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January 10, 2007
Finally...Lucky!
Design: Lucky Clover Cardigan from Snb Nation
Yarn: Rowan 4ply cotton in Bloom
Gauge: Exactly what the pattern called for on exactly the right needles! Score!
Begun: I can't even remember...sometime in 2004 I think.
Finished: January 1, 2007. It's a new years' baby.
I am ecstatic to have finished this. Ecstatic I tell you! Much along the lines of everyone else who has posted about this sweater, it has taken forever. I am not sure whether this is because of the tiny yarn and tiny needles or if it is just a heart breaking sweater. There are miles and miles of neckband. A wrap sweater is never short work either. Combine that with 'lace' (or really pseudo lace) and trying to match a slanted neck band with a slanted lace pattern and mayhem ensues! (see notes below for more on this nonsense)
Notes on the Clove:
- Overall, I really like this sweater. There were some hang ups throughout, but the fit is really great and the color I picked out is really awesome. One of my especially favorite parts of this knit was the tubular cast on I used throughout.
Isn't it pretty? - That being said, now begins the nit-picking. I added about an inch to the bottom of each front and the back. That ended up being fine as it's a wrap sweater and you have to wear a shirt underneath anyhow. But the sleeves ought to have been at least 2 inches longer! I blocked the sleeves about 1 inch longer than directed to begin with. After seaming they were way too short (they looked like 3/4 sleeves) and so I reblocked just the sleeves to add another couple of inches. Still too short for my liking. They look pretty good in the picture but they ride up a lot. Word to the wise, knit longer sleeves for this pattern.
- The rowan 4 ply cotton is fabulous to work with. No knots, no funny pieces, no fluffy bits that weren't fully spun. It did bleed quite a bit though. The water in my sink was bright pink after the 20 minute soak I gave each piece before blocking. It must have it out of its system though because it didn't mark up the white tank I wore under it for a whole day this past weekend.
- Wearability is a major plus with this knit. It fits so well and hides awkward buldges in the bod. If not for the sleeve issue, I would be totally comfortable wearing this sweater for long periods of time and not worry about it at all.
- Ah, the neckband. Here was yet another issue with length. I knit the specified length. It was perfect. After blocking the ribbing was just gorgeous. Not a stray knit stitch in sight. But oh no. It was about 5 inches too short after seaming. How does this happen??!! So I tore out my cast off edge, added more inches, reblocked that piece, re-seamed and moved on. Sort of. I'm still a little bit bitter but luckily (or smartly) for me I started on the side that shows. So the wonky addition to the neckband stays hidden, nestling with the love handle. A small note, and something that's not included in the pattern, is that my ribbed edges are not terribly pretty. Since a neckband is a noticeable piece of a garment, I made an amendment. For every side stitch that would not be seamed and was a knit stitch, I slipped. That same stitch got purled on the flip side so was carried up and made a beautiful side. If you've never attempted this before, that might not be the best description and something that would be better served with some photos. None of which I have to show.
- The pieces are shaped differently than any other sweater I've done before. The tops of the sleeves form part of the neckline and so the front pieces come to a nice little point. The points did not want to lay quietly or really be seamed at all for that matter. It must have been something I did but the seaming of this took quite a bit of finagling. Also, I had read that quite a number of people had issues with seaming this sweater. Mine actually came out perfectly the first time after taking note of what knitters like Winnie did. It does make sense after thinking about how to picking up stitches for a neckband or seaming a round piece. I used mattress stitch on the whole whole sweater for nice even seams, and here was no exception. I sewed into 2 stitches on the neckline for every 1 stitch on the neckband. And just like magic, a nice v-neck appeared!
- I remember reading that a few people knit the neckband extra long so that it would wrap around the back of the sweater for a more fitted look. I have to admit being slightly baffled by the fact that the neckband just ended at the left front edge. It makes more sense to me for a wrap sweater to have bands that weave through, wrap around the back, and tie at the side. But this works too, sort of. My problem is that the front piece which wraps underneath often pokes out the bottom. I think a small tie to the inside seam will fix that problem nicely. But it's still a problem with the construction.
- Ok, final issue, I promise. This was more with my knitting skillz than the pattern. See exhibit A below. Notice how nicely the clover hole pattern sits to the edge of the front. So close, so nice. No gapes.
Notice then, exhibit B. Giant gapes. But no where to put a clover. Strange. No comprendo.
Verdict:: Despite the issues, this is really a winner. I love this sweater. I wore it all day Sunday and got so many compliments. It does take a lot of patience but in the end I would recommend it.
