Not Martha
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I’m knitting another sweater: The End! Sort of!

the sweater: Ribby Cardi
the yarn: Cotton Ease in Stone
the previous entries: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

I’m finally, finally finished.


I added an orange zipper so that the light gray wouldn’t be too boring. I think it works. When all zipped up you get only a peek of orange at the top and bottom of the zipper.

I added a glitter charm from Glamscience’s Etsy shop, I really like how the silver blends into the yarn and it’s just a bit or orange sparkle.

The above picture is also a good detail to show where I left live stitches and picked up stitches to join the collar, again it’s more comfortable. The sweater is fitted enough that I don’t think it will eventually pull down on the collar. Also, the high collar doesn’t feel like it’s choking me, yay.

I’m generally happy with it. All the time I spent on finishing the sweater makes it very wearable. Whereas the first one was too big and looks a little frumpy (though, so comfortable). This one is a size smaller and more fitted. I was being careful to not make the sleeves and body too long and I think being conservative here worked against me, I could use another inch of length in the hem, sleeves and collar. I made this one seamless, so I knit all the pieces of the body in one flat part, and the sleeves in the round, and only seamed the arms to the body. For a sweater without much ease, it definitely makes a difference in the sillouette. I think it looks better, and the arm movement is freer (it sort of makes me want to wave my arms around like a crazy person, actually). I like it, and plan on making sweater with as few seams as I can in the future.

update: After wearing it twice I’ve decided it’s just too short for me as it’s a good two inches above the hem of the type of shirt I wear most often. And I’d like the sleeves to be a wee bit longer and the collar to be a tiny bit higher. So I’m going to undo it and add length (again) before the yarn gets that broken in look and I cannot add any more. Clearly I’m a masochist. But I just know that if I don’t fix it this will be an unworn sweater, and I don’t need to add anything to the pile of shamefully unused objects. Perhaps once it’s actually finished I can nominate it for the Most Finished Sweater of the Year.

Maybe I’ll make the neck hole a bit deeper this time. I’m surprised to find that the higher neck doesn’t feel too tight despite the fact that it doesn’t have any room, but I could use a little more room in there. And I might shape the back of the neck just a little, it’s creating a slight bulge at the center back of the neck.

After going up a few needle sizes trying to get gauge for the Central Park Hoodie with the Berroco Comfort yarn I started wondering if this project would be better done with a larger yarn, and saving the Comfort to make Chicknit’s Twist. I have a couple of skeins of my favorite, favorite Inca Cotton and was doing a bit of research when I came across this entry at Crazy for Ewe about how yard for yard Inca Cotton is actually less expensive than Lion Brand Organic Cotton. I’m definitely going to be looking into making a yummy soft Inca Cotton sweater for myself. Maybe next.

Also, after trying out knitting Comfort on a few different types of plastic needles, including the nice and flexy Bruspun circulars, I’ve decided I’d rather go with some nice bamboo since the acrylic yarn, no matter how soft, still squeaks against plastic needles.

· comments [28] · 01-31-2008 · categories:knitting ·

28 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Deborah // Jan 31, 2008 at 9:21 am

    That’s beautiful. I love the orange.

    Cheers!

    d

  • 2 Kristi // Jan 31, 2008 at 9:48 am

    It looks great, I love the bright orange zipper. It provides great contrast.

  • 3 megan // Jan 31, 2008 at 10:37 am

    Thanks!

  • 4 Jennie // Jan 31, 2008 at 10:38 am

    Love the orange with the grey!

  • 5 Elizabeth // Jan 31, 2008 at 10:42 am

    I also love the orange zipper and the glitter charm. And I think you’re a brave woman for undoing it and starting over. But I know exactly what you’re talking about – when the length of something is off and it never feels right, I just don’t ever wear it.

  • 6 Rebecca // Jan 31, 2008 at 11:16 am

    So beautiful! You do great work!

  • 7 Laurie // Jan 31, 2008 at 11:43 am

    I LOVE the way the orange zipper pops from the gray sweater when it’s unzipped!!!

