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April 23, 2007
What I've Actually Been Doing With My Time...
Instead of writing the papers I'm supposed to be writing or doing the spring cleaning that my apartment desperately needs, I've been knitting. Granted, one of these was necessary. I had a baby shower Sunday that required a cute girly item to be gifted. Hence, this Elizabeth Zimmermann baby sweater:
Design: Baby Sweater on Two Needles, in Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Knit Picks Elegance in Wild Rose
Needles: US 6s
Begun: April 19, 2007
Finished: April 22, 2007
I am starting to get the EZ mania. I wasn't sure what to expect, but her book was not it. She intersperses patterns with stories about the garment's creation and other notes. I love the hand written charts and the minimalist directions. So different from the splashy, graphic design oriented pattern books that are popular now. It strikes me as a throw back to a generation of women who all knew intrinsically how to knit and didn't need step by step directions. They just did as they went. I had a few 'what-the-crap' moments when reading ahead in the pattern, but as I got to that point in my knitting it all made so much sense. The construction is really nice, as the only seaming involved is up the sleeves. The sweater turned out better than I could have expected. The lace 'gull' pattern is just adorable. And let me tell you, that Knit Picks elegance is an unbelievable yarn. It is SO soft and the fiber makeup allows the stitches to just pop. Knit Picks hits another one out of the park. It was a huge hit at the shower and I got another round of, I can't believe you made this! I'm apparently taking on a knitting apprentice this summer too :)
I would highly recommend this piece to anyone needing a baby gift (and thanks to Karma for recommending it to me!) It knit up so fast, I did it in an evening and an afternoon. The skills involved include basic garter stitch, some basic lace, and the ability to decipher an EZ pattern. A + + +
And how cute are these buttons?
In addition to that, I've almost finished Cherry. I need to find some buttons and a ribbon to weave through the waist detailing. I tried it on to see how it was shaping up and I think this might be my favorite knit object I've even made for myself. It fits unbelievably well and has a certain shexy librarian quality that is adorable. I cannot wait until it's finished! Plus the Chicago weather is absolutely perfect right now for a cute, short sleeved cardi.
This mess of mohair is the making of a vest. I saw a mohair vest on some girl while I was in London over a button down shirt and thought it was so adorable, so I'm trying my hand at a re-creation of some sort. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm trying it at a large gauge with some cabling up the center. It could be really cute or a total disaster.
And lastly...I joined Li's Knitterly Letter Swap. I forgot to take a picture of the letter I sent (this picture is the one I received) out but I'm hoping she got it by now. She lives in Canada so who knows how long the post will take. It is so much fun to send and receive actual letters. Hand written on pretty stationary in long hand letters. When I was younger, I had so many pen pals. Girls I had never met who all shared a love of horseback riding were matched up through this magazine I got. I was obsessed with checking the mail every day to see who responded to my letters. Seeing someone's handwriting makes it so much more personal than email. You can also see how well they actually can spell!! I'm looking forward to getting a response from my letter and also to writing a response to my first pen pal. That is, when I actually get my final projects and papers finished for school. Wish me luck and focus!
09:45 Posted in 2007 Finished, Baby Gift, Cherry | Permalink | Comments (13) | Email this
Comments
ooh, very nice baby sweater! i love the color you picked.
your cherry cardi is lovely as well. you should model it! also, are anna bell's patterns easy to understand? i really like her designs.
Posted by: Dana | April 23, 2007
That looks like it was a fast knit! It came out beautifully.
Posted by: Macoco | April 23, 2007
The baby sweater is *so* beautiful, Sarah!
Posted by: caitlyn | April 23, 2007
This is spooky, I was just looking at Cherry, wondering if I should knit it. Yours looks fabulous. Very inspiring. Can't wait to see more...
Baby Cardi is DARLING, too! Your buttons...too cute!
Posted by: Kara | April 23, 2007
Sarah your letter to me arrived last week. Thank you so much for sending it.
I mailed a letter back to you this morning but the mail takes a bit longer in Canada.
I posted a picture of your letter on my blog today. I love the stamps you used.
Your Cherry cardi looks very pretty.
Posted by: Michele | April 23, 2007
My word, Sarah! You certainly have been a busy knitter. You know j'adore the baby knits and Cherry? Well, let's just call it perfect!
Posted by: Karen B. | April 23, 2007
All your knitting makes me want to get off bloglines and get some more knitting done. The baby sweater...so perfect. I think that pattern is my favorite I have seen for babies. All your other knitting...can't wait to see finished (especially Cherry!)
Good luck with school!
Posted by: Erin Hallstrom | April 23, 2007
Oh, sweet! I love the little rosebud buttons, too.
Posted by: Knittypants | April 24, 2007
That is the cutest little cardi! Now I want to make one too!
Posted by: Cheryl | April 24, 2007
What a lovely baby sweater - the rosebud buttons are too cute on it! :)
Posted by: Amy Artisan | April 24, 2007
That baby sweater is AWESOME! I love the color & the buttons.
OH & Cherry is looking fantastic. I need to knit one of those up!!
Posted by: Leahq | April 24, 2007
Yay, what a lucky baby! :) And Cherry looks fabulous lounging there, waiting to be finished and adored.
Posted by: Karma | April 29, 2007
Your Cherry looks really pretty. I finished mine couple weeks (in a very similar color) ago and I love it. Now if only the weather in Maine was favorable to cute cardis.
Posted by: Anna | April 29, 2007