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Mastery requires persistence and patience. Success is not measured by completion. Success is achieved only after one has done everything possible to produce something that one is proud to share.

Of course, to make a good story, the hero has to overcome obstacles, which in knitting parlance usually means plenty of frogging. To my non-knitting readers, frogging refers to the similarity between the words “rip it” and “ribbit”. To frog one’s knitting is to rip it out and do it again. It feels like I did more frogging than knitting to complete this cardigan!

To my Knitting sisters, yes, the border was crocheted, not knitted. I even learned how to crab crochet for the outermost edge detail. And because details separate the novice from the master,  I ordered a “31 Rue Cambon” button for the neck and a dressmaker’s chain to weight down the hem.

See the many photos of steps and missteps before I was satisfied!

Chanel-ish Cardigan Jacket knitting pattern

The pattern book

aka Houndstooth

Tested to see how hard this honeycomb tweed stitch pattern really is

Vintage Chanel

Vintage Chanel

Vintage Chanel

Vintage Chanel – it’s in the details

Vintage Chanel – details!

Casting on, we begin!

progress

Can you see the defect on the right waist?

It’s very big

beyond boxy!

And the sleeves are also too long!

Pinned it together and tried it on.

Frogged the entire body

Fit is gauge, gauge is math. Check the numbers.

Sleeves are not playing fair.

Why????

Why can’t I produce two equal sleeves?

Still not the same size!

Finally, both sleeves are the same size, AND are the right size!

I just sewed the right front shoulder to itself!

Shoulder seams sewn

Set the sleeves badly. The top is square.

Resewn, natural shoulder shape.

Good

Sleeves set

Experimenting with edge ideas

Can’t raid mom’s closet during quarantine, but this photo gives me a reference for scale.

Rounded corners are not right

Squared corners look better.

Yes, I like this width.

Do I want a button at the neck?

Sleeve cuff detail

Hem detail

dressmaker’s chain

dressmakers chain detail

I love the button, but I think a pocket will be better than a button at the neck.

Pocket added

I am satisfied with this project.

Credits:

• Vintage Chanel pics from Pinterest
• Chanel-ish cardigan jacket image, pattern and stitch instructions from “Greetings from the Knit Cafe” by Suzan Mischer
• Cotton Dishie yarn in Black and Clarity from KnitPicks
• 31 Rue Cambon button from Lots.of.Beauty @ etsy
• Dressmakers chain from Susan Khalje Couture