  • 8 Melissa // Jan 31, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    That turned out fantastic Megan! The Central Park Hoodie is a fun knit. Can’t wait to see yours.

  • 9 Dava // Jan 31, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    As a beginning knitter (all I know up to this point is “cast on”, “knit”, and “cast off”), all I can say is….WOW! That is just beautiful!

  • 10 megan // Jan 31, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    Dava – Once you learn to increase and decrease you’ll know everything you need to make this sweater. I recommend it as a first sweater, easy and satisfying. You can buy the pattern (about $6) at Chicknits.

  • 11 melissa // Jan 31, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    it’s fantastic!
    the orange zipper is such a great detail!

  • 12 Emy // Jan 31, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    I’m not particularly surprised about how Lion Brand is more expensive than some other brands. I noticed a long time ago that in many cases, their put-ups are less than their competitors – LB will have a 40 gram ball, same yarn by someone else will be 50 grams. Ten grams might not seem like a lot, but if you’re talking sweater quantities, that 20% cut in ball size can add up. :P

  • 13 Lynn in Tucson // Jan 31, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    The orange looks most awesome! Good for you for having the fortitude to fix the sweater. I’m sure you’ll be much happier with it.

  • 14 Carolyn J. // Jan 31, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    Heaven help me, I’m saying NO!!!1!! In my mind as I’m reading about how you’re going to rip out this finished sweater. I mean, I know it needs to be done, but…I feel your pain.

  • 15 Elizabeth // Jan 31, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    How much do I love that orange zipper? So, so much.

    I respect your resolve enormously to rip out and re-do… I’m not sure I’d have that resolve, but you’ll be a lot happier if it’s the right length.

  • 16 Ellen // Feb 1, 2008 at 12:56 am

    I love surprises, and the orange zip, with the orange charm, is such a pretty, pretty surprise. Who would have thought that underneath that gray is an eye-popping orange sunburst?

  • 17 Ellen // Feb 1, 2008 at 1:41 am

    very nice. I knit, or rather used to and now after reading your post I feel like taking it up again.

  • 18 Dava // Feb 1, 2008 at 5:20 am

    Thanks for the link, megan…I have it bookmarked for use when my skills improve a bit. :-)

  • 19 megan // Feb 1, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Thanks everybody! The sweater is already ripped back and is currently existing as a rectangle and two tubes. I’m trying to get it back together as quickly as I can so that I don’t run out of steam.

  • 20 Lisa // Feb 1, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    WHere did you find the awesome zipper?? I can never find good zippers in my area. :(

  • 21 megan // Feb 1, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    Lisa – I ordered it from zipperstop.com, they carry a large variety of YKK zippers. This one is a two-way separating zipper that I cut to size (see entry #12 for the details).

  • 22 Kimberly // Feb 3, 2008 at 7:25 am

    I’m knitting this right now in olive green and chocolate wool. I love the silver and orange. Looks great!!

  • 23 Vicki // Feb 3, 2008 at 10:40 am

    Love this sweater, I think the color combo really makes it “pop” good job. Kudos on the zipper!
    Vicki

  • 24 d // Feb 3, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    I covet this sweater. So pretty.

  • 25 gaile // Feb 4, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    do you have enough room for your shoulders? mine, and so many others’ i’ve seen, pulled the raglan seam way above where it seems it should sit, and it’s languished and will be ripped out and reknit into something more suitable. just wondering if you had that issue?

  • 26 Shannon // Feb 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Egads, I love that zipper! Seriously. And I generally don’t put zippers into sweaters because I don’t like how they look, but I think I may have to reconsider that…

  • 27 candy coated rose petals » beaten by a cardigan // Aug 11, 2010 at 7:46 pm

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  • 28 Everett Bonds // Mar 11, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    That’s a cute sweater. But, no pockets? Super-easy pattern, tho. I put a row of cable up the front edge along with a double cable fronting the pockets. Of course, I use the normally knitted 3 inches of K2-P2 at the hem, as well. I make mine with button-holes, but a zipper is a good alternative. I use wood buttons and all our friends love them. warm regards, ev & alice.

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