Hello and welcome to 2026!
We are sending January off with a bang with the release of the Clamber Cardigan! If you wanna find out more about the details of the pattern or the inspiration behind it, read on, but if you just want to skip to buying it, the links are below.
Inspired by my fantasies of finding the perfect cardigan in a vintage shop, Clamber features a gently puffed sleeve shape, a statement collar and a front panel of embroidered pansies. (Do you all have these dreams by the way? The ones where you’ve found the world’s best secondhand shop that’s stocked with stuff that’s exactly your perfect vibe? They’re so great right?)
I always find that I’m missing a versatile, lightweight layer to wear over things without adding too much warmth. This cardigan is great because it’s not too heavy; has space in the sleeves for something underneath; and the slight negative ease at the bottom gives the hips a lovely shape when closed or gently pulls to the side when open to show off whatever cute thing you’re wearing underneath! If you’re not feeling the colourwork, you can always make it plain - or add your own like some of the testers have done!
This pattern was quite a labour of love, I was making it and remaking it for most of 2025 to get it right! I knitted my first sample (RIP) on this epic research trip that Becca and I did to the South East of England to see the famous Charleston House. We stayed in Rye and as well as Charleston, we visited Rye, Margate’s Shell Grotto, Derek Jarman’s Garden, the Marc Chagall stained glass windows, and loads of beaches! It was an incredible dive into queer histories and homes and was so rich with flowers, patterns, and colours. Really it was a massively decorative trip which I’m sure is in large part why I ended up designing something so pretty (it’s not usually like me to do flowers!)
The movies we watched while we were away - The Duke of Burgundy and Calamity Jane - have heavy vintage cardigan vibes and lesbian themes/overtones that inspired me as well. Don’t you think the Clamber Cardigan would be the perfect garment for sexual tension at a wildlife lecture or keeping a pretty butch warm on a hike through the Black Hills of Dakota? I chose pansies in part because I wanted to nod to the queer symbolism and importance that certain flowers have (although of course the Clamber Cardigan is for all orientations and genders!)
The testing process for this jumper was a little bit harder than usual, I left extra time to account for the fact that it went over the holiday season, but I think in future I won’t run another test over christmas as most everyone felt a little rushed! Despite that, I think the testers, as always, really pulled through and made some really gorgeous projects. I love that the people who test my patterns for me always put their own stamp on things- we have some unique embroideries, knitted buttons, and cropped versions on top of a gorgeous selection of colourways!
The fit for this one was a little bit off at the bottom, as I said before the negative ease is a design feature- but it was a little bit much during the test. Based on feedback, we have since added a few inches to the high hip and redistributed the increases to give a little more space through the body. This keeps the style as intended while making it a little more comfortable to wear.
Maria and I worked on the pattern, Becca provided moral and practical support, and! ROSE IS BACK!! Since October 2025 the WLM team is now 4 PEOPLE. We have a few patterns in development and we’ve already dreamed up most of our schedule for 2026 (as well as the broad strokes of a secret project!) Here are Maria, Rose and Becca at the WLM Christmas Dinner. What a gorgeous wee crew!
Love
From
Lydia
I love this cardigan so much.
Stunning! Absolutely stunning!