16 days, a knitter, the birth of a sweater!
I finished, it’s true. My sweet sweater is drying as we speak. Preliminary modelling sessions have deemed her a success, with reservations. The final ruling has been held for the post-block runway show.
Initial Parting shots:
1 - Fabulous yarn (details to follow) well suited for this project. Knit on size 8 needles with a pre-blocking gauge of 21 sts / 4 in and 25.2 rows / 4 in. I used ~1100 yards (this is a VERY rough estimate.)
The yarn is a single ply yarn from Habu Textiles in NYC. I believe it is called “a-80 wool”, is listed here on Habu’s website. It was ~$26 for 17 oz or approximately 1752 yards. Otherwise known as dirt cheap. I have Elisa to thank for this yarn. She and Kellee tackled the wall o’ yarn at Habu during our trip to NYC. I just glazed over and marvelled at the silk cocoons. Fortunately they found this fabulous deal.
A second note on this yarn: it is listed as a fingering weight. At first glance I might agree however, the swatch in the store was not knit on anything smaller than US6 needles. I swatched on US7’s and US8’s (a normal person’s US8 and US9)- both produced a lovely fabric with beautiful drape. Blocking created a denser fabric. Honestly, I cannot imagine knitting this on the recommended US1-3 needles.
2 - I need to continue to knit for myself AND knit items that fit. This is the first sweater that I have knit for myself. I love it. Not to mention the realization/confirmation that negative ease is the way to go. I will continue to experiment with this as I choose more sweaters to tackle.
3 - When modifying a pattern to fit my gauge and my body Excel is way more fun than the 80 million scraps of paper I normally use. The infamous spreadsheet was easy to do and created a nice diversion. Knowing how many stitches I had to go was motivating rather than crippling. I loved tweaking it and plan to polish it up a bit for future use.
4 - I need challenge and motivation - the Knitting Olympics fit the bill.
5 - I cannot blog and knit and work successfully. Unfortunately or Fortunately the blog is the first to go.
6 - Team Boston is filled with warm, friendly, and encouraging people. During our closing ceremony fashion show yesterday a knitter (Lucia) was tackling her first sweater. A baby sweater that she choose to conquer her fear of the sweater and the dreaded seaming that is inevitably a part of many sweater patterns. Upon voicing her phobia the room echoed with people encouraging her and offering lessons right then and there to help her along. Truly a fabulous team.
The sweater will be photographed after it has dried.
We’re busy here gearing up for a fun weekend in Vermont as I approach the official anniversary of my birth and the close of my 3rd decade on this Earth. T-minus 3 whole days to my 30th birthday.
Someone pass the tequila.
36 Responses to “16 days, a knitter, the birth of a sweater!”
Wendy, my love, I am SO FREAKING PROUD OF YOU! So proud. When we drove by DF on our way up to Peabody (yes - we had clams again) I waved to you and blew kisses. I love you.
27 Feb 2006 at 9:13 pm
Happy birthday and congratulations on completing your sweater! I can’t wait to see it on you. I just know you’re going to look like a million bucks.
27 Feb 2006 at 9:18 pm
Feliz cumpleaños, chica!! Can’t wait to see the post-blocked sweater. Team Boston was totally awesome — so much generosity and fun!
27 Feb 2006 at 9:27 pm
Kudos for finishing your first sweater for yourself! What a nice birthday gift….
The 30s are way better than the 20s. I’m sure you’ll enter them with grace and style
27 Feb 2006 at 9:42 pm
delurking to say CONGRATS!!!!
and
HIPPO BIRDIES EWE EWE!
Will you post a link to “The Spreadsheet”. I like spreadsheets, too.
Am looking forward to the pics!!
27 Feb 2006 at 10:22 pm
Ah, to be 30 again; hell, to be 40! Teehee. It’s not so bad, Wendy. And, anyway, who will be THE cutest homemade-pasta-making, headlamp-wearing, spreadsheet-wielding, 30-year-old knitter ever? Huh? And wearing a frickin’ new sweater to boot!
OMG, I was exactly the same way at Habu. It was completely overwhelming for a small town girl — at least on first go ’round; I’d definitely like to try it again, though. ; )
27 Feb 2006 at 11:23 pm
The sweater looks amazing, I can’t imagine the stiff ickiness that would result from tee-tiny needles. It’s perfect as is!
