Cropped Duster

Completed: February 2008

Pattern: Tilted Duster, by Norah Gaughan, Interweave Knits Fall 2007; following modifications by Stephanie

Yarn: Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran #157 (85% merino wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere), 6 skeins x 104yd

Notes: I saw the modifications that Stephanie had made on her blog, to recreate a cropped cardigan at Anthropologie and just knew I had to make one too. She was incredibly helpful in the process! Here are the mods I used:

Made body pieces 2 inches longer. Now, when you do this, the length discrepancy between the back and front pieces at the side seam become really obvious and freaked me out. But if you have counted rows carefully, they will still line up when you mattress stitch them together. Promise.

Cast on 50 stitches for each front piece for the 32" size and evenly decreased the number of stitches to match the original pattern at the armhole

Only did 4" of ribbing for the collar

I had a bit of flaring out at the bottom, so I compensated for this with blocking and being parsimonious with the number of stitches I picked up for the bottom ribbing around the transition between the front and back pieces. I did 2" of ribbing along the bottom border. If I were to do it again, I probably would have cast on fewer stitches for the back piece and then gradually increased the number to match the original pattern at the armhole.

I omitted buttonholes and buttons because I had this fun pin that I wanted to use, and I wanted to be able to change the look around.