Pam Alison Knits

Knitting, as I have previously mentioned, was a bit of a slow-burner through 2025. If that is true, then I never even lit the gas under the task of photographing my finished knits. Determined to do better in 2026, I’m now ready to do a proper “finished objects” post about the two blue knits I completed last year.

The Replicant

This plain, easy-fit blue cardigan was intended to be a staple item in my wardrobe and it is filling that role admirably. It has become my go-to item at weekends worn with a dress, skirt, or jeans. I named it “The Replicant” because it was an exact copy of the pink version I’ve been wearing at work for the past couple of years.

Considering this is such a basic design, I get a crazy number of compliments about it as I’m pottering about the workplace. Much as I like the original pink version, I had a few good reasons for replicating it in a different colour. First, the pink wool (Croft by West Yorkshire Spinners) knitted up into a slightly looser fabric than I wanted, though it’s proven to be very durable and washes well. Second, I wear a lot of blue and I wanted a colour that would be part of the core collection in my wardrobe. Third, I’ve been wearing this cardigan to work on regular repeat and – as with all my work clothes – I’m bored with it. In fact, when I finish work this spring I’ve promised to hand it over to one of my work colleagues.

Slipunder No. 1

This is my experiment to see whether I would prefer a knitted tank to wear under jumpers. It is knit from the same cone of wool as The Replicant and I wear them together a lot as a twinset. The experiment was a complete success and I’ll be knitting a few more sleeveless tanks like this through the course of the next couple of years.

The textured stitch here provides interest, both whilst knitting the garment and now it’s completed. It’s another eminently wearable addition to my core group of blue clothes and it’s already had a ton of wear.

Here are the two finished knits as I generally wear them, though I most often button the cardigan up so only the neck of the slipunder shows. I intend to decide over the coming months on a colour for another core grouping in my wardrobe. When that happens, I’ll knit a similar cardigan and tank combination as it’s such a winning formula.

Milestones

Another birthday has sauntered past and now I’m very much on the final countdown to my retirement. This explains the extravagant knitting plans which I doubt I could scratch the surface of unless I take up knitting as a full-time occupation.

My birthday cake was a “fatless sponge” – a recipe which was in my parents’ repertoire when we were children. It was very much the “fancy” cake rather than an everyday bake, which is odd because it’s such a simple cake to make. I must point out that it becomes significantly less fatless once you’ve cut it in half and added an excessive amount of whipped fresh cream. I think that’s what makes it a cake for high days and holidays unlike your basic Victoria sponge.

I hope it won’t be too long before I have some photos of this year’s first finished knit. I’m on the home straight with it and on course to have it ready to wear on the last working day of my life. It’s another cardigan which I think will earn its place as a must-grab item, especially once we head out of winter and into spring.