Hubble Bubble Cardigan Pattern

Have you ever seen a pattern that you don't know how you will create it because you have never made anything like it before? You click to buy and then you start to panic because you don't know if you will ever make it. This is exactly how I felt when I bought the Hubble Bubble Knitting pattern from Kat and Leni. I had seen it all over Instagram and I loved the design. I knew how to knit but I had never made bubbles, what are bubble sleeves? What have I done? Buyers Remorse!

After buying the pattern the next logical step is to buy the yarn. I researched The Wool by We Are Knitters because this was the only yarn the pattern recommends and I had sticker shock! One ball of yarn was between $24- $30 dollars per 200 g. This pattern calls for 1200g so that equaled between $144- $180 for one sweater. Don't get me wrong this is beautiful yarn but I am a teacher and there is no way I would spend that much on one sweater. Apparently, I am not alone because I found this cheat sheet for super chunky yarn on a budget.

I went to Michaels in hope of finding a more economical way to create this beautiful sweater. I found Eco-Cozy Ecodouillet in this soft pink color for $6.00 per skein. It was chunky but a little less chunky than The Wool by We Are Knitters. I made a swatch and found out what my gauge was. 

I almost had to double the stitches per row but the look was still great! I started with 137 stitches, then on row 23 I divided the stitches to 27 (front panel), bind off 6 (underarm), 71(back Panel), bind off 6 (underarm), 27 (front panel). You can tell by looking at the pictures that you start this sweater from the bottom and go up. You will bind off the underarm stitches and continue to knit the two front panels and the back panel separately. 

Another first for me was the three-needle bind-off. Once you have completed the two front panels and the back panel it is time to bind the shoulder seams together. You have a lot of live stitches on scrap yarn. I used this video tutorial from Very Pink Knits to learn how to do the 3 needle bind-off. I absolutely love this way to stitch the shoulder seams together. It looks like a machine has binded the sweater once you are done.

I will definitely use this technique again and again.

At this point, I have a vest but no sleeves. You finish the ribbing around the edge of the front panels and the neckline. Then you pick up stitches for the sleeves. I picked up 3 stitches for every 4 rows. The pattern does have instructions on how to create the bubble sleeves but I did not understand it until I watched this video tutorial by Studio Knit. I know it is a hat but it all made sense once I watched her complete a few bubbles. I highly recommend watching this a few times.

Finally, I completed the sleeves and weaved in all of the loose ends. I gave this sweater to my sweet teenager. She loved it so much that she wore it all day and then I found her asleep in it at night. She says that she loves how soft the chunky yarn feels and it is snuggly like wearing a hug. What more could you ask for? 

Best wishes and tons of stitches!

Leah