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October 12, 2005
This is a Public Apology
to Vicki. I promise, the sheets and towels will be clean. The rest of the house, not so much. I started the bathrooms this morning and got rid of the mold (TILEX is the BOMB!) and used some goofy powder stuff that foams up in the toilets. But the floors? NO. The counters? NO. The kitchen? NO. Vaccuuming? NO. BUT....
IS FINISHED!
And when I say finished, I mean FINISHED!
Ends woven in and everything!
Georgie was kind enough to take pictures of me in my nice shiny new cardie (which he proclaimed was so perfect it was scary - tried to tell me he didn't think I knit it - but I was like YOU WATCHED ME KNIT IT!) but before we get to that, let's have the details.
Yarn: Manos. I think the colorway is called FLAME. It's #115. I used US #7/8 Addis (7s for the ribbing and buttonbands.) Nine skeins. I actually bought two more because I was afraid that I was going to run out, but I didn't. So now I have two skeins to return.
Pattern: I started out with the Peace Fleece Everyday Cardigan pattern but quickly learned it has a lot of things wrong with it (I LOVE knitbloggers!) So I switched to the modified drop shoulder in Ann Budd's book. Did lots of calulations on my own (I HATE math!) since my gauge was about 4.5 stitches to the inch. I fudged the size somewhere between 40" and 44". I don't know how it all worked out, but the fit is PERFECT. It's nice and baggy which I wanted, but not too big at all. It fits fine buttoned up (no pulling across my boobs.) The shoulders are dropped, but not too dropped. The length is great in both the body and the arms. If I had to recreate this I don't know if I could. And I worried the whole time it wouldn't fit.
Lots of firsts for me with this sweater:
- I used the spit join method for incorporating new skeins, which was nice, although occasionally I wished I had a mint or something before hand. And it still seemed like I had a ton of ends. Go figure.
- I knit the back and fronts in the round and then split for the arms and shoulders. I will DEFINITELY do this again - in fact, I'll be doing it with my Guilt-A-Long Dad sweater if I ever get it charted. I like seaming though, so it's not that, but still.
- I did a modified 3-needle bind off that Margene was so kind to share with me. I love my shoulder seams and will forever do it this way. I didn't get to do short-row shoulder shaping, but I intend to very soon. No more stair-steps for me!
- I did my first button holes! I used Nancie Wiseman's revised one row buttonhole and I think it looks fantastic. She has you cast on an extra three stitches instead of one extra when casting back on. When you do the next row, you do a k2tog (or p2tog) and ssk (or ssp) with the extra stitches at both ends of the buttonhole. It tightened things up very nicely - I could tell since the first three times I did the button hole band I DIDN'T do it this way. Highly recommend it!
I think that's about it for the new stuff. A very, very satisfying project. It took me less than a month to do. Maybe 2.5 weeks? I have to go back and look. I got EXACTLY what I wanted. And I used STASH! Half the yarn for this sweater was bought in NJ and the other half in Boston almost a year ago. Yeah for clearing out some stash!
Here's the photo shoot - I let G use the GOOD camera and I think we were both a bit nervous. We were both getting into it towards the end (he liked the fast shutter) and he has a new appreciation for my work, since I had the flash and bracket on the camera and that sucker is HEAVY! Enjoy the pictures!
Love the perspective of this picture - my bookcases look so tall!
They do go to the ceiling, but my ceilings aren't that high.
G likes this picture the best.
Probably because my ass is facing the camera.
My boobs are NOT that saggy!
I mean, they're not passing any pencil tests, but still!
My attempt at Whack Dancing!
I look like a stoned nerd.
There you have it folks! Look for it at Rhinebeck. I don't care if it's ninety freakin' degrees. I'll have it on!
Posted by Cara at October 12, 2005 12:17 AM
Topics: Almost Everyday
Comments
Yay! I love it! This is going to be one of those cardis you reach for often and feel so at home in every time you wear it. You look fabulous. :)
Posted by: Karma at October 12, 2005 01:49 AM
Looks AWESOME! I love it! Go, you! :-)
Posted by: Lee Ann at October 12, 2005 06:45 AM
Yeah, I don't think that you're going to have to worry about 90 degrees THIS weekend.
Congratulations on the sweater!
Posted by: Colleen at October 12, 2005 07:11 AM
That is so AWESOME!!! It looks beautiful and you look great in it. You cranked it out too. Fantastic!!!!!
