Wednesday, October 08, 2008

A Dream Realized

Over a year and a half ago, I joined a knit along that was supposed to help motive me to knit my first sweater. Let me rephrase that, my first adult sized sweater. I've knit many a baby sweater but I had yet to try my hand at something that didn't take more than a couple of skeins of yarn to complete. I consider myself an equal mix of a process & finished product knitter. Although I love the act of knitting I also have a short attention span. I'll fall in love with a project but then quickly lose steam when I've been knitting on it for too long so finishing this sweater was a real challenge for me. You cannot understand how proud I am that I actually finished a wearable garment! If you've been following this blog for a while, then you would remember that I mentioned this sweater maybe once or twice. Lets take a quick trip down memory lane.

I wanted my first sweater project to be something very special. I also wanted it to be a challenge. Although, something very complex might have frustrated me to no end, miles of stockinette would have likely led to a similar fate. So I searched long and hard and found the perfect sweater pattern in the Vogue Knitting Ultimate Book. I liked the wrapped style of the sweater and the cables & slanted rib pattern would keep me very engaged without driving me to drink.
I started with so much enthusiasm but lost steam after completing the back piece.I think it took about 2 or 3 months to finish that piece so I was just imagining what a daunting task I had ahead of me. I took my Necia's advice and decided to knit a sleeve, then knit the left front, then knit the other sleeve and lastly the right front. It took about a year to complete this process because I would lose focus and abandon my poor project for a while. Then I would revisit the pieces in progress while going through the stash and rekindle my joy and try to dedicate myself to accomplishing my goal. This sweater requires 2 belts to be knit which resembles really skinny scarfs to me. Scarfs are not my favorite thign to knit so it took all my crafty powers to finish one.


My middle name should be procrastination because I swear I have it down to a science. Once I had all the pieces done, the hardest obstacle for me was getting them all seamed together. I knew I could do it but I would get so discouraged just thinking about how much seaming had to be done, and how much I disliked doing it. I also had this nagging feeling that I would do a horrible job seaming the thing and it would come out looking like some mishapen mass of wool. I feared that allmy hard work would be for nothing. SoI kept putting it of for later until one evening I just had to push myself to do it. I seamed the shoulders in one night using slip stitch crochet. In fact, I used that method throughout the whole sweater because its quick and easy. I think the sweater sat for another couple of months until the weather started to get a bit nippy and certain people finished like two sweaters in a week. So I pushed myself to finish this sweater and what an accomplishment it is! There's something to be said about feeling warm and cozy and knowing that you evoked that feeling with just some sticks and string. Now when people ask "Hey, did you make that?" I can say "Why yes, in fact I did!".
Started: January 23, 2007
Finished: October 7, 2008
Pattern: Oscar De La Renta Wrap Cardigan from Vogue Knitting, Ultimate Knitting Book
Yarn: Patons Decor in Sage Green, roughly 6 skeins
My Ravelry Link



This may start a trend. Maybe I'll finish that other sweater I started back in January (2008). I finished all the pieces in about a month but its been sitting in my WIP basket waiting to be seamed up (notice a pattern?). Hey, you never know.

33 comments:

Nettie said...

It's beautiful! I especially love the back. It's your little engine that could sweater! :D

Kamika said...

In green of course! Absolutely love it. Congratulations

HPNY KNITS said...

gorgeous!!!

Shameka said...

I am soooooo happy for you. And, this is coming from another procrastinator. It looks gorgeous, and the fit is great on you. OK, I have to go finish my sweater for Rhinebeck now, so can have that warm fuzzy feeling too.

Anonymous said...

Girl it is GAWJUS on you! Absolutely perfect! It's so flattering, and I know you are happy it's done! I love it! I love how I inspired Rosi, and she inspired you, and I have a sweater vest that only needs straps. Perhaps today will be the day I complete them. But, hurry up and finish the other sweater. I wanna see it!

Anonymous said...

DUDE! OMG, it's absolutely gorgeous!! I'm quite proud of you as I'm sure you are of yourself. I never knew that you hadn't knit an adult sweater before. You certainly had me fooled. LOL

You look GREAT in it. I also love the back. You seamed it perfectly. Now sew up that other sweater so you can wear it to Rhinebeck!

Christie said...

I saw this on your Rav page yesterday and am floored by how beautiful it is and how it fits perfectly. What a wonderful job you've done.

Vera said...

Fantastic job!

Jeanine said...

OH... Wow!!! You did such a great job. It's very flattering on you too.

Sheila said...

Awesome Garment... totally love it.

NikkiJ said...

Oooo I want that last coat, but the big wool is sooooo expensive I've been searching for other options.

Virtuous said...

Gurl add me to the list of changing my middle name to procrastinator! :o) Haha!

Gurl the sweater is AWESOME!! Great work!!

And I've been wanting to do that last sweater since it came out! Just can't afford that Big Rowan 1;op

Rebecca said...

i'm the same about seaming. but your sweater is gorgeous! i'm sure you'll wear it all winter long.

ann said...

it is gorgeous Chante!! you did a great job!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you finished it! It's gorgeous and fits you perfectly. Great job!

Sheila said...

Thanks for the lovely compliment on my sweater.

Susan said...

That is beautiful! Great job and perfect color choice.

m said...

really,really nice- your going to wear that oa lot, I bet.
It looks like all the good things:
comfy, flattering, soft and a lovely color. Well done!

Sherrin said...

Gosh Chante, truly lovely.

Unknown said...

really nice job! and it fits perfectly.

Lynette said...

great job on your sweater. it turned out wonderfully. anise is SO easy to knit. you'll be finished with it in no time.

Nik said...

you are my hero. i've always loved this sweater and wanted to make it. looks good on you.

Lyrically speaking said...

Hi Miss Purl,loving the latest pics you posted, send me some love and again congrats!!

Lyrically speaking said...

want to let you know that my first knitting lesson is tomorrow...my mom will be teaching me how to knit scarves and hats, can't wait!!

WandaWoman said...

Your sweater looks great! Enjoy it for RB.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful! You should be so proud of yourself. Congratulatons!

Becky Holmes said...

This sweater is STUNNING. I saw it over on Mason Dixon Knitting first, and had to come see it at your site. It is totally flattering and fabulous. Now I want one, but I am a little scared after reading your description of how long it took. CONGRATS!

Anonymous said...

Hey lady - check you out looking all swanky on the Mason-Dixon blog! I really can't believe I didn't see you and your sweater on Saturday, I feel like I must have blinked at the wrong moment.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! It looks great on you too!

Anonymous said...

congratulations! it's beautiful.

Carmell said...

wow that is gorgeous!!! i have a problem with seaming too... once i'm done knitting i expect whatever it is to be done. i don't want to have to put it together too!!!

Deborah said...

Girl, that is beyond gorgeous! The color is perfect too!

Knitting Ewe said...

Congrats!!!
You look amazing in your first adult sweater. I am at the finishing stage of mine - thanks for passing along the much needed MOJO!