watkins
Our newest cardigan pattern is out today, and it is stunning. Introducing the Watkins cardigan, designed by Whitney Hayward.
Knitted in 4 colors of Puffin, this comfy, oversized colorwork sweater is worked in the round from the bottom up, using steeks to cut open the cardigan fronts after the knitting is completed. After steeking, stitches are picked up at the newly-created edges to work the ribbed trim and short-row collar.
If you have never steeked before, fear not—included with the pattern instructions for Watkins is a step-by-step guide on how to work a crocheted steek in a colorwork project. We've also added this tutorial to our Techniques blog series: Take a look here.
Strength in numbers
This design was an instant hit with everyone here at Quince, and as the pattern was developed, tested, and tweaked, we all came to the realization that we need this sweater in our lives and have no choice but to knit one for our very own.
Puffin colorwork? Yes, please.
above: Quince staff swatches for Watkins
Jerusha chose Bark, with Gingerbread (or Maple—she couldn't decide, so swatched one on each half), Chanterelle, and plans to use a stripe of Honey, for her Watkins. Dawn went with Smoke, Canvas, Maple, and Fox. I chose Sabine with Audouin, Caspian, and Maple (our new light blue Stream was the runner-up for that stripe highlight). Karin's color choices were Maple, Sabine, Frost, and Honey. So pretty!
Whitney decided to start another Watkins, too, and she chose Camel, Bark, Caspian, and Frost. It was amusing to notice we all gravitated towards similar colorways. Lots of Maple and other warm tones...clearly, we all have WARMTH on our minds. We could easily see this in blues and grays, greens and golds, however. The sky's the limit with Puffin's amazing palette.
Notice how our swatches are different sizes? Every knitter finds their own preferences for small-circumference knitting—some cast on extra stitches, others follow to the letter, while others go with an abbreviated version of swatching for the project. Like a lot of things in knitting, swatching is flexible. Its main purpose is to end up with something useful to help in planning your sweater project.
Everyone's catching Watkins fever, and we have a few staffers still dreaming up their perfect combination before they're ready to swatch...we can't wait to see which colors they land on.
Which one is your favorite? Which colors would you choose for your Watkins? We'd love to hear from you in the comments.
