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Amber's Riverbend Cardigan

As a fan of Julie Hoover's designs, I have quite a few of them in the queue of things I need to knit. When Brooklyn Tweed recently published her Riverbend cardigan for the new chunky weight Quarry yarn, I decided I needed to knit this immediately. Talk about instant gratification, this quick-to-knit garment showcases Julie's classic style with minimum commitment.

Pattern: Riverbend by Julie Hoover
Yarn: 4 skeins BT Quarry in Abalone
Size Made: 39½
Modifications: none

Riverbend is the epitome of grandpa cardigan style, with just enough flattering detail, like a deep v-neck and sloped hem. I wasn't sure if the cardigan would end up being too bulky for my taste, but it turns out the style and details are simple and perfect. Simple short rows create the sloped hem. The chunky yarn is knit in reverse stockinette for a folksy, extra-nubby texture. The pattern allows you to choose whether you want the right side of the cardigan to feature reverse stockinette or a smoother stockinette stitch.

Brooklyn Tweed's newest yarn, Quarry, is knit really loosely for the fabric of this sweater, which works nicely to keep the fabric from being too dense. The yarn has the shape of a single ply, but is made up of three very gently spun singles. Working with Quarry is similar to knitting with a pencil roving--it requires a light tension, but once it is knit into a fabric it holds up really well. Like its companion yarns, Shelter and Loft, Quarry uses 100% American grown wool and is milled in the US. It can be used for a wide range of gauges. This pattern is knit on size US 15 needles, but it works quite well at a smaller gauge, check out the hat we knit on size US 9 needles. It is so lofty and squishy!

If you need a quick and rewarding knit, this pattern will have you cozy and ready for fall before you know it! It's magic!

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