Why are these yarn-stealing dogs so excited?

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Because they’re so proud to unveil their latest creation: What the well-dressed ragdoll is wearing this fall.

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  • Pattern: Reynolds Lopi Toggle Cardigan (pattern #82271)
  • Modifications: No fair isle; two-way zipper instead of toggles; ribbing and body knit on same size needle for a looser ribbing
  • Yarn: Lopi in Celery Heather. Four and a half skeins.
  • Size: 37″ bust, XS. When blocked the sweater bloomed to gain about half an inch in length and width.
  • Knitting time: Six episodes of 24, season two on DVD. Bulky yarn isn’t my usual choice, but it does have its benefits.
  • Seaming time: One episode of Six Feet Under, season four on DVD. Again, bulky yarn has its benefits.
  • Zipper installation: Andrea, my good friend and knitting mentor aka fiber goddess, gave me a zipper clinic yesterday, and basted the sucker into place for me, so all I had to do was sew the already positioned and secured zipper down. The zipper lays perfectly, works perfectly… Thanks to Andrea’s help, I think I can tackle the next zipper entirely on my own. Andrea rocks.
  • Ranking: My favorite sweater right now. Certain to be worn to death this fall and winter.

Added later, by request, a closer look:
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98 Comments on “Why are these yarn-stealing dogs so excited?

  1. Hi Cari! I started taking a knitting class this week and I thought of you and your charming blog full of pictures of your wonderful, beautiful creations. Your latest sweater is stunning, looks great on you and looks really, really warm. I would wear it every day too if it was mine. It is already chilly enough here in New England to do so. Soon I hope to be able to make one of my own. By the way, your tights are fabulous too. As is your hair, as always. And the dogs. And especially OSCAR! I’m missing having a cat but fear the trauma that my dog would inflict if I got one now…

    Can you believe…? The holiday season is only a few months away so I’ll be seeing you and all of our loved ones soon. Yippee!

    You are an EXTRAORDINARY GENIUS no matter what the people at Ragdale say! Now I’ll read your archives and try to figure out who the people at Ragdale are…

    Hope all is well with you, Billy and the critters.

    xo, Jess Brown
    Posted by: Jessica

  2. Soooo cute, those two! And the sweater is perfect for you–for just about anyone, really. 🙂
    Posted by: Sneaksleep

  3. Hi Cari! I started taking a knitting class this week and I thought of you and your charming blog full of pictures of your wonderful, beautiful creations. Your latest sweater is stunning, looks great on you and looks really, really warm. I would wear it every day too if it was mine. It is already chilly enough here in New England to do so. Soon I hope to be able to make one of my own. By the way, your tights are fabulous too. As is your hair, as always. And the dogs. And especially OSCAR! I’m missing having a cat but fear the trauma that my dog would inflict if I got one now…

    Can you believe…? The holiday season is only a few months away so I’ll be seeing you and all of our loved ones soon. Yippee!

    You are an EXTRAORDINARY GENIUS no matter what the people at Ragdale say! Now I’ll read your archives and try to figure out who the people at Ragdale are…

    Hope all is well with you, Billy and the critters.

    xo, Jess Brown
    Posted by: Jessica

  4. Soooo cute, those two! And the sweater is perfect for you–for just about anyone, really. 🙂
    Posted by: Sneaksleep

  5. lovely sweater….but I must admit the tights grabbed my attention first…love ’em.
    Posted by: Marie

  6. Those…stockings!

    And yes, I agree, we need a closeup, though I have a feeling I’ll get to see it at Rhinebeck!
    Posted by: Amber

  7. B.U.tiful!!! I’m enamoured with the sleeves of your lovely sweater! Great job!
    Posted by: Christie

  8. lovely sweater….but I must admit the tights grabbed my attention first…love ’em.
    Posted by: Marie

  9. Those…stockings!

    And yes, I agree, we need a closeup, though I have a feeling I’ll get to see it at Rhinebeck!
    Posted by: Amber

  10. B.U.tiful!!! I’m enamoured with the sleeves of your lovely sweater! Great job!
    Posted by: Christie

  11. Love it! It’s a perfect sweater for fall/winter. Gotta love those stockings too! =)
    Posted by: Angela

  12. Color, style, zipper, outfit styling, canine models.

    All perfect. Make sure to take a self-portrait at Ragdale wearing that.
    Posted by: claudia

