Sunday, April 15, 2007

Central Park Hoodie (Heather)

Or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Cable

I did sew the last button on this baby at 10 AM on Easter Sunday, finishing it just in time to wear to church (my determination was perhaps fueled by the fact that I had packed no other appropriate outfit) and so I did have my new sweater for that day. Even a bonnet, if you count the hood.

None of my pictures are that helpful for people who want details on the sweater, but really it looks pretty darn exact to the pictures in Knitscene (yay!) but if anyone has questions or want to see a particular part, just let me know.



We may have gotten a little artsy accidentally. Yesterday afternoon we walked up and down Yonge St. and generally had a good time. It was almost dusk when we got off the subway, so we had a short window of time to take a few pictures.


(could I look goofier? must be spring fumes)

One of the things I love most about this sweater is the colour. It is so super-saturated that I am sure I will have to wash it separately all its life, but it is completely worth it. Look at how it pops out from the gray of spring! When I walk down the street in it (and trust me, I throw it on whenever I am leaving the apartment) I feel like I couldn't stand out more from the dreary sidewalks and naked hedges if I were wearing a fluorescent orange vest. Now, my goal is not usually to stand out, but for this sweater I will make a happy exception.

It was a great pattern to knit, some errata, but nothing that I couldn't have figured out on my own. A very fast knit, despite the hood. (note: there is a LOT more knitting in a hood than you think there is. It is the area equivalent to about 2/3 of the back!) The cables are easy-peasy without a cable needle, and with the nice elasticy wool they spring into place and really pop.



So: the details!

Central Park Hoodie
Started: March 12, 2007
Finished: April 8, 2007
Pattern: Knitscene, Fall 2006, from Rosemary!
Needles: This loose knitter used a 3.5mm Addi for everything but the ribbing.
Yarn: Ram Wools Selkirk in Red (120) 4.5 skeins (248m each)

Modifications: I extended the main body (the cable repeats) of the sweater in length. I wanted a size small for snugness, but I am long-waisted and this extension makes the sweater much more wearable than it would have been on me.

I also extended the button bands to 2" instead of 1.5". I don't know if I would do this again, the edges of the button bands flip up a bit, but I haven't actually blocked them yet, so we shall see.

I wet blocked all the main pieces, and it really really improved the wool. This is a rough under-processed wool with lots of vegetable matter in it, but with a fairly even ply. The label says it gets softer with each wash, and I have had no problem with it against my skin so far.

This is a warm snug sweater, and I have been wearing it as a jacket over a tank top in our April weather of 5 degrees. It might be chilly, but the snow is gone and the plants are starting to wake up again!



I have started my next Spring Surge Sweater and am beavering away on my store project. Pictures (yay!) to come.

7 comments:

Adriana said...

The sweater is incredible! Great job with the pictures. The red really pops against the grey background.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the photos. Your CPH looks fantastic.

aija said...

Your sweater looks great! I love the color choice :)

Unknown said...

i can't get over that colour--it's fantastic! it makes the cables look extra luscious. if you ever want pink undergarments just toss that baby in with your dainties on wash day!

Anonymous said...

Wow, the sweater looks amazing! Fun photography, too. If you're going to model something you've worked so hard on, you may as well really get into it, right?

Congrats on a fantastic FO!

Anonymous said...

it looks great! congrats for getting it done on time!

DeBD said...

Just found your blog and playing catch-up. I saw "Ram Wools Selkirk and jumped over to their site to check it out. When I saw the list of colours I realized that it's Briggs and Little yarn! http://www.briggsandlittle.com/wool/default.htm
It's sold around here (NB) just about everywhere, even the dollar store where it's $3/skein. It's a "hard" wool, but it does bloom nicely after washing. I dyed some for rug hooking and it came out softer and fluffier. It felts pretty good, too (and I've got the socks to prove it :) ) Lots of different wieghts, inexpensive and hard-wearing.