« Long overdue update | Main | FO: Frenchy Bag »
October 24, 2007
FO: Ice Storm Sweater
At long last... after all the build-up.... here it is!
the long awaited Ice Storm Sweater. I want to thank Kate for taking the pictures for me. She's an awesome photographer. All of my fabulous backdrops were conveniently located behind One City Market, the yarn shop in Rogersville, MO, where Tammy, Kate, and I went to knit & shop last Saturday.
Project Details:
Pattern: Incredible, Custom-fit Raglan Sweater, by Pamela Costello
Yarn: Queensland Collection, Kathamandu DK Tweed, Color 417, 8 skeins (recycled from the Cutaway sweater, originally finished in March 2006 and worn once, I think)
Needle Size: Size 6 Denise circular needles, various lengths
Pattern Modifications: This pattern leaves a lot of the decisions up to the knitter. However, it does give you enough information to make the sweater you want.
This is a top-down raglan knit in the round, and I followed the pattern pretty closely down to the armholes. I added some waist shaping and made the sweater a little longer than most. I also did most of the arm shaping above the elbow, so the bottom half of the sleeve has a slight bell shape.
All the finishing details of the sweater are left up to the knitter's imagination. I originally did the neck and hems with a simple reverse stockinette edge that rolled back and made a nice rounded edge. However, the bottom hem was still rolling up quite a bit, so I ripped back and knitted a turned hem in a contrast color of the same yarn. I used a three-needle bind-off to close up the folded-under hems, which I think is worth the fiddly-ness of getting the sleeve stitches on another needle from the back side. (I "unvented" this method of binding off knitted hems, although I'm sure I'm not the first.)
Time to knit: January 2007 - October 2007. Ahem... it's not like this is a really complicated sweataer or anything. I knit the whole body of it in January (mostly during the ice storm that knocked power out at my house for TEN days!), then I didn't pick it up again until this fall.
Final impressions: I love this sweater. Now that the weather has gotten cool, I wear it almost everyday. I haven't turned the heat on in my house yet, so I always pull on a sweater and some warm socks while I'm getting ready in the morning. It fits like a sweatshirt without the annoying elastic at the hem.
I also really like the fact that this pattern is simply enough to show off the pretty yarn. I will definitely use this pattern again if I'm looking for a basic raglan.
Posted by zarah at October 24, 2007 6:25 AM
Comments
Gorgeous sweater - I downloaded the pattern and am putting it in the que for projects - next time I'm coming back rich and thin instead of smart and beautiful!!! Ha! Ha! That way I'll have plenty of time to knit and all the $ I want to spend on yarn. Congrats on the new job too.
Posted by: Anne at October 24, 2007 7:13 AM
Great sweater and great photos, too! (Hmmm, flashbacks to senior pictures?) Saturday was a blast - we need to plan another once you're back from vacation!
Posted by: Tammy at October 24, 2007 7:27 AM
Good work on reclamation and reknitting in something very nice!
Posted by: margene at October 24, 2007 8:58 AM
Great work on the sweater. It's fabulous!!
Posted by: Kate at October 24, 2007 1:43 PM
That is one great sweater! It looks like it's really comfy... the perfect sweater to through on during our cold MO days. It looks great on you... the shaping of the sleeves was a great idea.
Posted by: kelly at October 24, 2007 3:30 PM
how awesome is that sweater? I am totally impressed. And your short hair looks great too!!
Posted by: africankelli ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.beautyschooldropout.net/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 24, 2007 3:58 PM
Beautiful work, I especially like the contrasting hem. You're the only one likely to see it, but I like little surprises like that. Great photos as well.
Posted by: Macoco at October 25, 2007 9:22 AM
That seriously looks like the perfect sweater! Amazing yarns and perfect fit. I would wear that every day too. Beautiful work, Z ;)
Posted by: Lolly at October 25, 2007 9:24 AM
You look great in that sweater! the pictures trully are fantastic!
Posted by: lomester at October 25, 2007 2:56 PM
Wonderful sweater! I love the contrasting inside hems--what a great touch. I love the tweedy yarn too.
Posted by: Lauren at October 26, 2007 7:01 PM
It's gorgeous!
Posted by: Jennifer at October 26, 2007 9:09 PM
Truly beautiful sweater! The shape is fabulous, and you look lovely in it! (Wonderful pictures too)
Posted by: amanda cathleen at October 26, 2007 9:39 PM
what a gorgeous colour!! I love it, it looks awesome :)
Posted by: tatjana at October 28, 2007 6:09 AM
The sweater is beautiful and you look so cute in it! Great job!
Posted by: Brianne at October 28, 2007 7:11 PM
Post a comment
