Lime Leopard Cardigan

The parcel of fabric so generously sent for potential doll use also included one yard of a very large lime green leopard print 60" wide knit.  I immediately knew I wanted to use it for Simplicity 8951—and, surprisingly quickly, I did 

 

 

I extended the sleeve length as long as possible past the pattern's ¾-length sleeve, given the amount of fabric I had, and they might actually be a touch long, which is absolutely not the worst thing that could have happened.

The big deviation with this version of 8951 is that I used a set of cuffs and a waistband that I cut off of a thrifted-then-worn-to-shreds sweater I had years ago.  I don't get the chance to use proper ribbing, allowed to be one layer with one finished edge, very often.

It was very nice  to not have to fiddle with cutting and folding the pieces for the cuffs and waistband.

I had not used the scavenged ribbing before out of a combination of wanting to save them for just the right projects, and also because I had only the cuffs and waistband, but nothing for a neckband.  While this may not be the most perfect project, I did realize that some of the black ribbing yardage I've had for years was a passable match to the scavenged ribbing, so it would work for the neckband.

I went ahead and used wide twill tape to finish and reinforce the front openings, using a mismatched natural cotton color instead of the 'perfect match' black grosgrain ribbon I used for the last cardigan (which was a detail that I forgot to photograph for that write up.)

I originally intended to use 'natural' color thread in the bobbin for the buttonholes, but I forgot to swap it out that time—you can see that I did swap it for the band's stitching—and  decided not to worry about it.

I still had white thread in the serger anyway, and the sweater the ribbing had been salvaged from was black and white, so there's white visible there, too...and, yes, I did hesitate about using the ribbing here expressly because I couldn't conceal the seam allowance by folding everything inside the way I usually do.  Everything is thin enough that it behaves, even when exposed, though.

I also forgot to take a photo of the shoulder stabilization in the last cardigan project, so here's that in this one.

I happily was able to conceal all the seam allowances inside the collar made from cut ribbing yardage.  Not quite so happy with the way the serger wants to chew instead of cut sometimes; probably need to change the needle.

And the back! 

I always forget how quick, easy, and satisfying a knit project can be when I don't over-complicate things (but that's not going to stop me from being generally prone to over-complicating things.)