Sunday, March 05, 2006

It’s done!!

(warning, lot’s of pictures)

I finished it up on Friday evening, and so far this weekend this cardigan has:
  • Bathed two children
  • Gone canoeing
  • Weeded a garden
  • Planted seeds
  • Done 10 loads of laundry
  • Folded 5 loads of laundry (lets’ get real, I got less important things to do)
  • Gone out to eat
  • Cooked spaghetti sauce
  • Knitted
  • Been in a clubhouse
  • Napped
  • Mediated at least four fights between the girls
  • Watched a knitting show

And now, blogged!
And let me tell you, it’s perfect!

I designed this almost two years ago to be the perfect teaching sweater. I tend to be chilly, and I wanted something that would go with lots of things but not look too “teachery”. You know, no Santas, or apples.

Through that time it spent at least 9 months in a box as we moved to Florida, and it has been the pattern most likely to be cast aside as I needed to finish things for other people.
The only thing I wish I had done was include a little shaping at the sides, but that’s minor.

So the specs:

Materials: 1 cone and a few yards of Webs “Valley Cotton” in Golden Ochre (7129). I picked it to match the stitching on jeans.

I love this yarn. It is fairly thin, I worked on #2 needles, so the final cardigan is warm, but not too heavy. The collar is worked on #4 needles to give it a bit more oomph.

Pattern: My own.

I did a cable ribbing at all the bottom edges and designed the texture in the middle. On the back I adapted a version of the tree of life. The rest I just sort of doodled until it worked. Nothing terribly original.

I am so proud though. As I did the sides I actually managed to get the design to carry around from the front to the back without looking like there is a seam.

If anyone is interested I can dig out the chart I used for the designs. The basic construction is pretty simple otherwise.




(pardon the lump on the shoulder...it's the grass, not the sweater)






11 comments:

Mary said...

Awesome sweater! Kudos!

Karen said...

Incredible sweater!! I was so impressed that you knit it - so I was really bowled over when you said you also DESIGNED it!!!

Anonymous said...

That cardigan has done a lot this weekend. It is beautiful! Great design, too!
Knit on!

chris said...

What a GORGEOUS sweater!! You are such an incredible designer, too. And whew! #2 needles (!), at that. I give you serious credit and kudos for that. It looks fantastic on you and I love the color. Awesome job! Take care! :-)

Bear Knits said...

Wow! That's an awesome sweater! Great design!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! It looks great.

Anonymous said...

Very nice! I swatched some of this cotton, and I was thinking about designing a sweater for it too... it's good to hear that someone else has used it. Sounds like you love it so far!!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful, lovely sweater! You're very talented. Knitting sweaters seems way beyond me, but I'd like to try one soon. I enjoy reading your blog.

Stacie said...

WOW! Never take it off! I am but a grasshopper to your mastery! Great photo too!

Acornbud said...

That is one beautiful sweater! #2 needles! No wonder it looks so great. It fits so perfect.

Bear Knits said...

You asked about Shine vs. Cotton Ease on my site. I knitted a sweater for my son in Cotton Ease and found it rough on the hands while knitting. Cotton Ease does soften after washing. Shine is a lot easier on the hands. I'll have to wait and see how it handles after washing.