New and Improved Pamela's Patterns #111 Banded Front Cardigan with Pocket

This sewing project was inspired by the Netflix series, "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" which I binge watched when it aired at the start of January.  I had read the book years ago and had not been inspired but loved the series.  I always have regular collection boxes for household goods and clothing to go to the twice yearly hospital "nearly new" sale but this series was the additional push I needed to evaluate some past garments.  
I was pulling out clothing to pack for our winter journey to Florida and tried on the two cardigans I had made in past years....but seldom wore. two cardigans
Why?  Well, another very popular pattern, the Blackwood Cardigan,Blackwood Cardigan from Helen's closet gave me a clue.  I realized that what I disliked was the angle of the front band on the Pamela's Patterns Banded Front.  I thought that it really should hang down straight with a slight opening, much like the wider but straight front of the Blackwood.  I had a fitting schedule with Sarah Veblen who can figure out how to make my visions come true and she concurred and gave me the simplest solution....pinch out a dart in the side front panel, remove the excess side seam fabric that I thought I needed to make those front edges meet and wow, what an improvement.

Side panel has drag lines

Pin out a 2 inch dart on the side panel and do the same on the pattern

My mock up marked with the excess fabric I needed to remove from the lower side seam

New version with straight band, lengthened and pockets added for those dog treats

The other element I liked about the Blackwood Cardigan was the pockets but I never like patch pockets in knits, especially this lightweight sweater knit from Fabric Mart.  I pulled out my favorite patch pocket technique from a Threads Magazine article and added pockets that won't bag to both of my new and improved versions.  

Valentine's Day version I sewed while in Florida in February 

My favorite patch pocket because it stays flat

So thanks to Marie Kondo and her "spark joy" principle, I have two new cardigans that spark joy when I wear them and two others that have moved on to new homes.  And here are some more things that spark joy in my life: