Alchemy Cardigan CAL by Make and Do Crew- getting started

Hi everyone! Beginning of this month, I was having a vacation in Japan for 2 weeks! It’s been a year since last time I went back, and it’s always nice to go back to my home country!

Last year, I went back around beginning of March, so I couldn’t see cherry blossoms, but this year, I made it just in time! This year, cherry blossoms actually bloomed 9 days earlier than expected date 😱 because temperature was much higher than usual. Cherry blossoms only last 2 weeks or so, so I mostly gave my hopes up to see them. However!!! There were still many cherry blossoms blooming in Gunma prefecture where I grew up!! My aunt took my brother and me to this famous spot to see them, and it was SO beautiful!!! I was super happy I got to see them!

Japan’s weather was sure like spring, and I’m feeling more spring here in Chicago too!! To be more excited for upcoming weather, Jess from Make and Do Crew is partnered up with Lovecrochet for Alchemy Cardigan CAL in May! If you never seen Jess’s works, you have to check them out!! There are so many wonderful crochet designers out there, and Jess is sure one of them! I’ve made several projects using her patterns, and they’re really easy to follow. (And she will answer your question if you’re ever stuck along the making!!)

Now having said that, I’m really excited to get started with this cardigan. For those of you who don’t know what CAL is, it stands for “crochet along”. Everyone works on the same project at the same time. That’s it! I never done CAL before, and I always wanted to participate in one. I think what’s good about CAL is that because everyone is working at the same time, you get to see other’s process and they all be same process as yours. Also, you can support one another on the same page.

For this cardigan, Jess is using Lion Brands Vanna’s Style.  It is (3) light weight yarn, so if you can’t get Varna’s Style, you can definitely use other yarn that has same yarn weight. You can order Vanna’s Style from HERE at Lovecrochet CAL page and it’s pretty reasonable price. (Update 06/09/2022: This yarn is sadly discontinued. A kit is no longer available, but you can still purchase the pattern HERE. As for yarn substitution, yarnsub.com’s recommendation is Sirdar Snuggly and King Cole Cherished DK )

I ordered my yarn last week so I hope my yarns will arrive before official start date, which is May 7th! I initially wanted my yarn in Mustard (yellow), but they were out of stock, so I was gonna go with Spruce (green). Yarn listed in CAL page was showing up as out of stock so I went to their yarn page, and they did have in stock, but not enough for this cardigan!! 😭 So I ended up choosing Ecru, which is same color as Jess’s photo/cardigan. I just have quite many neutral colors in my closet so I wanted some other colors…I do love the colors so let’s see how it’s gonna turn out!!

There’s still a week left before the official start date, so if you are planning to participate or still thinking about joining or not, I say go grab yarns and let’s make it together!! (More shipping fee, but by choosing expedited shipping, your yarns will arrive this week!)

Alchemy Cardigan is designed by Jess from Make and Do Crew. All of the contents regarding Alchemy Cardigan is owned by Jess. Please go to her website makeanddocrew.com for free pattern and other information.