Thanks, everyone, for the compliments - I needed some positive energy this week!
Eagle, it is crochet. I feel a bit in awe as well, because I only learned to crochet about three years ago, from you tube videos, and have been making things almost constantly ever since. Thanks for the tip to store it flat - I was concerned about stretching it out when folded as it is quite chunky. If it goes down to my knees, I won't like it as much.
My mom says I have the gift from her mom who was similarly talented. My other grandmother was a dressmaker but I never learned to wrangle a sewing machine, I was also good at needlepoint but found it a bit tedious and eye-straining to create/finish anything detailed enough to interest me.
It didn't take very long as it was a chunky knit. I started it when I got inspired by @Kareneallen who posted a sweater she had knitted. So about two or three months ago, including two weeks off for vacation and redoing the sleeves a couple of times from scratch as I wanted them to fit well.
Etoupe, I used a free Caron basic cardigan pattern, tweaked the stitch sequence to get the squared look, omitted the ribbing, shortened the sleeve, sized it to fit me etc. I used Aran weight merino (diamond luxury) with a 5mm hook and worked to my own gauge. So nothing like my end product but this is where I started.
http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/adult-crochet-crew-neck-cardigan.html?id=201102
