So, a couple years ago I bought this great book of patterns, Rowan Classic Summer 11. I've never made anything out of it, but I really like all the classic, 50s-inspired styles. This spring, I've decided to knit a couple of my favorite sweaters from it – Julia and Tea Time.
This is the beginnings of Julia – I couldn't find the called-for Cashcotton 4-ply when I was in St. Louis visiting Annie, so I went with Elsbeth Lavold Hempathy instead. Plus, I figured the hemp/cotton blend would be really cool and comfortable in late spring and early fall. (It's a long sleeved sweater.)
I swatched… and got gauge on size 2s, rather than the size 3s called for in the pattern. Egads. An entire long sleeved sweater on size 2 needles?!?!? Oh well, is it really that different than size 3s anyway? I'm sure the sweater will look really nice at that small gauge. So away I go! (I started knitting this about three weeks ago… so it's pretty slow going.)
I've finally got the lace pattern down, thanks to my nifty KnitPicks chart keeper. (I took the row-by-row written instructions and charted them out.) I think there's a mistake in the 5th row of the lace pattern, but I'm not a lace expert so I wouldn't swear to it.
This is going to be a slow and steady process, without too much excitement along the way, but I'm going to try to post pictures fairly regularly to encourage myself to keep working on it.
I hope everyone had a happy Easter!
That blue is going to be really pretty on you!
I really want to make Julia. I have been staring at it for a while. I need to buy the pattern next so it totally sinks in. Can’t wait to see how yours turns out.
Don’t you love that chart keeper? I use it for everything now, including patterns without charts!
Wow its already looking great! Size 2′s sound daunting, but I bet the result will be worth it.
That Knitpicks chart keeper is a life saver, isn’t it?! I love that thing…and I agree that below a certain needle size, small is well, just plain small! I am longing for the days of when I did socks on 4s as now I seem to have acquired WAY too much koigu!
These is such a pretty pattern and I totally love blue. I know what you mean about having all these books and not knitting from them. I’m glad to see you knitting up this sweater, it really is pretty.
That is a beautiful sweater and color! Size 2′s though. Eeks!
I’m sure it will be beautiful.
Your top is going to be beautiful! The color is so nice. I just bought some Elsbeth Lavold Silky Tweed for a project – and I can’t wait to start using it.