Posted by: Kathy at October 12, 2005 07:23 AM
Perfecto! It is SO pretty, C! It will be a great cardi for Rhinebeck. :)
Posted by: Lolly at October 12, 2005 07:27 AM
Since I started reading your blog about a month ago this is the first project I've seen you start and finish!! It's Fanfuckingtastic! Congrats! You truly knit excellent work! I'm a huge fan :-)
Posted by: margaux at October 12, 2005 07:57 AM
Terrific Cara. I wish I were seeing it in person at Rhinebeck. I love Georgie's favorite pic too.
Posted by: Kathleen at October 12, 2005 08:13 AM
Oh my goodness, woman, EVERYONE knows that the sweater comes first! Housework be damned. (I'll be leaving my white gloves at home!) Yay, you did it! It looks FABULOUS!! My favorite is the pic that G likes best, too. You look so happy and the color is just wonderful. Woohoo for you.
Posted by: Vicki at October 12, 2005 08:15 AM
I love the color, love the pattern, love the pictures of you! It's wonderful!
Posted by: Cheryl at October 12, 2005 08:32 AM
It looks great! Perfect fit, perfect color, perfect style. Congrats!
Posted by: Annie at October 12, 2005 08:34 AM
Love it! I especially love all of the happy pictures! :)
Posted by: Liz at October 12, 2005 09:08 AM
What a gorgeous sweater - love it! The color is stunning on you - great work.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at October 12, 2005 09:18 AM
OK, you look a bit ecstatic in that last picture. Go George!
Love the sweater and especially the square buttons for some reason. xoox Kay Who Is Not Taking the Pencil Test
Posted by: Kay at October 12, 2005 09:19 AM
Oh, well done. Great color for you and you look so happy wearing it. You're going to livi in it this winter.....
Posted by: Juno at October 12, 2005 09:37 AM
BRAVOOOOO!!!
Posted by: Bookish Wendy at October 12, 2005 09:54 AM
Nice job, love the color, love the photo shoot!
Posted by: Carole at October 12, 2005 10:20 AM
It's simply beautiful. I can't wait to see it (and give it a hug) in person. Well, you too.
What a lovely space with the big bookshelves. I grew up in an apartment full of books and I love how it looks (not to mention the opportunity to browse in your own house).
See you this weekend!
Posted by: mamacate at October 12, 2005 10:38 AM
Gorgeous!!! And the Tender Buttons people were right: those buttons are fantastic. Hope to see it soon.
Posted by: Lauren at October 12, 2005 10:38 AM
Wow, that sweater looks great, I love the color!
I'll be at Rhinebeck too, see you at the meetup!!
Posted by: Amber at October 12, 2005 10:42 AM
The sweater looks absolutely wonderful, I can't wait to see it! But, really, I'm drooling over your bookcases....
Posted by: --Deb at October 12, 2005 10:44 AM
I was in a Wiseman workshop last weekend and she had us do that buttonhole technique. In fact, she'd used it for the sweater she was wearing. She said the only thing it's NOT good for is a sweater that will get rough useage, such as by a child. That method of buttonhole works well but isn't the most sturdy and thus won't work well if you're doing a child's sweater, which you aren't. Looks great! Chelle
Posted by: Chelle at October 12, 2005 11:10 AM
Oh my God, that pencil test may be the scariest thing I've seen in days.
I'll be there at the Meetup! See you there.
Posted by: Anne at October 12, 2005 11:29 AM
It looks great; so comfortable that you'd want to curl up in it forever. Enjoy showing it off at Rhinebeck.
Posted by: anmiryam at October 12, 2005 11:40 AM
Woohoo! It...you, all of it...fanfuckintastic!!!
Posted by: margene at October 12, 2005 12:52 PM
That is a beautiful, fantastic sweater. I was trying to get an everyday sweater knitted for Rhinebeck, too, but got distracted. I haven't officially given up yet, but it isn't looking good.
Congratulations on a job very well done!
Posted by: Ruth at October 12, 2005 01:05 PM
it turned out great! i'm glad you managed to conquer buttonholes - nancy wiseman to the rescue again! i want a sweater like that now ...
Posted by: anne at October 12, 2005 01:09 PM
Wow! Looks fantastic! What a wonderful job, and you learned so much doing it.
