Brooklyn Tweed has a brand new capsule collection, designed by Michele Wang. Longtime BT fans will be very familiar with Michelle’s aesthetic, which is full of texture and sumptuous cables, this collection does not disappoint. If you don’t cable, then this might be more on the eye candy spectrum of knitting goals. But if you love knitting cables, then you definitely want to consider the collection. The collection focuses on garments – five cardigans, two pullovers, and one hat. You can check out the look book full of great photos here, or view them on Ravelry here.
A note about construction- all of the garments in this collection are seamed. These are substantial garments, and the seams provide structure, ensure a better fit, and help keep the garment looking good while you are wearing it. It’s worth seaming a big cabled sweater, even if it means an extra day or two of finishing. I promise, it’s worth it!
Let’s get into those cables! Here are my favourite four from the collection:
Radmere  is a worsted weight shawl collar cardigan with cables for days. It’s knit in pieces from the bottom up and seamed, which you need for a garment in this size in worsted weight. This is the only cardigan designed for men in the collection, although I think it’s completely unisex. If you also liked Aspen but found it a bit long, the cables are the same on Aspen as they are on Radmere. Cables are fully charted, and this is the most chart-heavy of the garments- 10 charts (although some are small!)
You Should Totally Knit This If: You are ready to devote some substantial time to knitting a big beautiful sweater (seriously- clear your schedule) that you will wear forever, and don’t mind cabling every right side row.
You Should Probably Not Knit This If: If you have startitis and have trouble finishing any knitted garments, and if you are not sure if you are truly committed to deep cable love.
This is a fingering weight cardigan knit from the bottom up, in pieces and is seamed. The collar is picked up and knitted on. While the cables look wonderfully complicated, the charts are surprisingly easy to handle- most of the time you are only cabling every 6th row, which is pretty awesome. There are 5 charts- one for each piece of the sweater (left front, right front, back, left sleeve, right sleeve).
You Should Totally Knit This If: It was love at first sight, you love picking up stitches (or at least don’t hate it), and you got kind of excited when I told you that the cables were easier than they looked.
You Should Probably Not Knit This If:Â The idea of knitting anything that requires 3,000 yards (!!!) of fingering weight fills you with dread.
This bulky weight sweater is probably one of the fast garments in the collection to knit, and the yardage seems really reasonable. Like the others, this is also knit flat and seamed. The body of the sweater is interspersed with textured garter stripes, but I’m really hoping someone is going to do a modification to make everything outside of the center panel stockinette. Not only would it reduce bulk, but I bet it would look SO good! Fully charted cable design, and there is only one chart.
You Should Totally Knit This If:Â You need a cozy warm sweater in your life, love that center cable panel, and think that this sweater could quite possibly become your new best friend for winter.
You Should Probably Not Knit This If:Â You don’t love garter stripes (although you could do it all stockinette!) and think that since there is only one cable chart, it’s not a big enough challenge.
I know, it’s crazy that I included the only stockinette piece in my top four, but I think this is a wardrobe staple cardigan that you will wear all the time.  This fingering weight cardigan is knit from the bottom up and seamed, and has pockets that you can actually use. If you love stockinette (I really love it, I find it so zen and I can do it in dark car or a movie theater) but want to add a little zip, how about adding a contrasting cast on/bind off, and knit the pocket linings in the same contrasting colour?
You Should Totally Knit This If:Â One of your knitting resolutions for the year was to knit more wardrobe staples, and you also love some good stockinette.
You Should Probably Not Knit This If:Â You hate knitting stockinette, no matter how zen I keep telling you it is. And if your second most hated knitting is ribbing, then mosey along, partner. This knit isn’t for you.
If you have any questions about any of the other patterns in the collection, feel free to ask! I respond to all comments.
Here’s my review of the previous Brooklyn Tweed capsule collection by Olga Buraya Kefelian if you’d like a refresher!Â
Lovely review for a beautiful collection, very coherent. A definite must- have for cable lovers. I love the Palmer, a true classic that you can wear for ever. I like that Michelle Wang included a fingering weight cable sweater in her collection, most worsted and bulky ones can be hard to fit under a coat, but 3,000 yards, heck! That’s a lot.
I think this is truly a great addition to a knitting library, but after six months on an Aran sweater, I’m so not into cables right now. But I love this collection a lot.
For me, Hague was love at first sight! Except… probably too bulky for me with all those garter ridges, so I love your suggestion of switching that out for stockinette, or maybe reverse stockinette? The giant fingering weight sweaters are too much for me to stomach, but a quick bulky knit? So my speed these days.
I agree, Tanis, reverse stockinette will create an amazing look with a crisp texture, making the cables stand out even more!
Great review. I have been seeing pieces from this collection all over Instagram and Ravelry, so it’s nice to get your 2-cents on the whole. I love your “Don’t knit if” sections, as they are often humorous and make me giggle just a little as i imagine being “that” knitter.
Thanks!
Thanks for your astute assessments and funny commentary, Julie! I don’t think there is a bad one in the bunch! I know I will be making Palmer, and I loved Celyn as well and think I could realistically tackle it. I also loved Aspen, but know it will be a long haul. I might have to take some of your tips on long-term projects and try to have it finished for next fall. And thanks for being on Team Seam–it makes such a huge difference. I have accepted that seaming garments really is necessary for stability and structure, and I have really come to like doing it! It’s just part of the process, and now that I really understand it and see the benefit, it’s not intimidating. Thank you, Julie!
I love this whole collection, I’m so glad that the second capsule collection was from Michelle Wang! I love Ilia so much, but I really don’t know if I can stomach that yardage requirement right now, eek!
Cables are so classy. I like how they’re timeless. I’ve heard of her name but am not familiar with her designs; will check her out on Rav.
See, I really like Ilia, but 3000 yards of yarn is a hefty investment! Budget-wise and time-wise as well. But these are really beautiful choices, Michelle Wang does have a great style, doesn’t she? I mean Stonecutter must be one of my favourite patterns (though I am yet to knit it). And your reviews are always witty, and on point!
Always a joy to read your reviews, Julie! This collection is so “me”, seriously I would knit every single thing from it if only I had time!
Oooo I love the Palmer cardigan! I totally agree, there’s something so wonderful about just knitting simple stockinette.
Radmere is jaw-droppingly amazing but I know that I would knit and wear the Palmer cardigan. A very cozy collection!
I love Radmere so much. I don’t actually love knitting cables, but I’m seriously considering that one for myself!
I totally understand why you included the Palmer cardigan in your selection, it’s something I would love to have in my wardrobe. One of those pieces that can go with anything and can be worn all the time. Although all of those cables are obviously also fantastic.
Love this collection! Also, I really appreciate your comments on the seaming! I just knit a Rift sweater (my first sweater ever), which had seaming, and although it was frustrating and stressful and time consuming (all at once), I am reassured to know that the seaming can make for a better fit / longer lasting sweater. Good to know! 🙂