Aimee's cabled sweater...

Hurrah! It's finally finished-

my lovely sister's Christmas Birthday sweater!

(And, only a few days after her birthday.)

I think she's pleased with it.

At least, she's not telling me if she isn't. ;)

 

 

We've had some more snow & quite cold weather lately.

I'm glad it didn't go *poof* Spring outside so that she can get some good wear out of it,

before packing it away for the season.

I used Wool of the Andes Worsted from Knit Picks in Cobblestone Heather,

and this free pattern by Debbie Bliss from Love Knitting.

 

I just love looking at all the intricate cables.

They really are such fun to knit.

Although, they are time consuming, and brain consuming.

 



 

After all. that. grey.

I was craving some color!

My Cath Kidston Sewing Kit was my color inspiration for this sweater.

I'm using Knit Picks Palette in Rosehip, Wonderland Heather, & Custard.

I just had the yarn in my stash. Knit Picks runs great sales throughout the year,

so I always snag any color I'd like to see in person.

(It's never quite how it looks on my screen!)

Pretty much if it has a cute name I'll like it. =)

 

The pattern is a free WWII era "Your Victory Jumper" from the Victoria & Albert Museam Website.

 

 

Unfortunately, I've run out of my "Wonderland Heather" & I have the sleeves left to knit.

So I'll need to make another yarn order before I can finish. (Tragic I know. I just hate buying yarn.) ;)

 

One of my Aunties has commissioned this fox scarf. So I'll make it in the meantime. :D

Isn't it the cutest thing? It's also a free pattern. (Man, I'm on fire!) :P

I'll be knitting it in Knit Picks' Brava Premium Acrylic.

I've never used it before, because I'm so terribly fond of wool & cotton.

Aunt G. says wool makes her itch so... acrylic it is!

I've never been disappointed with anything I've bought from KP so maybe this will be the start of  a new chapter in my knitting. (But I don't think so.) ;)

Photo Source

I'm glad I squeezed this post in before the end of February.

Tomorrow, being March 1st, is my unofficial First Day of Spring. :D

I've got plenty-o-cotton yarn in the stash to start planning some warm weather knits...

THE Miss Lemon Sweater - Part 3 - The Finished Project...

I attended a Midwinter Literary Ball on Saturday,
 hosted by Lily (of Mode de Lis) and her family.
I had such a lovely time!
 Unfortunately, I didn't get "oodles" of photos of my sweater as I had intended.
I did get at least one nice shot with my sister Kelsey.
(She was Eloise!)
 





{Photo Credit my sweet Bro-in-law Jesse}

 

It was a delightful evening of English & Scottish Country Dancing.

I didn't even step on anyone's toes!

(Although Kelsey & I did collide and bounce off each other once.) ;)

 

I worked on my sweater the entire day of the party.

I had finished my knitting the day before and was working on sewing it up.

After I had one sleeve sewn in I tried it on just for kicks.

Much to my chagrin I discovered that the cap of the sleeve was oddly bulky.

It was about two sizes too big on top!

I tried to think of some way to just make it work, but it was clear I'd have to rework the tops.

I pulled out a vintage pattern with the same set in sleeves I was looking for.

They, thankfully, worked out perfectly.

It must have just been some kind of typo in the first pattern I used.

(I made sure to mark some notes on there so this never happens again!) ;)

 

For my hair I attempted some finger waves using a curling iron.

Then I just put my hair up in a low up-do - trying to keep the sides loose and drapey.

I had wanted to try the tiny curls Miss Lemon does on her forehead, but

alas, I didn't have enough time.

 

Here is a close up of the bow.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

I had some shiny vintage black buttons in my stash that worked perfectly too.

 

Overall I'm very pleased with my sweater.

Of course my mind has already moved on &

I'm busily dreaming up new vintage knits to keep my fingers flying.

But, first I must finish Aimee's cabled sweater!

Off I go to work on that now.

(And watch some Poirot.)

:)

 

THE Miss Lemon Sweater - Part 2 - Knitting...

Just a quick post to let you all know I'm still alive.

