Kim's Fancy Floribunda



Instagram Handle:  @diddlysquash_
Pattern Name and Designer:  Floribunda by Gina Fama Röckenwagner available in Pom Pom issue 41
Size Made: 7
Materials used (fabric, notions, kits, etc.): Coastal yarn in natural, copper, lilac, deep pink, and sweet tea
Modifications: added five rounds of DC to hem for length

Crochet is having a BIG moment right now. And why not?! It’s cute and it’s fun. I’m all for the trend! So perhaps it was no surprise that as soon as I saw the Floribunda pullover by Gina Fama Röckenwagner on the cover of Pom Pom issue 41, I knew I needed to get it on my hook.

I loved the retro vibes of the stripes and floral motif, and was intrigued by the shaping of the blocks that make up the neckline. As I began crocheting, I was impressed by the clever block construction! I won’t lie though, this pattern was more than a little confusing the further along I got in it. There has been some errata updated on the magazine’s website, and if you plan on taking a stab at this cute cropped pullover, I highly recommend utilizing the errata. Plus, the amount of ends to weave in is not for the faint of heart. I’m grateful that my friend and coworker Anna helped me out with them!

The garment as written is a boxy fit cropped sweater, but I found it to be FAR too cropped. This is a pretty standard issue for me, so I solved this by adding five rounds of double crochet at the hem to get it to a happier length on me. In retrospect, I might have preferred going up a size overall for this pattern, though I still likely would have added more length.

My absolute favorite part of this whole sweater is the yarn. Can we take a moment to appreciate the colors?! So vibrant and lovely! I used Coastal by Elemental Effects, which is a beautifully soft blend of 50% US Shaniko wool, 25% mulberry silk, and 25% Belgian flax. If I thought it was gorgeous while working with it, that’s nothing compared to how soft and wonderful it gets after blocking and a bit of wear. The flax content really shines after a bath! I’ll definitely use this yarn again- I’d really like a knit garment in it too!