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Staghorn
Posted on | February 1, 2010 | 35 Comments
I have pictures!
We drove out to Cheaha State Park yesterday and I brought my sweater along in case the opportunity for pictures arose.
As we drove into the park, I noticed all this white stuff in the tops of the trees. My first thought was ‘who in the world toilet-papered these trees!’
IT WAS SNOW!!! I have definitely lived in the South too long – to not even recognize snow in the treetops!
With snow providing the perfect backdrop, I sent SB back to the car for my sweater and made him take a bazillion pictures.
I really, really love this sweater. I think it’s the finest thing I’ve made and the fact that it’s made from handspun makes it all the more special. And warm! I had a short-sleeved hiking shirt and a fleece pullover on before changing into the sweater and was warmer in the sweater! Wool beats synthetic every time.
The stats:
Yarn – Handspun polwarth, 3 ply, 1500 yards
Pattern – Staghorn from A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd. Unlike my February Sweater (the Amanda Jacket), I had absolutely no problems with this pattern. The cables are all based on four (cabling happens on the fourth row, or the eighth row, etc.), so it was very easy to keep track of where I was and what came next.
Inspiration – Tinks and Frogs lovely version here. I had not given this sweater a second look until I saw her finished pictures. As she says, the cabling gives this sweater a more fitted fit, instead of the square box that so many cabled patterns resemble.
Modifications – I didn’t make as many increases on the sleeves as the pattern specified, in an effort to avoid bulk and boxy. Since it’s basically a drop sleeve sweater with a saddle shoulder, making the sleeve a closer fit was easy to do.
Overall impression – I love this sweater! It is sooo soft, I mean, it’s Polwarth for heaven’s sake, and I love the subtle gradations of color in the natural brown/gray fiber. It was nice to finish 2009 with a knitting success!
Comments
35 Responses to “Staghorn”
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February 1st, 2010 @ 10:48 am
Absolutely lovely! What a nice job and from your own handspun too!
February 1st, 2010 @ 11:10 am
Looks gorgeous!
February 1st, 2010 @ 11:29 am
it’s gorgeous! I love the way the cables hug your waist in the back. all I could think was vaVOOM! lol
February 1st, 2010 @ 11:46 am
Woot! Look at you go! The sweater looks lovely on you, and I’m REALLY glad you got a chance to wear it.
Speaking of that, all my southern friends and family have far more snow than I have in Upstate NY. What’s up with that?
February 1st, 2010 @ 11:52 am
Gorgeous! Love it.
February 1st, 2010 @ 12:24 pm
It’s amazing! And so impressive to me that this started with fiber you spun up and then knit! Cool to see Rue’s was your inspiration…yours and hers are both beautiful pieces of knitwear!
February 1st, 2010 @ 12:52 pm
How nice to see a cabled sweater in its natural habitat – the snowy outdoors! Its gorgeous, and handspun… wow.
February 1st, 2010 @ 1:06 pm
Oh, I just love it!! Perfect color, perfect fit. Great job!
February 1st, 2010 @ 1:13 pm
It’s wonderful! Yay for handspun.
You are so going to win the Cross Country Cable! Hope to get my yarn this week so I can swatch and be ready for the 12th. Are you ready?
February 1st, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
Love it! You did a wonderful job!
February 1st, 2010 @ 4:38 pm
Oooooh….lovely! I want to knit like you when I grow up!
February 1st, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
The sweater looks great!
February 1st, 2010 @ 4:56 pm
Gorgeous! So gorgeous. Great stitch definition and it looks fantastic on you!
February 1st, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
I followed you back here from your kind comment at my “place”…what a spectacular sweater! What a perfect setting to showcase all its features!
I also took a quick peek at the cat blanket – another amazing accomplishment! I have to say I really like it without the eyes!
February 1st, 2010 @ 6:02 pm
Awesome! It looks fantastic! So does the snow!
heehee Your sweater is covered in hugs and kisses!
February 1st, 2010 @ 6:49 pm
Beautiful!
Oh, and the sweater is nice, too ;^)
February 1st, 2010 @ 7:26 pm
Wow, your sweater knocked my socks off! Awesome work!
February 1st, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
Beeeeuutiful sweater. Gee, I did not know there was snow so close to me.
February 1st, 2010 @ 9:22 pm
Gorgeous! I love it on you. Your timing was perfect, no?
February 1st, 2010 @ 11:41 pm
Stunningly gorgeous! You look fab in it!
February 2nd, 2010 @ 7:03 am
Totally and completely gorgeous! You did a fantastic job on it – and it looks great on you too!
February 2nd, 2010 @ 7:43 am
Stunning! Handspun FO’s are the best.
February 2nd, 2010 @ 7:44 am
That is GORGEOUS! Great color, great fit, great everything! I love how the middle panel of the front looks kind of like tic tac toe a bit – It’s awesome!
February 2nd, 2010 @ 7:56 am
Woohoo! The sweater looks amazing and the photo shoot is simply spectacular. Great choice of locations to show off this knock-out sweater.
February 2nd, 2010 @ 9:11 am
Beautiful handspun! Gorgeous knitting!
You have made a lovely sweater!
So glad that you sent SB back to the car for your sweater …he did a good job of documenting your work ;-)
February 2nd, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
Beautiful!!!!!!!! It looks so pretty with the snow in the background. Great pics!
February 2nd, 2010 @ 6:01 pm
Awesome! And I love that you were able to get snow pics! :-)
February 3rd, 2010 @ 10:57 am
That sweater is beautiful. congrats on spinning & knitting such a great piece!
February 4th, 2010 @ 11:46 am
WOW oh WOW…..that is one impressively beautimous sweater!!!!!!! I am so envious of your sweater skills!!
LUV it!!!!!!!!
February 4th, 2010 @ 3:28 pm
If I were there, I’d give you a big hug – I’m that excited about your sweater. Your HANDSPUN sweater. Yes, I’m a complete dork… but I’m happy in my dorkness. Oh, and the snow… welcome to my world, baby! Hee!
February 7th, 2010 @ 6:46 am
Love it! It’s stunning and suits you. :D I love the colour and I love the fact that it’s handspun.
February 7th, 2010 @ 8:18 pm
It’s fabulous, Elizabeth! I love that you used handspun for the sweater too.
Tell SB he took some great photos too.
February 9th, 2010 @ 9:38 am
Gorgeous!!
What a beautiful sweater. You did a fabulous job.
Fantastic backdrop for your new sweater too.
February 9th, 2010 @ 7:37 pm
Beautiful! And I love how your handspun looks. I’ve been spinning for a couple of years now and am just starting to spin for sweater project. You’ve definitely given me something to look forward to.
February 10th, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
I love it, Elizabeth! It looks great on you. And handspun!!! Wow!