{Tee hee} ;)

Well, I've been feverishly knitting away at my sweater.
I am absolutely in love with the color of the yarn.
I think it's simply perfect!
(Thank you, Lord!)

 

After I had the back & left front completed

I started to measure the front edge to space the buttonholes evenly on the right front.

I took another look at the pictures to see how many buttons the original had.

I counted 5, but found a problem.

Look at the bottom band - no buttons.

I had read here that this sweater is a pullover made to look like a cardigan.

But, I wanted to make a cardigan.

I can see now that this would just make it harder for me.

So...I ripped back the left front & just made a whole front.

(If only I would think things through in the first place

I would save myself so much time & frustration!)

Oh well! Lesson learned. :)

I think it will be much easier to do the slip-through bow with the band just added to the front.

Rather than trying to finagle it through an opening in the front band of a cardi

using some sort of giant buttonhole.

All I have left to knit is 1/2 a sleeve, the bow, & the band.

I'm just doing plain stockinette stitch so it's moving along nice & quickly.

I plan on using grosgrain ribbon or bias tape to face the neck opening.

Well, it's waiting for me in my comfy knitting chair.

Best get back to it...I only have 2 days.

^_~

 

 

 

THE Miss Lemon sweater - Part 1 - Planning...

I have long been an admirer of  Miss Lemon.
Especially as portrayed by Pauline Moran in the Poirot series.
(The one with David Suchet as Poirot. The ONLY one in my humble opinion.)

{Via Pinterest}

This is a character with brains, style, & class.
Not to mention terrific knitwear.
But, I just did.
So...
 

{Via Pinterest}

 

I've been invited to a Literary Ball coming up in February.

We are asked to come dressed as our favorite literary character.

As I've been itching to make THE Miss Lemon sweater - 

she was the first character that leapt to mind!

While I should be in the knitting phase of this project I'm still only in the planning phase.

(Plus, I'm still working on my sister Aimee's cabled sweater.)

Pinterest has proven a very valuable asset in this endeavor.



{Via Pinterest}

 

I just order the yarn. Knit Picks Palette in serrano.

They didn't have just plain red in this weight of yarn.

So now I've started to fret that the color is going to be all wrong

when I see it in person instead of on my computer screen.

{Rolls eyes at herself}

Anyway!

It should be a pretty easy knit.

I plan to just wing it as far as patterns go.

I'll just make a plain cardigan & worry about how to do the bit with the bow when I come to it.

(I can't worry about everything beforehand.) ;)



cheery cherry print fabric...

Could also be titled "Looky, looky what I got at Walmart today!"

;)

Doesn't it go splendidly with my vintage cherry clip-on earrings?



I usually try to avoid the fabric department of our local Wally-world.

A. I usually find something to bring home with me. That I don't need.

B. It's very hard to find someone to cut aforementioned "something to bring home."

C. Often I don't find the quality of their wares that great.

D. They don't offer coupons.

(Yeah, I'm a cheapskate.)

While A & B did apply in this situation, the quality & price of this fabric were super!

(Also, though it took a long time for her to appear the gal who cut my fabric was very friendly.)

 

$3.97/yard.

 

Not even on clearance, and quite good quality!

Run, don't walk to your nearest Walmart!

(Well perhaps on second thought you ought to drive.)

:}

They also had it with navy or black background.

 

***

 

So, here are some ideas I have in mind for this lovely fabric.

 

I'm thinking shirtdress.

50s possibly 40s...

 

Possibilities:

{Found on Pinterest}

I think I may have this pattern!
I'd make the version with sleeves.
 



{Found on Pinterest}


40s? I'm not sure...I think I'm leaning more towards 50s.

 



{Found on Pinterest}

This is nice...

I love the Peter Pan collar on this one.

 

{Photo Credit}

Eep! Scallops! One of my favorite things.

(Although, I've never done them so...)
What do you all think?

***
On a different subject entirely...
Look at this lovely nail polish I bought today as well!
Don't they just make you think of Spring?

 



No, I'm not done with Winter yet.

But, it is nice to look forward to Spring.

I think that may be one of my favorite things about living in a place where you get all four seasons.

You always have something to look forward to.

^_^