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Just got lucky
Posted on | November 2, 2007 | 34 Comments
No, I’m not channeling Loverboy. Although I could. Cause the Kid is Hot Tonight!
Cinnamon doesn’t approve of my sweater.
I finished my SAFF Sweater!
You’d think with all the dyeing I do that I could manage to touch up my roots!
Sewed in the zipper before SAFF and got SB to take my FO shots last night!
It’s hard to say how happy I am that I actually finished something. I’m throwing humility out the window and being honest here – I am so proud of this sweater. I spun the wool. I knit the contrast hem a few times. I figured out shaping decreases and knit the yoke twice. I cut my knitting.
There are many lessons in the making of this sweater. The most important thing I learned is that I (and you) can do anything we set our minds to. This time last year, I didn’t even have a wheel.
I owe a huge thanks to Jen. If we hadn’t been moaning about Rhinebeck sweaters, I might never have made this. And I certainly wouldn’t have finished it so quickly! She’s had her sweater finished for ages. Thank you, Jen!
I also owe huge thanks to all of you. I don’t feel like *I* alone made this sweater. I’ve been encouraged by you and supported by you and accompanied by you the entire way. Thank you. Thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, and thank you for sharing this fiber adventure with me! You’re awesome.
Now the stats:
Pattern: Icelandic yoke sweater by Elizabeth Zimmerman.
Yarn: Everything but the gold is handspun. The brown and red are Border/Romney cross from a sheep living in Irondale, Alabama. The green is Wensleydale and the orange is mills ends that I dyed.
I started spinning the wool in August and started knitting the same month. I spun much more than I needed for the sweater! I have no idea what I’ll do with the leftovers.
Things I would do differently: I’d add EZ’s short rows to the back. When it’s zipped up all the way, it’s tight on my throat and I can’t stand that. I don’t imagine I’ll ever wear it zipped up all the way, though, so I’m fine with it.
What’ll I do now?
Comments
34 Responses to “Just got lucky”
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November 2nd, 2007 @ 9:48 am
It is FABULOUS! I’m such a slug…but you’ve inspired me. Make another! That’s what Hello Yarn does…over and over and over. You’ve only just begun!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Yay! It looks fabulous! Congratulations!!!!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 10:11 am
It’s gorgeous! Congrats :)
November 2nd, 2007 @ 10:33 am
You did it, you did it! What a beautiful sweater!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 10:49 am
What a knockout sweater! You are justifiably proud!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 10:54 am
You have every right to be proud!! It’s wonderful! And what could you possibly do as a follow-up? :)
November 2nd, 2007 @ 11:08 am
It’s fantastic! I love the colors and what a great fit.
I think you will like those short rows, both across the back, before you start the patterning, and at the back neck. They are so comfortable.
November 2nd, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Gorgeous! You could always use the leftovers for a matching hat, mitts, socks…a whole handspun ensemble!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Woohoo! Congratulations! I can’t wait to see the next Everest you’ll set your mind to climbing.
November 2nd, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Beautiful! I’d be parading around with my held held very high for a very long time if I had done that. Great job. It is so impressive to think of all the work you put into that and finished so quickly. I can’t wait to see what you decide to tackle next!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
the sweater came out great. nice job!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 1:29 pm
E, the sweater and *YOU* are both fabulous!
I’m with Margene — make another! STAT!
Congratulations — YOU DID IT!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
SO FANTASTIC!!!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Wow, it looks wonderful! What an accomplishment!
November 2nd, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
It looks great! Three cheers for you!
November 3rd, 2007 @ 12:35 am
The sweater looks great. Love the colors.
November 3rd, 2007 @ 8:43 am
What an accomplishment! I can’t believe that last year this time you didn’t even HAVE a wheel!! I love the sweater, the classic design, the colors, everything. Wear it with PRIDE!
November 3rd, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
Gorgeous! And what an heirloom – this sweater tells the story of your progress as a knitter/spinner.
I am awe-struck. You didn’t even have a wheel this time last year. Amazing.
No wonder you look like you’re glowing – you are!
November 3rd, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
I didn’t realize that you had progress from no wheel to such an accomplished spinner and dyer in less than a year — wow! You said it right, lady: we can do anything we set out to do.
November 4th, 2007 @ 9:03 am
It is beautiful!! What an amazing project, to have spun, dyed, planned and knitted it and you are just starting! Congrats.
November 4th, 2007 @ 9:18 am
Your sweater is absolutely gorgeous! I am so impressed and inspired with all that you did! And that you weren’t a spinner a year ago is most inspiring. I’m so glad Margene sent me over here!
November 4th, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Absolutely GORGEOUS!!! How amazing to spin the yarn and then create something so beautiful!!! I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy!!! LOL!!
November 4th, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Wow! The sweater is beautiful. I hope you had as much fun as I in N.C. This is my first trip and won’t be my last.
November 4th, 2007 @ 11:18 pm
Absolutely beautiful! Well done!
November 5th, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Your sweater is beautiful! I’m not quite adventurous enough to try a sweater.
November 5th, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Very impressive, and inspiring. I bought a wheel this past August, and still don’t know how to put the drive band on. But I will learn one of these days. You’ve inpsired me. Thanks for sharing!
Blue skies!
November 5th, 2007 @ 11:28 am
What an accomplishment – it looks beautiful! And thank you for sharing the journey.
November 5th, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
That sweater is gorgeous!! It looks great on you, too.
November 5th, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
The sweater turned out great – how wonderful to use your handspun yarn!
November 5th, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
I saw this a couple of days ago and didn’t have time to respond. First of all – can I just say FABULOUS? It’s really, really awesome! And secondly, I believe the next thing to do is to remember how when you and your sister were little, you used to dress alike. Yeah. And I’m thinking that might be a good tradition to begin again. Yeah. Definitely need a sweatah like that!
November 6th, 2007 @ 10:00 am
This is so funny!!! I was just at Ravelry and saw a picture of a beautiful finished sweater! I almost commented about how much I liked the sweater. Got distracted, received an email from Darlene about your batts. Came here and there YOU were in the sweater!!!!LOL So, I LOVE the sweater!! Thanks for stopping by the shop. Hope the batts spin up pretty!
November 7th, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Oh, your sweater came out perfect! I love, love, love the yoke and the color choices. What an awesome accomplishment, you should be so proud of yourself (I can tell you are so pleased in the pictures – what an amazing feeling!) A completely handmade sweater, spun & knit & steeked!!! And I can’t believe (of course I can!) how far you’ve come in just a year – how did I miss that? I assumed you’d been spinning forever :) Very inspiring, Elizabeth! Congratulations!!
November 8th, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Elizabeth, it’s absolutely beautiful! I feel exactly the same way, I’m very glad we challenged each other even if I was cursing about it here and there along the way. My plans for next year’s are already well in the works and at least this time I’ll have more time. [to waste, probably] I’m so bummed I didn’t even get to see it in person, but we should find a way to rectify that before the cold weather is gone.
January 28th, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
EB, it’s just Glorious!! GORGEOUS!! Margene was 1st on the comments and look…. you have inspired her. And she inspired me too.
And here I am searching the web for help and I had no idea you had even made this sweater – much less that you spun the yarn yourself!! I am in awe of your greatness!!
So I have Q’s about the hem! How did you do your hem? Are you satisfied with the results – would you do it differently now?
Love ya! Just beautiful. I bet you haven’t taken it off all winter. :) XOXOXOXOX