Help me choose a sweater/shawl!

Having a bit of a dilemma and would love some wise Fabbers' advice.

I bought some yarn on clearance. It's been discontinued. It's a hand-dyed yarn with copper stellina metallic thread in it. It's very special. The only exception is I may be able to get another skein of the red. But otherwise, this is kind of it. I can just stash it until later. But after 25+ years of stashing yarn and battling a massive wool moth infestation a year or two ago , I don't want to just stash yarn forever. I want to knit it. Not carelessly, but not 10 years from now either. Ya know?

My dilemma: I cannot decide on a pattern. I've spent days sorting through patterns that fit the yardage and come up with two possibilities. And... I'm torn and can't decide.

Do any of you have a preference for me? I've asked stylish friends and family members. It's almost a 50/50 split between the sweaters. My son and a girlfriend love the rustic fair isle sweater for me. My husband, sister, and another girlfriend love the lace yoke cardigan for me. I collaged my head onto both sweaters and find the lace cardigan is better. BUT maybe I'm just seeing things. Practically, the cardigan's longer sleeves will be a lot warmer for me in our chilly mountain winters. I don't find the fair isle sweater that attractive with longer sleeves.

Either would play nicely in my current wardrobe --save with my dresses. Neither sweater will layer nicely over flutter sleeves made of heavier fabric.

This is my style inspiration board. https://www.pinterest.com/ketu.....s-dressed/

I am not sure if either sweater fits there?

My other option is a shaw such as photo 8. A shawl feels like the simple way out. But then it also feels like just a shawl, where no one will see the yarns displayed in their full glory. Basically, a shawl gets worn around the neck in a giant chunk of wool. So it's not quite as eye-catching as a sweater.

Thoughts??? <3

PS This yarn wasn't part of my initial 2024 knitting plans. But there was no way I could pass it up, tbh!

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10 months ago

Indigoprint

Veteran

Wow I see your dilemma. Both are beautiful but different.
Love how you Photoshop your image on the patterns it really does help see what you are visualizing.
My vote is for the cardigan.
I love the contrast of the yoke eith the body. I think it would really showcase your yarn and frame your face.

phoebe

Active Member

Voting cardigan because the style is a little more flattering and a short sleeve sweater worked in wool seems like it might get less wear than a long sleeved one.

Very pretty, you have a good eye for traditional enough to endure and modern enough to look fresh.

Ket

Thank you Indigoprint and Phoebe <3 After posting, I really feel the cardigan is the better choice too. I agree with your points about the shape and the contrast drawing the eye up.

Phoebe, thank you for such a lovely compliment! I really try to balance my knitting between modern and traditional whenever possible. It takes way too many hours of knitting to have a sweater that only looks good for a year.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Another vote for the cardigan, in what will be a a beautiful item on you, Ket! Your freckles are ADORABLE

Jenni NZ

I thought the cardigan too, seeing the pics and pic collage. Do you have sales goggles for yarn, Ket?

Thank you dear Angie!!! My freckles… I’ve been trying to undo some sun damage with serious esthetician care. Despite acids and a good spf, the freckles will not leave. I’m not upset. It’s just funny. (I’m not spending thousands of dollars on lasers to remove them either.) I’m hoping they make me look youthful at 40 ha!

Kathie

Definitely the cardigan! Which color would you use for each section? Personally, I'd lean towards having the more variegated gray/brown for the placket and trim because I think it might pool in ways that would be distracting on the body. Second choice would be the shawl; I always think a bit of garter stitch shows variegated yarns nicely.

Jenni hahaha!!! Oh gosh, I might need a pair lol! I do tend to get sucked in by yarn sales. I was really proud of myself when I said no to a yarn sale a few weeks ago. Surprisingly, I only bought one skein of yarn Aug-Nov. But December I made two purchases: this yarn and some wine colored acrylic for another cardigan. I’m hoping my 2024 planning helps with yarn purchases.

Cardigan is clearly the winner

Kathie I would need to make the body the variegated rust-cream-plum and the lace the dark plum. There was only a single skein of the dark plum, and the colorway is gone for good. Which is okay. Since I have two skeins of the variegated, I’ll alternate skeins to keep it from pooling. I’m hoping I have enough. There is some variegated left and I’m tempted to buy one more skein as a “just in case I run out”

BrieN

My vote is for the cardigan. As someone with a bit of bust, I always like a vertical line of some sort on my top/topper or at least enough of a "v" to allude to one. The cardigan provides that with the buttons (although I'd be tempted to open the neck a bit so it doesn't button to the very top). I would also knit it larger than what the model is wearing. it is quite small on her.

I looked at your pinterest board for 2024 and 95% of the tops you chose had a vertical line/v neck. And thinking about your recent post where you ROCKED the moto jacket with the dress I think you also like that look on yourself. :). YLF

Bijou

My vote is the cardigan - it will be stunning on you. Time to get knitting!

Zaeobi

Another vote for the cardigan *OR* to integrate the lace yoke into a jumper (sorry, sweater ) if possible? Gorgeous colours (but you knew that already, lol).

Agree about the vertical line issue with a big bust - a scarf or long necklace can work to break up a sweater, but that then limits its versatility.

BrieN, thank you! I agree with your observations. I missed that my 2024 board features a lot of V-necks. And being bustier right now, v-necks are kinder to me. As for sizing... I am trying to decide what to do. If I size up, the cardi will have 4-5 inches of ease. Part of me wants that. But then I have to order more yarn. (They still had some of the variegated left.) If I knit the next size down, I'll have a close fit, about 1 inch of positive ease. But I won't have to order yarn. SO... I'm kind of split on what to do. Side note: I ordered another peplum jacket. Hopefully the seller ships it sometime soon, maybe it isn't coming after all, jeepers. Hoping it's a victory not a tragedy.

Bijou, cardigan it is!! Thank you, dear lady! For some reason I always feel shy about choosing something more romantic in line and style, even though in the end I know it will likely look better on me. So thankful for all my fellow Fabbers helping me.

Zaeobi, lace yoke in a jumper is a possibility! I think after reading everyone's replies and thinking about it more, a cardigan makes more sense. I tend to favor cardigans. I can throw it over my blouses and such, button or not for ventilation, etc. So I may just go for that. Good point about the vertical line with a fuller bust. I do love long necklaces. But to be honest, most days I don't wear them unless I'm running errands or really want to feel dressed up at home.

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