  13. It looks great. I can see why the pooches were so excited! (Chappy notes that it looks to HIM like you three should take the sweater out for a test-walk. But that’s a dog for you–they’ve got walks on the brain.)
    Posted by: Deb

  14. Love it! It’s a perfect sweater for fall/winter. Gotta love those stockings too! =)
    Posted by: Angela

  15. Color, style, zipper, outfit styling, canine models.

    All perfect. Make sure to take a self-portrait at Ragdale wearing that.
    Posted by: claudia

  16. It looks great. I can see why the pooches were so excited! (Chappy notes that it looks to HIM like you three should take the sweater out for a test-walk. But that’s a dog for you–they’ve got walks on the brain.)
    Posted by: Deb

  17. Oops. First I thought you were showing off handknitted tights. Heh. Love that sweater- great color.
    Posted by: Iris

  18. Oh la la… t’es beeeeeelle 😉

    We will miss you tons at Vermont this weekend. I will try to find yarn the colour of your hair…
    Posted by: Lee Ann

  19. Such a classic! You did a great job and the zipper definitely works. You’re gonna wear that to death. Yaay!
    Posted by: Vicki

  20. Oops. First I thought you were showing off handknitted tights. Heh. Love that sweater- great color.
    Posted by: Iris

  21. Oh la la… t’es beeeeeelle 😉

    We will miss you tons at Vermont this weekend. I will try to find yarn the colour of your hair…
    Posted by: Lee Ann

  22. Such a classic! You did a great job and the zipper definitely works. You’re gonna wear that to death. Yaay!
    Posted by: Vicki

  23. I love it! That color is fabulous and I love that you used a two-way zipper so you can just fasten it at the bust. So cute and cozy!
    Posted by: Karma

  24. The sweater, the stockings, the hair, the woof-woofs…. awesome. Congratulations on zipper success too! 🙂
    Posted by: Laura

  25. It’s perfect on you. You’re adorable. I MISS you. And I want to steal your sweater.
    Posted by: Rachael

  26. Mommy! Mommy! You’re on the table, can’t we be on the table?! Is it silly time? Should I do a spin and a hop?

    That sweater looksy comfy (and in a good way, not the passive-aggressive ‘slouchy’ way) and I dig that crazy twoway zipperthingy.
    Posted by: spaazlicious

  27. I love the color and the two-way zipper must make it so versatile…What a great sweater!
    Posted by: christina

  28. I love it! That color is fabulous and I love that you used a two-way zipper so you can just fasten it at the bust. So cute and cozy!
    Posted by: Karma

  29. The sweater, the stockings, the hair, the woof-woofs…. awesome. Congratulations on zipper success too! 🙂
    Posted by: Laura

  30. It’s perfect on you. You’re adorable. I MISS you. And I want to steal your sweater.
    Posted by: Rachael

  31. Mommy! Mommy! You’re on the table, can’t we be on the table?! Is it silly time? Should I do a spin and a hop?

    That sweater looksy comfy (and in a good way, not the passive-aggressive ‘slouchy’ way) and I dig that crazy twoway zipperthingy.
    Posted by: spaazlicious

  32. I love the color and the two-way zipper must make it so versatile…What a great sweater!
    Posted by: christina

  33. Love the whole ensemble of dogs, outfit, sweater and hair;-)
    The sweater changes will make it one you wear and wear. Nice work!
    Posted by: margene

  34. You look so fabulous. Margene is right, the whole ensemble makes me so happy.
    Posted by: melanie

  35. Love it! And love the photos — I’m surprised Sadie and Diego weren’t just blurs. You’re the cutest.
    Posted by: alison

  36. Wait, “THEIR latest creation?” I knew you had those dogs doing all the work. So tell them the sweater looks fantastic, the color is perfect, and I’m jealous. If they want to make me one too…
    Posted by: Em

  37. Four and a half skeins?? Hooray for a sweater even a broke student can afford! Looks great.
    Posted by: sarah g.

  38. love the sweater and the whole outfit 🙂 (i just bought a sweater very much like this from lands end- although yours is much cooler. but those of us without knitting skills must resort to purchasing of premade items.)
    btw- the screen looks great in the dining room. olivia can’t wait to come by and hang out with the dogs. (so far she doesn’t seem to have her mom’s allergies!)
    Posted by: Rebecca

  39. Love the whole ensemble of dogs, outfit, sweater and hair;-)
    The sweater changes will make it one you wear and wear. Nice work!
    Posted by: margene

