I Made a Sweater.
I actually have another finished project to show you! The funny thing about blogging less is that the knitting in progress gets lost in the shuffle and it seems like finished knits just appear out of the blue. I started this sweater on May 23 (don't you love Ravelry for your start dates?) and finished it right around the end of July, so it took about two months to knit.
It's the Dollar and a Half cardigan, from Interweave Knits, Spring 2007! I so love me some Véronik Avery patterns.
Yay, I finished it!
I used three skeins of Brooks Farm Willow that I bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool earlier this year. I really, really love this yarn. It's a wool/bamboo blend, and it's soft and drapey and lovely. It becomes even softer and prettier after blocking.
This photo shoot was very sweaty.
It was a close call with the yarn. My stitch and row gauge were a teeny tiny bit off, which I think may have caused me to need a bit more yarn. I tried to get an extra skein of the yarn (Ravelry, Flickr, even emailed Brooks Farm, and they were super nice, although they sold out of this colorway at MDS&W), but I realized after finishing all the sweater pieces that my sleeves were uber long.
So, I seamed until I was almost out of yarn, and then I took some yarn from each sleeve to finish things up. (How I did it: I got a piece of scrap yarn and ran it through a row of stitches right above the ribbing on a sleeve. Then, I snipped one stitch, and unraveled a row of stitches, which detached the ribbing, and gave me a row of live stitches still attached to the sleeve. I used the ripped out ribbing to seam and do buttonbands, and then I put the row of live stitches back on my needles and knit down from there, finishing the sleeves up. Does that make sense? It was actually really easy!)
I do think the sleeves as written are LONG. So, be aware of that if you knit this. Other things to note: I did stockinette in between the lace panels instead of the reverse stockinette that's in the pattern. Also, lots of knitters have mentioned the stockinette panels puffing out in between the lace panels, so I went down one needle size for every stockinette panel, and that seemed to help with the puffiness. I still have a little of that on the sleeves, but it's definitely still wearable.
The lace pattern is easy to memorize, and once I did, the knitting is fast. It's nice too, because the lace panels break up the stockinette, so I didn't get bored. I seriously love this pattern, y'all. LOVE. I'm so happy with my sweater! Now, I have to put it away for probably four more months until it's a little bit colder in Georgia ... because it's pretty much in the 90s all the time right now. Oh, being a knitter in the South. Sigh.
Anyways. This is definitely my best sweater yet - it fits great, it's long enough (which is usually a big problem for me) and I like the way the buttons turned out, which can sometimes make or break a project for me. YAY finished wearable sweater! (Thanks to Jacob for the pics - we were both sweating after like two seconds outside, but he persevered and got some good shots for me.)
Next up? I'm going to try and knit a February Lady Sweater for the Ravelympics, using some Silky Wool I picked up at Halycon Yarns. I've never done any knitting olympics before, so we'll see how I handle the pressure...
and also! earthchick is having a raffle on her blog for a really great cause, and it has some seriously amazing prizes. so you should go check it out! (and while you're there, check out her Sunshine top! so cute.)
If you tried to leave a comment and got a blank page, please try again - if the blank page comes up, hit refresh and see if that fixes the problem. It may be time to upgrade to MT 4.0...or Wordpress. Gah.
Comments (45)
Well, I am a little late to the congratulations party but I think that sweater is absolutely gorgeous!! Great job!
Posted by Peacock Chic | September 20, 2008 12:15 AM
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www.knitone.com
Posted by Barbara | August 28, 2008 12:50 PM
Hi friend. I am actually reading your blog. And I love your sweater. I am moving forward technologically!
Posted by HEJ | August 27, 2008 4:08 AM
Thinkest whot of my jolly blog?
Benevolent?
Bombastic?
Belligerent?
Bewildering?
Bawlsy?
tok2me
God blessa youse -Fr. Sarducci, SNL
Posted by otto | August 24, 2008 11:49 PM
The sweater looks amazing - the pattern looks beautiful in the gauge that you ended up making. And, the color choice was lovely as well.
Posted by Anne-Marie | August 24, 2008 11:08 PM
I"M COMING FOR THE LITTLE DOG, THE LITTLE WIZARD GNOME! BELLABELLABELLABELLABELLABELLABELLABELLABELLABELLABELLBELLBELLBELLELLELLELLELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Ole Creaky Bonez!!! | August 14, 2008 1:43 AM
OMG!! Gorgeous!!!
Posted by Tochy | August 14, 2008 1:11 AM
Carrie! It's so lovely! Wow, I can't believe it's finished. What a gorgeous sweater.
Posted by Friend | August 13, 2008 1:45 PM
I am from Turkey.Maybe you remember me:) I have bad english so sorry...I had blog but I closed two years ago.But always ı look at your blog.You are so cute.And I want to say this;ı like your every pattern.So I like this sweater.Lovely..
Posted by melis mevsim | August 11, 2008 12:28 PM
I love the color and pattern combination...great job.
Posted by Beatriz | August 7, 2008 6:53 PM
wow, it looks so great on you! i love the color. i'm glad you ended up with enough yarn after all!
Posted by mai | August 7, 2008 1:34 PM
Twoleftsocks here to say - wowza! Loving that sweater! I have some Cascade 220 in brown that I was planning on knitting a Dollar and a Half Cardi with. I love yours. I'll definitely be coming back to re-read your notes here when I do finally start it.
Posted by Tana | August 6, 2008 11:24 AM
Great sweater--the mods you made work well! I'm now very intrigued by that yarn, which is dangerous...
Posted by Anita | August 5, 2008 9:34 PM
beautiful job! that yarn looks stunning.
