The Target
A few weeks ago I spotted this sweater on my friend Caitlin and fell in love. After a lot of inappropriate groping I asked to borrow it.
Tiny Pockets, Cables
Caitlin said she got it at a resale shop, so it took me a lot longer than it should have to realize this is a hand-knit sweater. It just didn’t dawn on me that someone would donate a hand knit. My mom pointed out that the knitter might have just outgrown it, or gave the sweater to someone who didn’t like it.
I Mean, Cables on the Sleeves!
So I’m going to do something I’ve never done before and recreate this sweater with no pattern or direction. It’s a worsted weight wool or wool blend in a seed stitch rib with 6 sts cables and a single crochet button band and collar edging. Simple, right? … … right?
Single Crochet Button Band
Have you ever attempted to write a pattern based on an existing knit? Any help would be great!
... There Was a Sale!
I went a little crazy at JoAnn this morning in anticipation of tackling Caitlin’s sweater. All of the yarn at JoAnn was on sale and today was the last day! What was I supposed to do?
I got four skeins of Paton’s Classic Wool in Jade Heather that I’m really excited to jump into for this sweater! I am always knitting other people green things but never myself.
I also picked up six skeins of Bernat Satin in Admiral. The blue is stunning and it was on super sale. I’ve never used it before but it’s really soft and perfect for a project I can’t get out of my head.
Reglan Wrap
Next to the yarn in the picture you can see I snagged my own copy of Boutique Knits from Tara! Everyone at The Sweatshop has been ogling the projects in this book forever and it hasn’t left my coffee table since I got it. Specifically this Reglan Wrap! I must have it. I think it will be really pretty in that blue.
Oh, and that huge skein of Bernat Cotton was half off and perfect for these:
Crocheted Flower Hot Pads
These are so pretty and perfect last minute hostess gifts. Or, for me. And probably for my mom once she reads this post.
I can’t possibly sit here on the computer any longer with all this yarn around me and not be knitting. Have a great (wild card) weekend!
wow, good luck on recreating the sweater- you can do it!! my only tip would be to really get an accurate check on the gauge of the knit, so that yours looks as much as possible like the original one.
.-= julie´s last blog ..Nativity Camel Update =-.
Comment by julie — January 10, 2010 @ 11:26 am
Thanks Julie! I cast on last night after checking and rechecking that gauge. I’ve only recently come to appreciate gauge and it is such a lifesaver. I just wanted to pull the sweater right out and check it that way! But so far so good!
Comment by allyson — January 10, 2010 @ 11:28 am
i had been here the other day and left a huge comment on your sweater and how I have given away hand knits (that I made) to good will etc.
and how much I hope to be able to knit sweaters like this some day.
some day
but I have a habit of losing comments to cyber black holes and so it goes!
xo
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..Are you ready? =-.
Comment by Cindy — January 11, 2010 @ 12:30 pm