20:50 Posted in 2007 Finished, Lucky Clove | Permalink | Comments (24) | Email this
Comments
Oh, you are GOOD! I never did finish my Lucky. It looks so cute on you! Maybe someday I'll get back to mine, too??
Posted by: Karma | January 10, 2007
Lucky is *SO* beautiful on you, Sarah! The color is amazing. Kudos to you for sticking through the challenges!! I would have given up on a 2004 project long ago. Congrats!!
Posted by: caitlyn | January 10, 2007
The sweater looks wonderful Sarah! What a great way to start off the new year! :)
Posted by: Amy Artisan | January 10, 2007
Wow! It is gorgeous, and the color is lovely. I can't imagaine the patience that goes into making it, though, that is what I think is most amazing!
Posted by: Areli | January 10, 2007
The sweater looks amazing. Love the color and the fit. Seriously, it looks great on you. Great job!
Posted by: Erin | January 11, 2007
No one said it, so here goes: you are a Lucky (and talented) lady indeed!
Good on you for seeing it through the rough patches. It looks terrific on you.
Posted by: Karen B. | January 11, 2007
Lucky you! It's beautiful!
Posted by: michaele | January 11, 2007
That color looks fabulous on you and what a great fit! It's amazing that you stuck with it to the very end (and are a talented enough knitter to figure it all out!) =)
Posted by: keri | January 11, 2007
that sweater is a great fit on you! it looks beautiful!
Posted by: amy | January 11, 2007
wow, you finished! it looks great. i was just looking at the pieces of mine the other day, and i'm thinking about finishing it up. we'll see! i agree with a lot of your thoughts about the pattern...but i also agree that the final design is a great style. you're off to a great knitting start of 2007!
Posted by: Dana | January 11, 2007
Lucky looks lovely. (Love the alliteration...)
The sleeves look great. I think they looks stylish at that length. Basically, you're rocking that sweater. Nicely done!
Posted by: Kara | January 11, 2007
Wow. That is FABULOUS. It looks great on you! Congrats on finishing it!
Posted by: earthchick | January 11, 2007
Hi! I found you via Goodkarma's blog. Your Lucky is gorgeous! Thank you so much for taking the time to let us in on your mods and things to beware of! It's on my to do list and I too will need to make it a bit longer!
Enjoy it, looks great on you! :)
Posted by: Zonda | January 11, 2007
Woo Hoo! Congratulations on finishing Lucky Clove. It looks great and I love the color.
Posted by: Brenda | January 12, 2007
wow, gorgeous! great work on finishing this sweater!! I knit it too, and definitely know just how much work it requires.
Posted by: Diana | January 12, 2007
Great job getting this finished - it looks great on you! The color, the fit, everything. I'm sure it helped you build your knitting skills as well. Your perserverence paid off!
Posted by: Jenna | January 12, 2007
That looks so good. I also started this a long time ago, but I don't think I'll be going back to it any time soon.
Posted by: Gina | January 14, 2007
i love, love your sweater. so pretty and it looks fantastic on you!
Posted by: amanda | January 14, 2007
Hi! I came over from Karma's, and I'm SO impressed with your Lucky sweater. The colour, fit, and photos are beautiful, and your knitting is just lovely. Brava!
Posted by: alison | January 14, 2007
Girl, that looks amazing. SO great. I am so much more impressed because I started that silly KAL and did not even finish this sweater! I frogged it long ago...
Yours is amazing and fits you brilliantly ;)
Posted by: Lolly | January 16, 2007
it looks amazing! i'm always so excited when i see another finished one on the net.
and just to give you the designers perspective on the wrap/tie issue. i did the ribbon tie on the inside #1 to reduce the bulk and #2 so you didn't have to knit another 20-30" of the neck band to wrap around the back. trust me, i may have been the designer, but i still had to knit that mile long, never ending band too! :)
Posted by: melissa | January 16, 2007
Oh my gosh! This is absolutely and totally beautiful! Actually this is one of the most gorgeous cardis that I've seen for a long, long time! You knit it up so beautifully - what a great pattern this is, and the yarn you were using seems to be so perfect! The fit is fantastic too - you look awesome in it!
Congratulations on a great accomplishment!
Posted by: Dipsy D. | January 17, 2007
That is just the cutest thing ever on you!
Posted by: Tami | January 18, 2007
Wow, that is a great color for you! Way to go on finishing a 2004 knit...way to stick with and finish up a great knit!
Posted by: BAM | January 20, 2007