Posted by rose | August 5, 2008 6:59 PM
This is so good looking. Fits you well. Have you thought about knitting the sleeves top down? This allows you to try them on for length and to have easier options if you are running out of yarn.
Posted by Jane Prater | August 5, 2008 6:55 PM
LOVE the color, LOVE the drape! it looks perfect for fall in the south (aka: december) So very wearable, and now i wanna jump off that feb. lady sweater cliff, too!
Posted by chelsea | August 5, 2008 3:51 PM
you are making me want to try my hand at a sweater again. beautiful work!
oh, and psst, wedding photos are up ;)
Posted by erika | August 4, 2008 4:36 PM
It turned out great! So glad to hear about your mods -- I was planning to knit it as written and it sounds like the puffy thing would have bothered me.
And I love that eggplanty color. I'm kind of wishing that my glasses weren't eggplant so that I could knit/wear that color more often. (As it is, I'm afraid of looking to matchy-matchy.)
Posted by Specs | August 4, 2008 2:00 PM
Er, yay for overlong sleeves? Seriously, if you hadn't told us you were thisclose to running out of yarn, I wouldn't have known! It's a gorgeous item.
(My mind is still boggling over "bought at Sheep & Wool this year... now a sweater three months later". Wooooo.)
Posted by CraftyGryphon | August 4, 2008 2:00 PM
Oh - it looks wonderful - what a great color on you, too. And really, is there ANYTHING that Brooks Farm makes that isn't just stunning?
The February Lady Sweater looks like a perfect sweater for you, too. I hope you do make the next!
Posted by elisa | August 4, 2008 1:18 PM
how perfect! great color, and it looks like something store bought. i'd never guess it was hand knit. great job. wow!
Posted by rebecca | August 4, 2008 10:43 AM
It's beautiful! I really want to knit that cardi now :o)
Posted by Nicola | August 4, 2008 8:46 AM
Carrie ~
The sweater came out wonderful!
Now I want to put down my sock and start this over again, I have hid it in a bin like a ugly cousin! If only I have two more hands!
Posted by Betsy | August 4, 2008 8:25 AM
I've been eying that sweater for a while and then you had to go and do it in my favorite color. (Darn you! Now I have to go find yarn and make it for myself...) It looks absolutely amazing on you! Great job!
Posted by Chelsea the Yarngeek | August 4, 2008 12:54 AM
Sweet sweater. Snipping into knitted fabric is scary, but it sounds like you really know what you're doing. Nice work.
Posted by Cassy | August 3, 2008 10:49 PM
p.s. I just read your fascinating 100 Things!! I can't believe I finally "know" someone else who can say the alphabet backwards. My mother taught me do that when I was a child and I always thought I was so cool for being able to do it. What is this, some kind of Georgia girl thing?
Posted by earthchick | August 3, 2008 12:59 PM
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. It looks fantastic on you.
And THANK YOU for the shout-out for the raffle! You've sent more people my way and I SO appreciate it!
Posted by earthchick | August 3, 2008 12:55 PM
Great sweater, but it's August for crying out loud and it's a hunderd degrees! When are you and Jacob going to get busy knitting some grand babies?
Posted by Tommy | August 3, 2008 12:21 PM
dude. two months? to knit a sweater that a) fits that well b) looks that good. i mean that's FAST. ;) and to make all those mods and have them WORK? dang girl. it takes me years to make one that actually fits. ;)
you know i avoid the crowds at the brooks farm booth like the plague but i have to say that yarn looks very pretty and drapey.
p.s. february lady sweater you say, eh? :)
Posted by carolyn | August 3, 2008 11:57 AM
Testing testing 123...
Posted by Testy Testerson | August 3, 2008 11:36 AM
Beautiful sweater. I love this pattern a LOT. And that color is gorgeous on you.
Posted by Elizabeth | August 3, 2008 9:10 AM
really lovely!
Posted by vanessa | August 3, 2008 7:30 AM
Looks great, love the colour
Posted by Miss 376 | August 3, 2008 3:29 AM
I love that pattern and marked it in my copy of IK. Yours looks great and the color suits you so well too. Wait for the progress shots of the FLS too, I havent attempted that one as yet.
Posted by sue | August 3, 2008 2:55 AM
It's lovely! A great color on you too.
Posted by Sharon | August 3, 2008 12:35 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by Jane | August 2, 2008 11:53 PM
I LOVE how it turned out and am glad that you went before me on the yarn thing. There's no way my monkey arms would have enough yarn so I will find another project for my Willow. Your's looks amazing, though!
Posted by sarah b. | August 2, 2008 10:49 PM
Wow! That looks so fantastic. Perfect fit, too. :)
Posted by Maggie | August 2, 2008 10:46 PM
it turned out just perfect! i love all of your mods too :) lovely.
Posted by gleek | August 2, 2008 10:44 PM
It's lovely! Your mods are great and the sweater looks fabulous on you - fit, color, and styling!
Posted by Lisa | August 2, 2008 10:12 PM
The sweater looks gorgeous--and, my, doesn't it coordinate beautifully with your blog colors!
Posted by --Deb | August 2, 2008 10:08 PM
Wow Carrie, such a fantastic sweater. Kudos for using yarn you purchased so recently, no time for it to lay around and make you feel guilty. And oh my you look so lady like in the FO shots:)
Posted by Heather | August 2, 2008 9:51 PM
Beautiful!! I really liked this sweater in the mag, but I'm loving your mods more!
Posted by Cara | August 2, 2008 9:01 PM
Lovely! Gorgeous color too. =)
Posted by RC | August 2, 2008 8:50 PM
That is gorgeous! I've been wanting to make this sweater for ages but the right yarn hasn't come along...I'll have to check this out! Your colour is beautiful!
Posted by Stacey | August 2, 2008 8:29 PM