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A birthday sweater!
Posted on | December 5, 2007 | 31 Comments
Yup, it’s my birthday!
And I’m wearing my sweater!
Believe me, you did not want to see the expression on my face! It was even worse than this:
Here are some detail shots:
Button I got at SAFF. I hadn’t planned on using this button (1 of 3 I bought), but our brand new Super WalMart, right down the road from me, that made me consider ending my personal boycott of WalMart in order to support “local” business DOES NOT HAVE A FABRIC DEPT. They also didn’t have fresh basil. The boycott continues.
Extra-long sleeves. I didn’t intend for them to be that way and I didn’t heed the warnings of others. I’m flipping them up, which looks fine and accents the little bit of handspun I used on the edges.
Obligatory mirror shot.
Stats:
Pattern: Notre Dame de Grace Pullover by Veronik Avery in Summer 2007 IK, size 42.
Needle: US 8. This is one size up from the pattern specs, but it’s what I got gauge with and it made the sweater a bit airy, which is good for Alabama’s mild winters.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, charcoal, EXACTLY six skeins. I was biting my nails there at the last, making deals with the yarn gods so I wouldn’t run out. As it was, I seamed with another black yarn and used the last eight inches of LP to sew on the button.
Time to knit: 20 days. Seriously.
Modifications: I followed JRS‘s instructions on Ravelry for the waist shaping, EXCEPT that after decreasing, I only knit 16 rows before beginning the increases. Unfortunately, my waist isn’t as long as hers! This made the sweater about an inch longer than the pattern calls for, which is perfect for me.
Things I would do differently: I’d use a smoother yarn. Cascade 220 would be a good yarn for this project. LP’s mohair content isn’t all that noticeable in the skein and it didn’t bother me while knitting, but I’ve had the sweater on for about two hours now and I’m glad I’m wearing a tank underneath. It’s a bit itchy. Not to mention the fuzz factor.
Overall impression: I really like this sweater! Partly because it was such a quick knit, but I also see it as a wardrobe staple, particularly since I wear a lot of black.
Comments
31 Responses to “A birthday sweater!”
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December 5th, 2007 @ 9:43 am
Happy Belated Birthday! And the sweater looks terrific and the button really isn’t too big!
December 5th, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Also, that cake looks fabulous! What kind is it?
December 5th, 2007 @ 9:54 am
Happy birthday, my sweet!
December 5th, 2007 @ 9:59 am
Happy Birthday! Woohoo! The birthday sweater looks great…love the button!
December 5th, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Happy birthday! What a great cake – does it taste as good as it looks?
Wonderful sweater, too – you’ll appreciate the longer sleeves on those few really cold days, and in the meantime the cuff is cute too!
(BTW, Walmart is the source of all evil.)
December 5th, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Happy Birthday! The sweater looks wonderful and that cake looks heavenly.
December 5th, 2007 @ 11:21 am
THIS is why I love the internets! Your sweater looks so much more like something I’d knit than does the one in the pattern photo. Maybe it’s the color, or the mohair (which would make me itch, too). It just looks more wearable.
Enjoy your day!
December 5th, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Happy, happy Birthday Elizabeth!!! :) What a YUMMY looking cake!
And what a nice birthday present to yourself. I love this pattern – just the right combo of comfy and classic – and I love the little finishing touches you put on it – that button, and the handspun trim – what a great idea!! It suits you very well :)
December 5th, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Happy birthday! The sweater looks so warm and cozy, and my that is a fancy cake : )
December 5th, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
The sweater is gorgeous – and so are you! Happy Birthday!!! What cake did you get, looks yummy?
December 5th, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
Happy Birthday! The sweater looks fantastic!
December 5th, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
Happy Birthday!!!! The sweater looks great!!!! Oooo look at that purdy cake. I bet it tasted as good as it looks.
December 5th, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Happy Birthday! Lovely sweater!
December 5th, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Happy Birthday! What a way to celebrate — gorgeous cake, and a gorgeous sweater!
December 5th, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Happy Birthday, Girl! Ummmm . . . when you lead with a photo of cake that looks THAT good and yummy, everything else gets second billing! HA! I love the sweater though . . . it’s amazing! I too love the finishing touches.
December 5th, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Happy Birthday! Yay!
The sweater is gorgeous!
December 5th, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
So um…Do you think that cake would ship well? It looks SO good! Almost as good as the sweater, I must say. Wow! The sweater looks very chic…In fact, you may want to check your closet before I leave the next time I visit.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!!!
December 5th, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Happy Day!
Yummy Cake!
Lovely -cozy looking sweater!
great button too!
December 5th, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you! Happy Birthday toooo you! Happy Birthdayyyyyy, Happy Birthdaaaaayyyyy!!!! Haaapppy Birthdaaaayyyyyyy to YOU!!!!! What a wonderful looking cake!
BTW, I have a niece on the way that may have the same birthday if she makes it here before midnight :)
December 5th, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
OOOH! I forgot to say… the sweater looks great! What a fast knitter :)
December 5th, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Happy birthday! The sweater is kick-ass!
December 6th, 2007 @ 7:02 am
Beautiful sweater! I love the neckline/collar with the button. And Happy Birthday!! I hope it was a good one.
December 6th, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Happy Birthday. I like your version better than the published picture.
December 6th, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Happy Birthday!!! I love your sweater. Was the pattern complicated? I only ask because I knit a shockingly boring looking pattern of hers and almost hung myself in the closet with a length of woven wool tape trying to follow the pattern and have been terrified to try another of her designs. She’s got an exceptional eye for flattering knitwear, though, so I want to hear that her patterns have gotten easy.
BTW, thank you for the monkey bread recipe. We’re having some tonight! Much cake and champagne and the showering of fiber gifts all around.
December 6th, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
happy birthday to you! funky how the sweater appears brown and then blue. haven’t tried any of the color-shifting yarn yet! lol! hope you had a great day, btw, what kind of cake was that?! it looks yummy.
December 6th, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Happy Belated Birthday! I’m so sorry I missed it – I’ve been out of commission with a flu bug I picked up in Atlanta last week. We must have a celebratory cocktail soon. And what a beautiful job on the sweater! I especially love the collar and button.
December 7th, 2007 @ 5:51 am
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, Elizabeth! Beautiful cake and I love the sweater, even though I’m Michigan State fan that lives in Alabama.
December 7th, 2007 @ 6:42 am
Awesome sweater Elizabeth! Can’t believe you knit that in 20 days!!! Happy belated birthday………..the cake looks delish.
December 7th, 2007 @ 8:02 am
Well, happy belated birthday! I must have been coughing that day, and missed it. Love the cake, and the the sweater looks really good. It takes me years to knit sweaters. all those pesky socks in the meantime.
December 7th, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Love the sweater. I want to make this one too- maybe after I finish the other hundred projects I have going!
December 10th, 2007 @ 7:41 am
A little late but Happy Birthday! The cake looks so yummy too.
Great job on the sweater and I know you will wear it all the time.