Posted by: Leanne at October 12, 2005 02:23 PM
It looks FABULOUS, Cara!! Can't wait to see you this weekend. :)
Posted by: Carrie at October 12, 2005 03:06 PM
That looks great on you. And you look so gosh darn happy in it.
Posted by: claudia at October 12, 2005 03:29 PM
I was just about to use that pattern for a sweater I'm re-knitting for my mom (she started it and now I'm going to go back and fix it.) I have the Ann Bud book and may use that pattern instead. I'm mathmatically challenged, so we'll see how it goes...
Posted by: Jen at October 12, 2005 04:41 PM
LOVE IT! Turned out beautiful, Cara. You look so happy wearing it, too. :) Wish I were going with to Rhinebeck, you would be a lovely sight wandering the barns in your purty red Manos. Have a fabulous time...
Posted by: Jen at October 12, 2005 04:43 PM
That is gorgeous! And great buttons. Who needs clean floors? - a finished sweater ALWAYS takes priority. Said the fellow knitter - just don't ask my mom that question - you'd get a different answer.
Posted by: Beth at October 12, 2005 04:55 PM
LOVELY!!! Its wonderful!
Posted by: melissa at October 12, 2005 05:12 PM
Love the sweater... and I think you will need it with the weather we have been getting lately! I am going to be in Rhinebeck on Saturday and hope to meet up with everybody!
Posted by: Adelle at October 12, 2005 07:12 PM
Before I had my surgery, I could not only fail the pencil test (with flying colors), but I could hold an entire deck of playing cards under one breast and wander around the house for hours doing whatever, without losing a single one.
A friend once told me that, should the need arise, I could probably hide a small handgun under one of my grrls.
Alas, no more. I don't even fail the pencil test anymore. My boobs look exactly the same way they did when I was nine.
Posted by: Sara* at October 12, 2005 08:01 PM
if we all had boob lifts then where would we keep our pencils? if we put them (and I'm still talking about the pencils) behind our ears then we'd look like nerds.
Posted by: ann at October 12, 2005 08:06 PM
Beautiful sweater! I love all the pictures.
Hope you have a great time at Rhinebeck!
Posted by: eyeleen at October 12, 2005 11:05 PM
beautiful! i am so bummed that i won't see it in person. you work so fast and so well!
Posted by: mrspilkington at October 12, 2005 11:22 PM
You just can't go WRONG with red! Fabulous, Cara. (and Margene said "fanfuckintastic"!!!)
Posted by: Norma at October 12, 2005 11:33 PM
I love it. That red is gorgeous!! It looks good on you, too. How's that hand?? Now you can give it a break for a bit. Those are fun pictures of you, too. Thanks Georgie. I wish I could go to Rhinebeck. I'l be with you in spirit and waiting patiently for a report.
Posted by: kimberly at October 13, 2005 12:45 AM
That looks wonderful! That color is gorgeous on you!
Posted by: Lorette at October 13, 2005 02:15 AM
FAN..TASTIC! great color and you look fabulous in it.
Posted by: froggy at October 13, 2005 02:46 AM
Hey Cara - the e.d. cardi looks great! Sign me up for the Rhinebeck meetup. (better late than never, eh?)
Posted by: melanie at October 13, 2005 08:23 AM
Red is good on you. Thanks for the buttonhole tip, it sounds like a keeper.
Have a great time at Rhinebeck. I'm looking forward to the pictures afterwards.
Posted by: B. at October 13, 2005 12:19 PM
Really nice cardigan.
Posted by: trek at October 13, 2005 05:04 PM
Great cardi! That really is a terrific pattern and beautiful colors. See you (and the cardi) at Rhinebeck! :)
Posted by: alison at October 14, 2005 10:10 AM
It looks great! Good job of bossing your knit. And the photoshoot - fabulous. My only complaint is that I cannot read the titles in your library. (And that would be very fun.)
xox,
Posted by: Julia at October 14, 2005 04:48 PM
Fanfuckingtastic! (Can I say that here?)
Always the last one to the party, always trailing behind . . .
Way to work it, not jerk it!
Posted by: MDK Ann at October 14, 2005 07:58 PM
Cara it's just beautiful. Yay for learning new techniques! Georgie's photos are gorgeous too, the second one is particularly cute.
Posted by: Jo at October 14, 2005 08:05 PM