Lacy Spring Cardigan (Pattern Review)
One of my first planned handmade Christmas gifts this year is a cardigan for my sister (Lacy Spring Cardigan from MJ’s Off the Hook blog) and I’m so happy with how it turned out that I plan to attempt the Lost Souls Shawl by Maryetta Roy next – maybe as the original shawl pattern or a freehand cardigan variation.
What I Loved About This Pattern
This cardigan is beautifully delicate, and I immediately fell for the unique lacy stitch. It creates a wonderfully soft and stretchy fabric that feels incredible to wear. It’s just heavy enough to be comforting but not stuffy.
Assembling the panels was surprisingly easy – a huge relief, as sewing is definitely not my favorite part of any crochet project. The stitches lined up perfectly, making the process much smoother than I expected.
I also appreciated the inclusive sizing. It’s a relief not to have to guess at adjustments. This pattern offers a range of sizes that cater to different body types.
And let’s talk about yarn! The pattern recommends DK weight CotLin, which is one of my FAVORITE go-to yarns because it holds its shape beautifully, doesn't pill, and is durable.
What frustrated me about this pattern
This blog has a ton of gorgeous patterns, and the designer clearly puts in a lot of effort. But, navigating this particular cardigan pattern was extremely frustrating.
First, I had to create an account and provide my email address just to access a free pattern – a small thing, but still. Then, the page was crammed with photos and ads, making it really difficult to read on my phone. I spent more time scrolling past distractions than actually reading the instructions!
I almost gave up and paid for an ad-free version, until I saw the price tag: $16! While I’m completely onboard to support designers and all the hard work they put into these patterns, this one in particular gave me that icky feeling of a sales person trying to manipulate me — like they wanted to make the free version so difficult to use that I was compelled to spend money to get past it. And $16 seems high for a crochet pattern.
The free written instructions had a few unclear moments too, so I went to the YouTube video for help. Unfortunately, the video wasn’t much better. The camera remained focused on the designer’s hands, never panning out to show the entire piece, which was what I was really trying to see.
For example, the instructions say to “Repeat Row 3 until piece measures approximately 12 inches,” but it wasn't clear which piece they were referring to. The video showed the designer measuring rows, but without seeing the whole fabric, it was impossible to tell which part she was measuring and if I should be moving on to the next step or not.
Later, when I needed to understand stitch marker placement for sewing, I ran into the same issue – the camera never gave me a broader view.
Lessons Learned
Blocking is a game-changer. I know, seasoned crocheters are probably rolling their eyes, but I often skip blocking if the finished item doesn't need a specific shape. I initially planned to skip it for this cardigan, aiming for a loose, flowy look. But I realized blocking isn't just about shaping; it’s about ensuring the dimensions (size) are accurate before you start assembling the pieces.
My perception of size is off. Throughout this project, I constantly worried my gauge was wrong because the sleeve looked too small. Turns out, my imaginary tape measure is flawed. The finished cardigan is perfectly baggy – exactly as intended!
Despite a few frustrating hurdles, I’m absolutely thrilled with how this cardigan turned out, and I’m already dreaming up my next project! If you're looking for a beautiful, comfortable cardigan pattern, I'd still recommend giving this one a try – just be prepared to need patience with the pattern access!
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