Fair-Isle cardigan with set-in sleeves?

[MmmKnits]

Help me, oh wise craftsters. I'm making a Fair Isle sweater for my grandmother for Christmas. I had planned to use the Fairly Easy Fair Isle pattern from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, but my mother mentioned that Grandma has gotten quite stoop-shouldered since I last saw her, and Mom specifically requested that I stay away from a raglan sweater pattern as it would emphasize the roundness of her shoulders (which she has been trying to hide by wearing lots and lots of shoulder pads).

I'm stumped. I want to make Grandma a sweater that will be flattering on her, one she'll love and wear a lot, but I'm having a hard time reconciling a FI design (which I know she loves) and a non-raglan pattern. I've never done colorwork before, and FEFI seemed like a good way to ease into it. The only non-raglan stranded knitting patterns I've seen have been the lovely (and extremely challenging) ones from Dale of Norway (which I would LOVE to make, but need to work up to first). So here's a question for you: Can you recommend a pattern for a sweater that

1) Is a cardigan
2) Features stranded colorwork
3) Has set-in sleeves?

Many thanks!

[djinnj]

I don't have a pattern for you, but in terms of how to do a set in sleeve in Fair Isle, I suggest looking at this tutorial on steeking: http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/01/steeking_chronicles_the_should.html

[NewLeodensian]

I don't know how easy it is for you to get a hold of, but you might try some of the Rowan or Jaeger magazines/books.  I know there is one called Florentine that is a cardigan (although it is also a vest) in Rowan magazine 36 http://www.colourway.co.uk/rowan/rb36/rb36.htm (it is in the 5th row down).

My only other suggestion would be to try a site like Knitting Pattern Central http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/womens_cardigans.php where they list lots of free patterns on the web.

Hope this helps!

[lawral]

vintage knits by sarah dallas has a pattern for a fair isle cardigan with set in sleeves and no steeking. the colorwork is all over the cardigan though, not just at the neck so i don't know if that's what you're looking for.

here it is on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743224566/sr=8-2/qid=1155587460/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-4144871-3814204?ie=UTF8
if you use the "search inside" feature and hit "surprise me" enough times, you should be able to see a picture of it. good luck!

[candikaneiscrafty]

You could possibly work some short rows for the sleeves like
this i don't have the book with me so i am not sure of how the sweater is constructed will allow this to work

[knitticle]

vintage knits by sarah dallas has a pattern for a fair isle cardigan with set in sleeves and no steeking. the colorwork is all over the cardigan though, not just at the neck so i don't know if that's what you're looking for.

I found a site with pictures from Vintage Knits--there are a few nice fair isle projects in there.

You might also be able to find a project on Garnstudio's Free Patterns website, especially the Norwegian Knits section.

[subloke]

I just saw this at the Drops site and thought of your quest for a set in sleeve, fair isle cardigan.  (i just noticed the froofiness at the neck, which would not work for me personally, but... )

Also at Drops I saw this one.  I love the sleeves! 

Good luck. 

[eatyerhartout]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for that garnstudio link. I went to that site about a year ago and haven't been able to find it since! 

[MmmKnits]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. I checked out all the links you suggested and got a bit overwhelmed by all the new skills I'd have to learn in order to make this work!  I think I've decided to just go with the Fairly Easy Fair Isle pattern after all (Mom's suggestion be damned) since I've heard from a lot of people that it is a quick and pleasant knit.

This decision is sort of making me feel like a chicken, but I think it'll be the best thing in the long run. I have plenty of time to get this sweater done before Christmas, but I also have a lot of other knitting on my plate for the next few months. And while I'm sure that someday I will want to move on to more complex colorwork and learn how to steek, I'd rather do it under more relaxed circumstances with no time or high-stakes gift-knitting pressure!