This appears to be the same pattern as the Bergere de France 736 Veste Femme (also a free pattern on the Bergere de France website). The patterns have different photos, but the directions look the same.
My first time translating and knitting a French pattern - we’ll see how it goes!
I really liked how this looked without the sleeves and collar - this pattern would make a really nice vest, with maybe just some I-cord edging around the armholes and neck edge.
The Beaverslide yarn is a heavy worsted. The cable details look nice, and the yarn is quite soft , especially after washing.
Modifications: The pattern says to knit the button bands in 1x1 rib as you knit the body. I started them that way, but it looked like they were going to sag. I suppose I could have knitted them on smaller needles using DPNs at each end, but that seemed like a lot of work. Instead, I omitted those stitches and just knitted garter stitch button bands after knitting the body and collar.
I made the body a little longer (14”), and also made the sleeves longer (18”). If I made it again, I’d probably knit the body to 15”.
I bought 6 skeins of yarn, but only used 5 - but there were only a few yards left out of the 5th skein.
I purchased some pewter clasps at my LYS (Black Sheep Wool Co). I guess that makes my cardigan pretty international - an Aran cardigan from a French pattern, with Norwegian clasps, made in the U.S. :)
Posts from my old blog:
12-17-2008
I didn’t knit enough rows on the front before starting the armhole. It doesn’t look so bad in the photo, but that’s because I’d previously blocked the lower part of the back piece to check my gauge, which shortened it a bit. There’s actually a whole cable of difference. I had put the wrong number of repeats down on my notes. So now I’ll have to rip it back to the beginning of the armhole. This is AFTER ripping out the bottom 4 inches that I first knitted, because I didn’t like how the knitted-in button band was looking. I started over without the front band, and will add it later.
12-29-2008
I’ve been wanting to have this cardigan finished by the end of the year so that I could start fresh for NaKniSweMoDo on January 1st. I was thinking that I wouldn’t get it done, but as it turns out, I was thinking it was a day later than it was. Since all I have left is one sleeve cap and another full sleeve, I think I’ll be able to squeak it in under the wire.
The pattern is 654 Veste femme, by Bergere de France, but on their website it is described as “Veste Irlandaise”. The name translates to “Aran Jacket”, but the pattern is in French. So I guess it’s my French Aran.
Before I added the collar, I was thinking that it would make a wonderful vest. I’m not usually a vest person, but I might just have to make this as one.
1-4-2009
Technically, it’s not quite finished since it still needs buttons or clasps. And only parts of it have been blocked. But I’m still considering it my final FO for 2008, finished on New Year’s Eve.
Modifications: Increased the length of both the body and sleeves. The pattern called for knitting the button bands in 1×1 rib as you knit the body. I started it that way, but wasn’t sure I liked how it was turning out, so I ripped it out and just knit the body without the button bands, and added garter stitch bands after adding the collar.
If I were making it again, I’d probably make it another inch longer.
1-11-2009
I finally got over to Black Sheep Wool Co. and purchased some pewter clasps for my cardigan. So now it’s truly complete.
A French pattern for an Aran cardigan, with Norwegian clasps, from yarn “grown” in Montana, and processed in Canada. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
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