Wednesday, August 27, 2008

August Rain and a February Sweater

Alternate Title: Look Ma! No Seams!

We're finally getting some much needed rain. Not a lot. But a calm, steady sprinkle. The air is cool, the windows are open, and the kids are at art camp for the morning. Ah. I'm happy with the quiet, the garden is happy with the rain. Now, on to the baby sweater ...


Pattern: February Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman (Knitter's Almanac)
Yarn: Socks That Rock, medium weight superwash merino, Jade (the color is closer to the above photo)
Needles: US 3s


I began this project during the Olympic swimming week. I finished in about 5 days and discovered that although I had altered the numbers due to gauge and cast on more than it called for, I had failed to alter the numbers for where to place the sleeves. This was a big mistake (damn that Michael Phelps). I never noticed until I had cast off (damn him and his intoxicating racing).

I rushed to TYL to see Brilliant Melanie, could anything be done to save it? I already knew the answer, and she could see that I just couldn't stand tearing it out. She sent me next door with the kids as she ripped and rewound for me. Aren't knitting friends the best?

I reknit it in EZ's numbers since my gauge really wasn't off that much and now, she is a thing of beauty.

Modifications: I am so over seams. I know that I'll have to deal with them again, but anytime that I can avoid them, I will. Even though this sweater doesn't have many seams, I knit the sleeves in the round to avoid sewing them up. No seams, none, nada, zippo, zilch.


Also, I slipped the first stitch of each row to create a nicer edging. I toyed with the idea of crocheting a little picot edge, but decided that the plain edging was simple and beautiful. The exquisite buttons are, my favorites, from Danforth Pewter via TYL.

The next few projects will also be baby things, since my friends and family evidently just can't keep their pants on. Will you people please stop procreating and let me knit myself a sweater?

11 comments:

Kim Ye-jun said...

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Anonymous said...

I love your blog, its really nice : )
I am new to blogging.
Infact my first post was today :o
I wonderd if you wanted to swap links? x

Carol said...

Lovely, lovely sweater!

Bridget said...

What a pretty sweater - and a great color for any baby!

I'm going to have to try some EZ patterns, since seams and I are not really good friends either ...

Christie said...

So beautiful! The color is lovely!

Anonymous said...

I gave up seams about 2 years ago and have not looked back.

pretty sweater, ann! and the color is suitable for every baby.

hope you get to knit something for yourself soon...

Madge said...

Sweet, sweet sweater. A lovely way to use up some lovely yarn, too.

And, uh that last paragraph? Hilarious.

Liz K. said...

Guess what my next post is going to be about? The same freakin' sweater!!! Tee hee!

Anonymous said...

I love this sweater, especially in green! Lovely lovely lovely!

Mo said...

Yum ... nice work Ann!

Robin said...

Love the sweater! Melanie is the BEST!!! Always calm in the face of knitting disasters.