Knitty Gritty Thoughts

Miss Jemima

Jemima Sweater by Amelia Raitte
Time to knit: 2 months actual (3 months it took me to sew it together!)
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK (7 balls)
Size: 34" medium
Needles: Size 7 Addi's and size 6 Addi's
New Techniques: The tubular cast-on was well, totally tubular! =)  Used the instructions here...
Buttons: Simple celtic design from Joann's

Miscellany:
Great pattern and great sweater.  The instructions were fool-proof which is great for someone like me because this is only my second sweater, and my first with sleeves that need to be set into the neckline.  The twisted rib detail at the neckline is an important design feature, I neglected it the first time and it was too large and I had to rip-rip-rip.  Important lesson learned, trust the designer!

I love this sweater, it will be a staple in my closet for sure. It's the perfect lazy morning slip this on with a pair of jeans and go have a nice coffee at the corner coffee house type of top.  The only modifications I made was to make the body and arms longer as you can tell from the picture I had trouble calculating how long the arms needed to be and overshot it a bit and on the other end I would like the body longer.  I tried reblocking but didn't get the full length out of it that I would have liked.  I'm really tall (6'2) so I do this with all my knits.  I also sewed the button closure shut at the neckline, there was a little difficulty stabilizing the crochet so the weight of the yarn didn't drag it apart.  It probably is because I had to lengthen it, and caused it to sag with the extra weight.
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P.S. Excuse the old mirror on the wall self-pics, if you check them out you can see my new 'do.  I'm not sure if I'm digging it yet, I haven't had bangs since the 8th grade and I keep pinning them back because I hate when they're in my face.  It's bringing back some pretty scary memories =) =)

P.P.S  spent all weekend blocking mitered squares.  I haven't decided yet if it's a great idea or I'm just anal enough to wash each one separately and block it out in case the colors would happen to bleed.  I ran out of yarn and had to order 4 more balls from webs.  As soon as they get here I can get a move on finishing this thing!

The Sweater

I've been working on this thing for m-o-n-t-h-s now and I finally figured out why it's taking so long.  It's cause I have stage fright you see, after investing so much time and energy into this I'm afraid I'll do a low-quality finishing job, or the buttons I pick won't be up to snuff.  For example, immediately after I took this picture I ripped out the collar, it just wasn't right for me, it was too 'boat-necky' and I felt like I should have been in flashdance, the way it kept falling off my shoulders.  Here's a modeling shot for those of you who weren't convinced. :)  The yarn, is gorgeous (Rowan Cashsoft in a lovely gray).  The pattern, Jemima, is pure magic (By Miss Amelia Raitte).  I was inspired by Turkey Feather's "Finish what you have" marathon that's going on and I signed up to finish a great deal of things but mostly this sweater.

The past weekend I didn't knit hardly a stitch (except start those opal socks) instead I focused on seaming and sewing and steaming (SSS) :) Hehe.  I even wove in the ends.  So, here it is today, all woven in, awaiting some lovely buttons I went on a mission for all over Savannah the past weekend.  Guess where I found them?  Walmart of all places, just where I had started in the first place.  I'm not convinced they're THE ONES, but they'll do right now.

Modeling shots coming soon, as soon as I get my hair colored on Thursday, can't stand photos with a little bit of roots and no-highlights.  *Sigh* I hate getting old, I used to be a natural blond, now I have to rely on a salon for it. :)