A Finished Sweater

Look, I do sometimes finish things.  And look at that happy boodle in her brand new sweater!

I confess that I didn't expect this sweater to come out so well.  I thought the raglan increases were a little hinky--expanding too fast and then stopping oddly with a pucker.  I put the flowers in as a bit of an afterthought (more of that auto-pilot stockinette knitting that gives me knee socks when I didn't mean to) and I thought they were too low.  But girlfriend inherited my long torso, and I think it works.   And blocking (wash and lay flat, shaped, to dry) took care of many things that made me nervous when I'd just finished knitting.  I heart top-down sweaters--the lack of finishing work is dreamy.

This started out as a sweater from Top Down for Toddlers, but I kind of abandoned the book once I got into the yoke.  The flowers, which are knitted fair isle (I considered intarsia for, oh, about 30 seconds), catching floats after about 5 stitches, which was necessary on probably half the rows.  I got the chart from Jessica Tromp's site, which, if you haven't been there, is an absolute treasure trove.  Great stuff.  The yarn is Colorado Vail, which was on closeout in enormous quantities at Webs last year.  Be warned, however, if you've stashed this stuff: it claims to be superwash, but I have a pair of felted aran sandal socks that beg to differ.  Perhaps the natural color is the only culprit.  But be careful.  I'm guessing maybe it was closed out because the superwash process didn't completely take.

Since, as a twin mom, I'm constantly trying to keep sibling rivalry at bay, I immediately cast on for a sweater for Henry.  I must say they have been surprisingly mellow about this whole one-sweater-at-a-time business.  Henry's will be a top-down v-neck.  I am using this ack-crylic blend yarn he picked out at the store--the colors are just too perfect for him, and heck, for the boy who really doesn't understand why something as interesting-feeling as applesauce shouldn't be eaten with ones hands, machine washability works for me.

 

This is what I did last night while--guess what?--watching TV, but I am going to rip it out--the gauge is way off.  I wasn't liking how it was knitting up as a single strand, so I doubled it.  It claims to be a worsted-weight, but even at 20sts/10cm, it's kind of flimsy.  And doubled, it will make quite a nice, thick fabric, but I'm undecided.  I'm worried it will be too thick.  I don't know.  Maybe I should go find him some green, you know, WOOL for a sweater.  But this has already been pronounced "nice," and I don't want to mess with that.  I think I'll just fix my pattern to reflect the doubled gauge (13sts/10cm--at least it will be quick!).  I can rip again if necessary.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the smiley, happy girl in the pink sweater.  And work on getting out the green paint that got on the front yesterday.  Because what higher honor could a kid sweater receive?

Comments

[Sneaksleep]

Eleanor looks great in her new sweater! Wonderful job! I must say I am also impressed with Henry's color choice.

[Carole]

She looks adorable!

[claudia]

All that adorability and a peek at your bathroom too.

;-)

[PumpkinMama]

Very nice sweater - she is so cute. Sad to hear I've got a ways to go before my 2.5yo outgrows the eating applesauce with fingers phase.

[Lisa]

Beautiful pink sweater. And I've learned, we have to let go of the knitted garments once the kids get ahold of them. As long as the garments are loved by their owner - what more can we ask for :)!

[Kat with a K]

Awww, so cute!

[S.Kate]

Eleanor's cutie face smile wearing her new sweater made *me* smile. Then those nagging little voices returned and urged me to trot off and clean my shower stall...

[The Feminist Mafia]

OH she is SO cute!! And the sweater looks great too. Well done Mama.

[Katy]

Cute sweater on a cutie-pie! And I love the colors in Henry's yarn. It doesn't matter if it's thick--this is New England after all, it'll probably snow in June. ;)

[Carrie]

I had to come back to your post three or four times today, because I could never get past those adorable rosy cheeks to read the bloomin' post. That sweater is adorable, that daughter is adorable, and I can't wait to see Henry's. Your son is a true epicure - food is not only for eating, but for experiencing with all the senses. Let's just hope he doesn't wonder what applesauce SOUNDS like.

[--Deb]

It looks great--I LOVE the flowers at the bottom (and the big smile at the top). Henry's color choice is wonderful, too, and there ARE times when ack-rylic (love that) isn't a horrible decision.

[Katie]

Very cute! And I am so impressed by this. I can't even crochet...

[Chris]

Oh, that smile says it all - utter child joy! Job well done. :)

[Lee Ann]

That is one snugglable kid you've got there, mama...

I have yet to do a top-down. Sweater, that is. :-)

[grumperina]

Oh my goodness, that is the most adorable sweater, and your daughter is such a cutie-pie!!! I hope she enjoys wearing it!

[julia fc]

And she's wearing it! Extra points.
My middle child is fondly known as Boodle-y Boo, at 13 still answers to Boo, and when this family engages in a no-foward-motion-activity-for-pleasure(like sorting buttons or alphabetizing the paperbacks), it's known as boodle-ing.

[Ruth]

Beautiful sweater, beautiful-er kid. The flowers are a perfect touch ... and she obviously loves it. Big score all around.

I've been eying that Jelly Beanz yarn for a while, and really like the way Henry's sweater is working up. Would a thinner sweater be such a bad thing at this time of year?

[Kate]

Love the flowers! And, as usual, your kiddos are just about the cutest damn things on the internets! Now, the Jelly Beanz... it's not that bad... I have knit with it.. on a US 5...that's how i got gauge. :)

[Carry]

What a sweet smile! And the sweater is wonderful too, what a lucky girl and a lucky mama! :)

[Kate]

Such cuteness!! Love the sweater too.

[racheld]

I've been lurking (and enjoying) for months but had to emerge to say how freakin' cute is she??!!! That smile says it all.

[christine collins]

awwww.....

SUCH a good mamacate!!

....wish ONE of my 5 DD's was 'into' pink...

oh well, will add my 2c that your DD is just beautiful.

oh, and boys color choice?? at least he didn't ask you top knit frogs or something into it!!

[Laurie]

That is a beautiful girl in a beautiful sweater. Such momlove knitted into that. Her smile understands that, I think.

*sigh* Henry and ack-rylic, what can you do. If he preapproved the yarn, it's going to be a tough sell to change it. I'm not sure about the exact age of reason, but he hasn't gotten there yet.