  40. You look so fabulous. Margene is right, the whole ensemble makes me so happy.
    Posted by: melanie

  41. Love it! And love the photos — I’m surprised Sadie and Diego weren’t just blurs. You’re the cutest.
    Posted by: alison

  42. Wait, “THEIR latest creation?” I knew you had those dogs doing all the work. So tell them the sweater looks fantastic, the color is perfect, and I’m jealous. If they want to make me one too…
    Posted by: Em

  43. Four and a half skeins?? Hooray for a sweater even a broke student can afford! Looks great.
    Posted by: sarah g.

  44. love the sweater and the whole outfit 🙂 (i just bought a sweater very much like this from lands end- although yours is much cooler. but those of us without knitting skills must resort to purchasing of premade items.)
    btw- the screen looks great in the dining room. olivia can’t wait to come by and hang out with the dogs. (so far she doesn’t seem to have her mom’s allergies!)
    Posted by: Rebecca

  45. A stunner. The zipper, the color, the cuffs – perfection.

    And I SO want those tights.
    Posted by: mindy

  46. What a great fall sweater, and it even matches your wall paint! Love the stockings & clogs!
    Posted by: Dianna

  47. Love it, love it, LURRRRRVE it! I want one JUST LIKE IT. You are the best ragdoll ever.
    Posted by: Norma

  48. A stunner. The zipper, the color, the cuffs – perfection.

    And I SO want those tights.
    Posted by: mindy

  49. What a great fall sweater, and it even matches your wall paint! Love the stockings & clogs!
    Posted by: Dianna

  50. Love it, love it, LURRRRRVE it! I want one JUST LIKE IT. You are the best ragdoll ever.
    Posted by: Norma

  51. Cari – it’s GORGEOUS… and you are one fast knitter, girl – bulky or no bulky, you’re awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share it all with the rest of us!!

    XOXOX – Liz in Chicago
    Posted by: Liz

  52. Hi,
    I’m writing for three reasons:
    1. Your new sweater is very nice. I also like your shoes and tights.

    2. I was starting to worry no one else was making the VK Turkish Cape. Although I’m not there yet I’m really worried about the short rows and having to pick up all those stitches around the edge. Do you have any advice?

    3. If I hadn’t looked at your blog today I totally would have forgotten the NYFA deadline is tomorrow.

    Thanks and have a productive time at your residency.
    Mildred,
    Brooklyn, NYC
    Posted by: Mildred

  53. Cari – it’s GORGEOUS… and you are one fast knitter, girl – bulky or no bulky, you’re awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share it all with the rest of us!!

    XOXOX – Liz in Chicago
    Posted by: Liz

  54. Hi,
    I’m writing for three reasons:
    1. Your new sweater is very nice. I also like your shoes and tights.

    2. I was starting to worry no one else was making the VK Turkish Cape. Although I’m not there yet I’m really worried about the short rows and having to pick up all those stitches around the edge. Do you have any advice?

    3. If I hadn’t looked at your blog today I totally would have forgotten the NYFA deadline is tomorrow.

    Thanks and have a productive time at your residency.
    Mildred,
    Brooklyn, NYC
    Posted by: Mildred

  55. I am not sure what is cuter ~ The sweater, the stockings or you? When I first looked at the post I thought OMGOSH she made stockings and she is the only person on Earth that could pull that off!! Then I realized the sweater, the sweater!!!
    AWESOME JOB!!!!!!!!!!!
    Posted by: Betsy

  56. Oooh, the cardigan is beyoootiful!!! I love it!
    And the doggies! Sooo cute! Look at the tail action, its awesome!! Oh doggies!! I love those socks and those red red shoes, too.
    Posted by: Pippy

  57. I love the tights and clogs!!! Oh yeah and that color… its mine 🙂
    Posted by: stinkerbell

  58. I am not sure what is cuter ~ The sweater, the stockings or you? When I first looked at the post I thought OMGOSH she made stockings and she is the only person on Earth that could pull that off!! Then I realized the sweater, the sweater!!!
    AWESOME JOB!!!!!!!!!!!
    Posted by: Betsy

  59. Oooh, the cardigan is beyoootiful!!! I love it!
    And the doggies! Sooo cute! Look at the tail action, its awesome!! Oh doggies!! I love those socks and those red red shoes, too.
    Posted by: Pippy

  60. I love the tights and clogs!!! Oh yeah and that color… its mine 🙂
    Posted by: stinkerbell

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