Hommage to the Ultimate Dandy!

There is a new cardigan pattern out and about - The BeauB, an ample piece which showcases subtle and understated features with it’s textured striping where the material itself becomes the focus, a simple stitch pattern on neckband, hem and pockets and lots of small decorative finishing details.

Maybe you have heard of it's inspiration, the famous fashion hero and ultimate dandy, Mr. Beau Brummell? 

He was the one to bring the stylish, minimalistic attire to new heights during Regency England and to focus on material, fit and understated elegance instead of overdone ornaments and frills, that were en vogue before this guy came along.

Especially the elaborately knotted neckpiece, that every gentleman of his time eagerly copied, was his statement piece - but Beau was generally concerned about discreet design elements and subtle details that made his clothes stand out without being flashy.

isn't he cute?

Although he is more of a men's wear fashion icon, he still fascinates me in regards to attitude and design-philosophy (and also because of his wit, but that's a totally different subject), so that I wanted to make him "my" hero for one of my own designs.

In my cardigan, the sloped raglan shoulder was meant to give a natural looking and well fitting shape to the yoke, while a neckband with a fuller volume at the top allows for generous draping at the patterned, reversible neckline and thus following Beau's spirit of enhancing this area. The subtle stitch pattern is repeated at hem, pockets and cuffs, which feature a twisted i-cord edging that is easy to make but with more visual interest than a simple edging.

The extra long sleeves gradually become transparent and flow into a delicate repetition of the stitch pattern in their lower part. As the neckband, they can be worn folded up too, to show the reverse side of the simple knit/purl stitch pattern.
The whole cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down in subtle striping, by knitting with two strands of yarn (held together or alone) in sequence to form the stripes, so that we get more of a discreet textured striping than a coloured one. This can of course be worked with a bigger visual impact, if the thinner yarn is knitted in a contrasting colour and not in the same as in my own project shown here.

To celebrate the last days of 2014, I thought that a small present would be quite appropriate... so I thought that a contemporary version of Beau's neckpiece would be in order to accompany the launch of the BeauB cardigan. 

The MissBrummell Cowl will be offered for the last 3 days of the year as a gift when you buy the Cardigan. (To make the promotion work you'd need to put both patterns into the shopping cart before purchasing).

This simple cowl has an elongated front piece to keep the décolleté warm and cozy without adding bulk to the back side of the neck. It is a perfect accessory for collarless jackets and open front cardigans: like a turtle neck that can be taken off indoors.

You can buy both the BeauB and MissBrummell here on this site, or go over to ravelry to check them out and take a look at the lovely projects of other knitters.

I hope you like them and I wish you all a wonderful and inspiring New Year!!!

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