Image: Kate Davies Designs
Years ago I knit what became my favorite sweater - Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Hurry Up Last Minute Sweater in Tahki’s Donegal Tweed. The offset raglan shaping of Carbeth is so reminiscent of that super simple shaping, but with the added bonus of having the numbers figured out for me, and with really excellent details like the folded collar and i-cord buttonholes.
Last March, when I was about seven month pregnant, we went on a trip to visit the Navia headquarters in the Faroe Islands. There were many things about that trip that made wardrobe choices a challenge for me, and in the weeks leading up to the trip I went on a knitting rampage with a mission to “bang out a Carbeth!” Call it love at first knitting pattern sight, or call it a knitter’s version of “nesting,” but whatever you call it, I call it my favorite sweater of 2018.
While I will be the first to admit that photographing a sweater after days of traveling-while-pregnant is no one’s favorite, don’t let that grimace fool you. I am in love with this sweater. I recently wore it all through our trip to Ireland, and this time I carried the baby on the outside!
I used our Andorra yarn to knit Carbeth, holding it doubled on a US 9 needle (5.5mm). I got gauge handily, no fussing around with multiple swatches, and cast on for the third size, a 44” bust. I figured that size would give me plenty of wear in the rest of my pregnancy and in the bustier post-partum nursing days to come in the fall. Held double, I used seven skeins of Andorra - with plenty to spare.
Now that Gilda is almost six months old - she was a TNNA baby! - I think it’s time to think about making another Carbeth, this time one size smaller and marled in ink black and snow white. A new classic for my wardrobe, which will patiently wait until after the holiday knitting frenzy is over.
Did you #bangoutacarbeth in 2018? What was your most memorable knit of the year? Tell us in the comments!