Many happy returns of the day. As a 40-something looking back on 30’s, I loved em. Each decade gets even better. Let the celebrations begin!
28 Feb 2006 at 6:01 am
yay the sweater is finished. congratulations!
and happy early birthday!!!
28 Feb 2006 at 6:25 am
Congratulations, both on the sweater (can’t wait to see it) and on the birthday. Celebrate long and hard. I found 30 tough - it was a real transition to me.
Can’t walk away from Habu without SOMETHING in your hand. The skeins in that back room scream for indulgence. Did you SEE the cashmeres??
28 Feb 2006 at 7:27 am
Hooray for the finished sweater. When we were driving home Dale remarked on your diligence of working on it - he was impressed! I think you should save the photo shoot for this weekend in Vermont. (I’m thinking Maria in the Sound of Music with the mountains as a backdrop) Happy Birthday, dear one.
28 Feb 2006 at 8:30 am
Congrats on your Olympic gold; the sweater looks nice from here. Also, what do you mean that your US8, 9 is a normal person’s US7, 8?
On a book-related note: don’t you just love Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Love in the Time of Cholera is one of my favorites.
28 Feb 2006 at 8:31 am
Happy Early Birthday! 30 was relatively easy to deal with. I had a harder time with 33 for some reason.
It was so nice to meet you Sunday, and I am sure the sweater will be even better than it looked Sunday (which, by the way, was gorgeous!)
28 Feb 2006 at 8:35 am
March is a great month for birthday’s. Looking forward to see your Olympic sweater with the gold medal!
28 Feb 2006 at 8:53 am
You can be 29 in your head for as long as you want. Ask me how I know.
The sweater looks awesome on you, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
28 Feb 2006 at 9:05 am
Can’t wait to see the sweater modeled!
Happy early birthday. Enjoy your get-away.
28 Feb 2006 at 9:13 am
Ooooh!
30th birthdays are the BEST, 30th years rock, and the Hourglass is (so far) one of the best sweaters ever….. How can you go wrong with such a great combination?
And I don’t care what Carole says, Sond of Music be damned - I want to see that sweater right this second.
28 Feb 2006 at 9:36 am
I can not wait to see this sweater, dude - I know it will be absolutely stunning on you. Congratulations on finishing! You rock!
28 Feb 2006 at 9:46 am
Happy Almost Birthday! Break 30 in for me, so that when I catch up in Dec, you’ll have greattips and tricks for me, okay?
Can’t wait to see the post-blocking sweater!
28 Feb 2006 at 12:43 pm
Can’t wait to see it all done! Happy Birthday!
28 Feb 2006 at 1:25 pm
Look at all of that wooly goodness! Can’t wait to see what it looks like dry
28 Feb 2006 at 8:09 pm
congrats on what sounds like a spectacular sweater, and thanks for the link to the yarn at Habu.
I hope you have a fabulous birthday! I am looking forward to thirty, but I reserve the right to change my mind when I’m 29. May your next 30 and 60 years be as great as the first 30!
28 Feb 2006 at 8:10 pm
Congrats on finishing, looking forward to seeing it modeled!
I would not have guessed from the early sleeve that it would get denser.
Happy Birthday!
28 Feb 2006 at 8:21 pm
Hey girl. Rumor has it it’s your birthday! Happy happy happy happy!
03 Mar 2006 at 12:57 pm
it’s a big ole rumor.
here’s a little song i made up for you… it’s sung to the tune of “happy birthday”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WENDY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!
have a wonderful birthday. we need to celebrate!
03 Mar 2006 at 1:20 pm
Happy Birthday! Enjoy the celebration!
03 Mar 2006 at 3:58 pm
Happy birthday, girl. You are the sweetest.
03 Mar 2006 at 6:04 pm
Happy Birthday, Wendy!
04 Mar 2006 at 12:33 am
Well happy birthday you lovely thing! Hope you enjoy(ed) Vt, we’re going up for our birthdays/anniversary in April
04 Mar 2006 at 12:03 pm
Happy Birthday, old lady!
The other day Liv said, “I don’t want you to turn 33!”
Uh ok, no problem there! When I told her the number was 43, her face fell. “Noooooooooo!” she cried.
Enjoy your wonderful weekend.
Kerstin
05 Mar 2006 at 6:09 am
Oh, it’s your birthday! Or was. Happy Birthday! And here I was thinking that the sweater was still not dry.
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