2 weeks ago my mother celebrated her birthday and we have had a great time together.
Garden view
My parents are living on the countryside and have a big garden with flowers, trees and a little pond.
A garden view
As a present for my mother I have knitted Candice by Kim Hargreaves from her booklet Honey.
This design is knitted in Rowan Panama. Panama is spun as a woven, braided, fingering weight yarn, blending rayon, cotton and linen together. It is a rustic summer yarn with the feel from cotton and linen and is showing an elegant drap and sheen.
Well I must confess this was the first time I have knitted with Rowan Panama and Panama was not a yarn which I would pick up at once I enter a yarn store. But I really must admit – after knitting this garment – I do love it. It produces a smooth and drapy garment. It is “heavy”, yet light weighted and has a fantastic sheen and it is easy to knit with.
I have used Rowan Panama in shade Darkness 325 (unfortunately discontinued) a dark grey-blue colour, which is suiting my mother.
Hydrangea
I have chosen Candice from Kim Hargreaves booklet Honey to knit as a present for my mother.
Candice is a cardigan, knitted in plain stockinette stitch and a cable detail on the front openings. The front bands are knitted with the fronts, so there is no sewing on the bands afterwards. The buttonholes are knitted into the cables.
Candice
For back and front you cast on more stitches so the hem is not puckering in. This also puts more weight to the lower edge and so the fantastic drape is multiplied. It’s great.
Front openings with cable detail. Unfortunately the colour is not showing well.
On each front there is a set-in pocket. If you are looking for a tutorial how to sew down pocket linings, here is the one I use.
COCOknits shows an easy way to make the sewing straight and neat.
Pocket detail
Garden view
Blackberries
Candice
Candice
Plums
Happy birthday, mum!
knittingkonrad 
What a gorgeous garden, and such a beautiful gift the cardigan is lovely, I am sure your mother will wear it every day.
Thank you so much, Priscilla!
The cardigan looks beautiful! Adding it to my queue…
Gorgeous photos of the garden, thanks for sharing!
Wonderful to see it emerge from that bag of yarn you scored at the Mill! Love this, I want one too.
Lucky Mom!
Simple, elegant, classic, a color that goes with pretty much everything, what a wonderful and thoughtful present.
You are a good son to your mother. She must treasure you. What an exceptional birthday gift.
Oha, das ist ein schöner Cardigan!
You have knitted a classic and elegant cardigan. Your mom must have been pleased! I have only discovered your blog a few days ago. I am a big fan of Martin Storey and Kim Hargreaves. So, I really like your work.
Anneli
Thank you so much, Anneli.