Aimée Cardigan
Aimée cardigan is one of many beautiful designs featured in Interpretations 7 by Joji Locatelli and Veera Valimaki. I am so honored to have one of the designs named after me.
I remember over a year ago when Joji wrote to me and asked if I'd like to collaborate for her new book and she sent me the mood board for this design. At the time I had no idea the name of the pattern but the mood board was very inspiring. My favorite color to create is pink. I always joke around that there is pink in every one of our colorways. Some of our pinks are Ballet, Aimée Shwal, Damask, Highgarden, Sansa, Bois de Rose, Jinju, Lipstick, Romance, Lise and these are just the semi solids...
This is the original moodboard that Joji sent me. From this palette, I needed to create three new colors. I created Esmée, Artemisia and Maize. Each time I work with Joji on a project, there is a special synergy that happens. It's like our thoughts about color jump into each other minds without us saying a a word. I packed up these special colors for Joji and gave them to her at the next event we were both attending. I remember passing those skeins along to her and spending a moment hugging and chatting. I never would have imagined where we'd be almost a year later...
The sweater has been a sort of beacon for me through out this pandemic. The release of this collection helped keep me stay in touch with my friends working on this beautiful collection. Sending messages with Joji as the design advanced was exciting and I remember the day she told me that she was going to name the pattern after me. I was inspired by her to make these colors and the new collaboration was born from that moment. I finished sweater last night. It's been off the needles for a couple weeks but I took my time to weave in the ends and sew on the buttons savouring these last moments before the unfinished object because a finished object.
A few notes on my cardigan:
Size: 5
Yarn: La Bien Aimée Merino Sport in Caramel, Maize, Esmée, Artemisia and Emeline. Two of each.
Needles: 3.5mm
Modification: Only did half the increases in the body so that I could have a little less ease than intended by the designer.
Aimée Cardigan is available in Interpretations 7, we have copies for sale here.
The individual pattern is available on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aimee-cardigan
Thank you, Joji for this beautiful design. I will be wearing this sweater all winter long.