! This is for Camden.

Yes, it is, as the designer then came out with a children's version, the Magnolia Mini which is clearly much faster to knit, aha! Since then, she has also designed a hat for this pattern, and she will be coming out with a chunky version of the sweater, which is great for fast knits.

I really wanted to use HER yarn, as you could tell, in photos alone, that it was a great pairing, but she isn't state-side, and I didn't need to spend a lot of money. I purchased Quince and Co Organic Chickadee Heathers some months ago from Twisted, which is a great shop in Portland! I love that Camden now has a classy gray sweater (Kumlien's Gull colorway), so to speak. I don't do neutrals too much, so, it was fun to make this!

As for the pattern, it was super easy. I had a one foolish moment, OF COURSE, where I lost my ability to read, and there is one error in the pattern, which I messaged the designer about, but it's a typo sort of thing you know must be wrong. It did take me five hundred years to work through all that stockinette before the bottom of the sweater, which is great for easy knitting, and I felt I moved quickly through the patterned section. I was pushing it on needle size/gauge. Chickadee isn't a superwash yarn, which is great, but I maybe should have sized down needles. I was pretty spot-on, pre-blocking, and I haven't measured gauge since, but I had also knit a size larger than what she needs, so, it should fit a while.

Also, I sized down one needle size for the bottom and sleeve cuff ribbing, which the pattern doesn't call for, but I couldn't help myself. I do see how NOT going down a needle size is beneficial for this pattern, but I am ridiculous, aha. And while the pattern does include directions for long sleeves, and those would have been pretty, when I had purchased the yarn, I was trying to save money and not buy another skein of yarn, so, I knew I'd do shorter sleeves. I could have pushed it to see if 3/4 length sleeves would have worked, but I felt lazy.

Go knit this pattern, y'all!!! The adult version, the kid version, whatever! I still really want one for myself.

And sooooo many days in the life of us.