Mystery Complete
This project was started on impulse (how else?) last summer. It stalled for a while waiting for extra yarn(which miraculously matched the former dye lot precisely despite a year's interval and the renaming of that line of yarn). It then sat for over a month after the knitting was complete, waiting for the perfect buttons to arrive (and I would like to say that Camilla Valley Farm was lovely to deal with, but they were on holidays when I finally made up my mind, and being an inexpensive order, it was sent by the cheapest mail option, which Canada Post took its own sweet time delivering.) But it was all worth the wait.
I love the end result, and this will join my(happily) growing list of FO's that actually qualify as Attractive Clothing I Will Wear In Public.
Pattern: my own - an experiment in garter stitch, modular construction, short row shaping, and incorporating handpainted yarn into a sweater that fit my fashion esthetic. This is the FO that really dispelled any lingering doubts I had about garter stitch being tacky or unrefined. (Though I was definitely inspired by designers like Jared Flood, Hanne Falkenberg, and of course, Elizabeth Zimmerman.) Honestly though, I would never have dreamed that garter stitch in bulky weight wool would move and drape like this. The key, I think, is the very dense gauge, which makes a fabric with a refined surface appearance and well behaved elasticity in all directions.
Yarn: KnitPicks Sierra (now Cadena) in Tide. The handpainted yarn is Fleece Artist Big Blue. The cardigan was knit on 5mm (US8) needles to a gauge of 4.5 stitches and 9 rows to the inch.
That is a beautiful sweater! I love the detail of the sleeves and buttons as well as the color. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by:Rose | 05/02/2008 at 02:26 PM
Very pretty! I'm always impressed when I find someone doing something interesting and refined with multicolored yarn, and this is no exception. It looks like a flattering style for someone who is tall (which it seems that you are?).
Posted by:Ruth | 05/02/2008 at 02:27 PM
Unbelievably beautiful! I am in love. I normally steer clear of handpainted yarns (except for socks), but this...this is divine. I think I may need to start crunching numbers...
Posted by:Leyna | 05/02/2008 at 02:34 PM
That looks wonderful! I like the way you used color for shaping.
Posted by:naomi | 05/02/2008 at 02:54 PM
Ruth, this is amazing! It looks so flattering on you! :0) Are you thinking of writing up the pattern?
Posted by:Charity | 05/02/2008 at 03:24 PM
That looks just fantastic--everything about it. The color, the fit, the shape . . . It's gorgeous!
Posted by:--Deb | 05/02/2008 at 03:37 PM
I remember this one and how struck I was by the colors when I first saw you post about it - What a satisfying conclusion! I particularly love the construction, so interesting and flattering - It's lovely, congratulations!!
Posted by:mel | 05/02/2008 at 04:17 PM
Oh, I love it so much! It's beautiful! Any chance of you posting a pattern so we can all imitate your gorgeous sweater?
Posted by:Kim | 05/02/2008 at 04:33 PM
Gorgeous sweater, but, my dear, I think you could probably wear a burlap bag and make it look fantastic!!!! Yeah, green eyed jealous here!!!!!!! (but honestly -job well done- you should try selling this as a pattern!)
Posted by:Deb | 05/02/2008 at 04:33 PM
Please make this pattern available. the sweater is beautiful and unique.
Posted by:vivien | 05/02/2008 at 04:55 PM
It looks great. Every time you posted photos of bits of it, I've liked it, particularly for the colours. Now I see the final result.
Posted by:Gillian | 05/02/2008 at 05:19 PM
So beautiful, with impressive forebears.
The pattern ... now that would be a treat for us mere mortals.
Posted by:Luise | 05/02/2008 at 05:55 PM
The new sweater looks fabulous! I like the insertion of the hand-dyed yarn - very nice!
Posted by:Robin | 05/02/2008 at 06:30 PM
Beautiful job! It looks great on you-- very flattering. The construction also looks like it would be a sweater that's interesting to knit.
Posted by:Kristy | 05/02/2008 at 07:56 PM
Stunning...now when can I buy the pattern?!
Posted by:Cathy | 05/02/2008 at 10:06 PM
It's so beautiful, and you look great in it!
I do hope you'll share the pattern with us ;)
Posted by:Hege | 06/02/2008 at 02:05 AM
Really a lovely piece. I especially like the use of the garter stitch having, too, sometimes found it to be less than attractive in some finished garments. I also really like your use of the handpainted yarn on the body.
Oh, and a huge thanks for mentioning Camilla Valley Farm. I'm looking for some buttons for the Brompton Cardigan on which I'm working, and I think I may have found the perfect ones there!
Posted by:Lyss | 06/02/2008 at 05:35 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by:Tammy Ewen | 06/02/2008 at 05:37 AM
I love when I sweater turns out to be one that you're actually going to wear. I have a few that are finished and I just know I won't wear them. Yours turned out fantastic and it looks great!
Posted by:Erin | 06/02/2008 at 05:51 AM
Great lines! And an inventive use of those beautiful but difficult to wear handpainted yarns.
Posted by:Linda | 06/02/2008 at 06:16 AM
What a clever and flattering pattern! It looks fantastic and seems to be a fun one to knit, too. Any chance you'll write it up?
Posted by:ann | 06/02/2008 at 06:39 AM
What a beautiful sweater! You are very right that the garter stitch is very 'sophisticated'. Perhaps you will write up the pattern?
Posted by:Em | 06/02/2008 at 07:33 AM
Just wanted to chime in with the chorus - it looks great - write it up, please! I need something to do with all these little skeins of handspun!
Posted by:elizabeth | 06/02/2008 at 08:14 AM
You did a wonderful job on that sweater! It looks great on you, and the design is a marvel. I'm not a garter stitch fan either, so it's nice to see it done well.
I'll be curious to see how that yoke wears over time.
Posted by:LaurieM | 06/02/2008 at 09:40 AM
Very beautiful, indeed! Oh, and so's the sweater.
Posted by:Priscilla | 06/02/2008 at 10:31 AM