Both the vacation and the sweater are finished. I’ll show some photos of the vacation later this week when I sort through them. I think there are some swell examples of knitting on vacation in the bunch.
In the meantime, here’s a photo or two of my latest finished project. This one has been a long time in the making. If it looks like I’m not particularly enjoying this photo shoot, it’s probably because I’m in a wool sweater on a nearly 70 degree day. It also took several tries to get the color right on the photos. It’s still a little washed out looking. The real color is more like the first photo below.
First, final seaming, with the aid of Knit Klips. If you haven’t tried these, get over there and buy some now. I’ve had these for awhile, but it’s the first time I’ve used them. They make sewing seams a breeze.
Project Specs:
Pattern: Laurel Hill, affectionately known as the Eggplant sweater around here. It’s from Jo Sharp Handknitting Collections, Book Number 1.
Yarn: Jo Sharp DK Wool, in a color remarkably close to eggplant skin. Not too remarkably, it’s called “aubergine”.
For: Me me me.
Started: Oh, brother. I had to go way back in the archives on this one. I started this in December 2005. You read that right, people, 2005. An explanation follows in the “what I learned from this one” section.
Finished: June, 2007, in Fairmont Hot Springs, BC, on vacation.
Needles: 3.5mm & 3.75mm circs.
What I Learned From This One: Look for pattern corrections before you start knitting. Jo Sharp pattern corrections can be found here. I started this damn thing a couple of times before I got it going. Sometime around late winter 2006, this one went into hibernation because I was sick of it. I pulled it out again this winter and finally finished the thing. I also learned that I don’t particularly like doing miles of seed stitch. I don’t mind seed stitch, exactly, it just gets boring after about 20 miles of it.
Modifications: I modified the collar a bit. The pattern comes in two versions, one cropped with a snugger fit and a short stand-up collar. The other is looser with a cowl-neck. I did the cropped version, mostly because I was a bit worried about my yarn quantity. I did the collar a bit bigger around than the standard short collar, but not as floppy as the cowl. Otherwise it’s pretty much as portrayed in the pattern book.
Verdict: I like this sweater. The yarn is absolutely wonderful, soft enough to wear against bare skin, and I’ll get a lot of wear out of it. I had my reservations about the dropped shoulder construction, but it looks better on me than I thought it would.
What’s next? I’m not exactly sure. I have 2 shawls and a pair of socks on the needles, but I like having a sweater going also. I’d planned on doing a sweater for John out of Peace Fleece, but I really don’t want to be working with heavy worsted wool as we go into summer. I’m planning on a little stash diving to see what I come up with. It’s not like I don’t have options in those Rubbermaid boxes. You guys will be the first to know!
Next time, vacation photos!
It looks fabulous on you! Hee hee – even though I know I should look for pattern corrections… I don’t always remember…
I love the color, it looks great on you! And the sweater itself is fabulous too!
I have Knit Klips but really haven’t had to use them for seaming yet! :o)
I LOVE eggplant purple! That and red are my favorite colors!
Your sweater came out really nice!
It looks gorgeous and fabulous on you. And . . . 2005? And I thought my Celtic Icon took a long time…. (grin)
Beautiful sweater, and it looks great on you. Jo Sharp DK is one of my favorite yarns.
The vacation must have been good; you look relaxed and happy. Or it’s the satisfaction of finishing the sweater. 🙂
Two shawls on the needles at the same time? Oh my!
The Eggplant Sweater is gorgeous. It turned out so beautiful. I know you’re glad to have the seed stitch over with… but I think it was worth it. That sweater is stunning.
Great sweater, great fit, great neck, lousy weather for the photo shoot!! I’m sure you will be very happy with the sweater come fall or air conditioning!!1
It’s gorgeous, Lorette. Congratulations on the finish! I’ve never heard of Knit Klips before — I’ll have to watch for them.
Very beautiful! It turned out so great. You’d never guess that it would look that good while it was in pieces.
Congrats on a well deserved finish.
I am sure your next project will be just as lovely.
🙂
Very pretty!! Purple is your color for sure.
The Eggplant Sweater looks great! And I soooo agree about seed stitch. I love the way it looks, but it’s boring to knit.
The sweater is lovely! You should come on up to Whidbey Island – it’s been cool enough to actually wear wool – and it’s almost July!!
Woo hoo! Way to knock out the UFO! It looks so fantastic on you!
Eggplant becomes you! Good job.
Beautiful! I’m with you on the seed stitch, but once you start, it’s gotta be a done deed. The color is really good on you.
Goregous color. It looks lovely on you. Glad to have it off your back and on your back? 😉
Well worth the wait and your diligence in working through the problems! I love the color and it looks wonderful on you.
🙂
I hardly ever remember to look for pattern corrections. Luckily it hasn’t really burned me yet.
Your sweater came out really nice. Fits you perfectly. It was well worth the wait for it!
Eggplant looks lovely–it was worth those miles of seed stitch. I’m not sure how I managed before Knit Klips. They are wonderful inventions.
Thanks for the Jo Sharp correction link. I’m planning a sweater from Knitting Bazaar, and I didn’t even think to look for them (something I’ve been known to regret in the past).
“Eggplant” is quite an apt name. DH had dubbed my entrelac sweater as my “Ex-Lax” sweater. I really didn’t care for that!
The sweater looks fantastic! Now I think you should knit the Tomato sweater, (pattern currently on the Knitting Daily site), so you could have the beginnings of wardrobe ratatouille …
Your sweater is gorgeous! Sometimes it’s the one that takes FOREVER to knit, that becomes a favorite (at least in my experience. This one looks like it was worth the perseverance !!
It’s a gorgeous sweater and I love the color on you.
You look beautiful! What a great sweater and it fits you beautifully. Very flattering. I also have various projects on the sticks but like to have a sweater going as well.
This is fantastic! Great color, great pattern. Mind if I link?
Love it! I have enjoyed reading your blog.
Love it! I have enjoyed reading your blog.
It’s really lovely and looks great on you Lorette!!
Aren’t Knit Klips wonderful? I love my but slap my head with a D’oh! moment – why didn’t I invent these simple but completely effective things?
Lorette- The color and style are perfect for you. Aren’t you glad it’s a FO?
I always end up with the heaviest wool project in the hottest summer. Crazy, huh?
YAY for completing a sweater that has been on the sticks for a while! Now there is hope or all of mine. Sometimes I am embarassed to bring them out of hiding because I think everyone will think, ‘Why the heck has it taken her SO LONG to finish this?’ Must be the obsessive-compulsive nature of female knitters. I wonder if male knitters are more focused on ONE project at a time????
I love the EGGPLANT color as it is one of my favorite colors. The sweater looks great on you! Great job!
You look beautiful.
This is my favourite Jo Sharp pattern and has been on my to-do list for 2 years! I should just start it, eh?
Oh my gosh — what a masterpiece. Jaw-droppingly frabjous. If I’d finished something that gorgeous I’d be afraid to wear it lest I slop salsa on it or a dog might claw some yarn loose.
Way to go. I’ve not been knitting for awhile but seeing your lovely FO might just stiffen my resolve to tackle two particular FOs I have sitting around reproaching me.
Well there goes your #’s of comments! Eggplant is done and beautiful! Great job!
Oh its lovely! and that is such a good color on you.
Fabulous! And you look so good in that color! A most excellent choice all around!
Fabulous! Awesome! Love the color!
Stunning! Looks very good on you.