Amelia's Yoked Sweater

I finally finished Amelia's sweater last night.  I've had a few setbacks with this one, but more from my own carelessness than any true failings of the pattern.  This is the seamless yoked sweater from Ann Budd's, The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.  On my first go at the sleeves, I did them one at a time on double points and was very dissatisfied to find ladders up and and the length of the arms.  So, I ripped them out and decided to do them simultaneously using the magic loop.  I was pleased that this seemed to solve the ladder issue.

If I could start over, I would also not bind off under the arms for the sleeves, but would have put those stitches on a holder so I could have grafted them in.  It would have made for a much more invisible and less bulky seam.  

Lastly, I finished the neck as per the pattern directions, only to find that the opening was too small for Amelia's head.  I'm not sure how this happened since I got gauge the whole way through.  I threaded some waste yarn at the top of the yoke, and cut off the ill-fitting neck and knit it again, decreasing only about half of the recommended stitches.  Success!  I am very pleased with the colors, and I think this will make a wonderfully warm and cozy sweater this winter when it gets chilly.  I'm thinking of those days when it hits 30 below with the wind chill!

Penelope's Butterfly

Penelope's sweater is finished!  I'm very pleased with how this turned out.  I took my time with the seaming, and I think it paid off.  I added a few personal touches this time.  I took the fair isle border from, "A Shetland Pattern Book," and the frilly border from, "Knitting on the Edge," by Nicky Epstein.  I also love the buttons.  I was able to find them at my LYS.  I can't wait to try this on my new little one!

A Finished Sweater

I finally finished Lolly's sweater, which she has been patiently waiting for.  I am very pleased with the finished results, and hope she will be as well.  I will say, this is going to be very warm to wear this winter.  I was sweating at times when I was knitting in August having this on my lap.  Susan Adkins, the owner of Susan's Yarn Garden and the pattern designer, has outdone herself with this pattern.  This was a super fun knit!

At Least I Learned Something (Sigh)

So, I had such hopes for my first seamless sweater. I dutifully followed all the instructions in "The Sweater Workshop," fully expecting that what would be the result would be the most beautiful baby sweater ever. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens in knitting, it was not to be.

I didn't take the time to consider the difference in proportions between a sweet little infant head and its adult counterpart. By the time I did realize that this might cause some problems, I was already deep into the raglan shaping. In frustration, I just decreased rapidly to leave enough stitches for the crew neck and get rid of the sleeve stitches. The finished results are not perfectly pleasing, unless Penelope will be playing football shortly after emerging from the womb. Despite these manipulations, I am seriously worried that the neck opening is too small. I haven't yet made up my mind what I'm going to do about it. I might take the time to try and rescue this sweater, or then again, I might just chalk it up to experience and move on.

Disappointment aside, I was very impressed by this book, and I am not in any way blaming Jacqueline Fee for my ineptitude. I am still planning on trying this method again, but I will be sure to take into account any special considerations for the intended recipient in the future.

At least someone appreciated this sweater! My toddler immediately snatched the sweater and yelled "mine!" when I tried to take it away. She loves putting it on her baby doll. I find this ironic as I have always thought the knitting of clothes for dolls to be somewhat silly. Funny how knitting humbles you isn't it?