pedal pusher

Posted on Posted in patterns, projects

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as i sit up in my office on the second floor of our house, i can’t help but notice that in the cooled evening air, there is a scent of dried leaves that adds a definite note of the autumn weather to come.

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i’m also laughing my head off every time i think about the photo shoot we did last night out on the street below. . .

barb, in her own personal film, hamming it up for the camera while she shows off her newly completed pedal pusher cardigan, knit in light and lofty bare naked wools kent worsted.

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the neighbors nearly split a gut laughing at us—barb, cool as a cucumber in a turtleneck and wool sweater in the 90-degree heat and me running up and down the street with the camera to get shots from every angle.

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at least they thought we were “cute” instead of insane (which is probably more accurate, haha.

this time i didn’t allow her to do her “sultry” look again; it was smiles for miles only. oh, we did some shots where she was standing still as well

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the catalog shot as she looks into the sunset

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the quintessential autumn apple picking shot over at a neighbors house (who doesn’t seem to have apple stealing squirrels like we do).

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beautiful side shots to show off the cabled detailing along the raglan seams.

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some with the garment unbuttoned and then buttoned up tight so you’ll know it looks good both ways.

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and of course a sexy backside shot to show you how beautifully this casual-fitting sweater looks on her figure, even without shaping.

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but our favorites by far were the ones on the bike.

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thank goodness she’s a great sport.

barb chose kent DK for her test knit, which has stellar drape—just the right amount to knit a fabric that skims the body without losing its grip. it won’t sag or slide into an overgrown garment just from being worn a few times. yet, it has an elegant hand with a pearly sheen that screams “sophisticated”, even in a casual garment like pedal pusher.

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it was a little over one year ago that i completed my prototype of this sweater, which is modeled here by lauren in our confection worsted yarn.

my idea was to create a wool sweater that would be easy to wear for commuting by bicycle. light and airy enough to wick away moisture from under layers (i like to go fast on my bike, so i need that), but warm too, for battling a brisk fall breeze.

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my version has the optional side entry pockets with the same cabled detail as the front edges and seams—super handy for any bike commuter.

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and it looks great once you hop off and shed the helmet—no one at work or in the store would know you had your riding gear on.

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being a hard wearing 3-ply yarn (as opposed to the kent, which is two-ply and slightly more textured), confection is lush and spongy, with a smooth surface—that translates to a squishy fabric with super-consistent stitches and great definition for those cables.

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made from springy, light corriedale wool, it holds its shape well; the shades of this wool are clear and bright.

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shown above, size medium in confection worsted, color dark chocolate, with multi-tone bone buttons

shown below, size 1X in kent worsted, color driftwood, with mocha buffalo horn buttons

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i just love how the neutral shades of these yarns do so much to highlight lauren and barb’s pretty hair color and skin tones. and they look great with all the colors and fabrics in your wardrobe too.

to purchase pattern or view complete pattern information, please click here to purchase in our knitspot online shop and here to purchase in my ravelry pattern shop.
(if you wish the pattern to appear in your ravelry library, please use this ravelry store link, thanks!)

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get ready for fall by setting off on a sweater knitting adventure! meet up with us in the BNWs rav group threads to knit along and post updates on your progress. pedal pusher could be your rhinebeck sweater; its easy to knit design has no seaming, so once it’s off the needles, you are done—you have plenty of time to finish if you start one now. what’s not to love?

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looks great both up close and from a distance; this is a terrific piece to fill out your cold weather wardrobe which you will turn to again and again as the colors of fall surround you.

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16 thoughts on “pedal pusher

  1. Love the sweater. Need this in my fall wardrobe. Barb looked so darn cute riding the bike. Wonderful photo shoot. Great sweater!

  2. You all must have had so much fun! And, yes, I’m in love with the pocket version too. But my goodness, it sure looks like fall is on your block already!

  3. Awesome video (such a great song too)!!
    Both versions are great, and I really love the pockets.

  4. “When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” – H.G. Wells

    When I see Barb (who is so beautiful and vibrant) on a bicycle wearing this gorgeous sweater I realize that many people will have so much pleasure creating and wearing this sweater. What a wonderful gift to knitters, and those individuals who love them.

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