Crossing Over

  So many bloggers have been discussing priorities lately.  Like them, I've been thinking long and hard about how I spend my time, since these last weeks have been about as miserable as I can remember.  Schoolwork has been absolutely relentless, entirely taking over my life.  Thankfully, the other shore has arrived. I learned important lessons about time management, the care and feeding of one's significant other, and having faith in the future- not to mention my academic subjects.  But for the support of the loving people in my life, both physical and internet, I would have been absolutely overwhelmed.  Punsir, Pundad, Amanda, Elinor and Ann were so kind, supportive and generous.  Thanks, peeps!

All the drains on my time have limited the knitting.  Most of the Gathered Pullover was knit on the bus, on the metro, waiting for class.  The more complicated lace has been relegated to a pathetic back corner of my desk.  The newest project on the needles is an almost endless circle of knit-knit-knit. 

It's strangely satisfying to finish something entirely and selfishly for myself.  No grades, no actual benefit, just the addition of another sweater to an overflowing closet- goodness as its own reward.

Specs:

The Gathered Pullover by Hana Jason from Interweave Knits, Winter 2007. 

Knit using the smallest size on US 6s at the specified gauge using just under 6 balls of Jo Sharp DK Silkroad Tweed for a total yardage of around 870.

Pattern mods:

-added 2.5 inches to the body before beginning the motif.  If I had to do over again, I'd add more.  I'm not oddly long waisted, but I do hate cropped sweaters.  I also wear low rise jeans.  Bad combination.

-grafted the shoulders.  Why?  I hate shoulder seams.  My purses are too big to have anything unnecessary sitting on a sensitive spot. (some would suggest carrying less junk- hah!)

-to graft the shoulder stitches, I did all the shaping with short rows rather than bind offs.

-worked the collar in the round.  Why not?

The pattern was super- very clever and the motif came just when you were considering stabbing out your eyes from all the stockinette.  It made excellent bus knitting, but for some reason, everyone assumed this was a scarf.  The big, honkin' body- a scarf?  Odd.

The sweater is fun to wear and very comfortable.  Jo Sharp is one of my favorite tweed yarns; it softens so beautifully when blocked. I look forward to the weather changing so I can wear it for more than just a photo shoot!

Comments

[maeve]

Purty purty purty! Perhaps I'll add this one to the queue... although since I won't be able to wear it until Fall of 2009 (stupid baby bump!), maybe I'll be distracted by the next pretty shiny happy pattern before then.

I'm really hoping that "don't covet thy neighbor's sweater" doesn't appear in the commandments...

[jillian]

It's gorgeous on you! The fit and color are so flattering on you. Funny, I really loved this pattern but somehow it always recedes to the background in the "queue of my mind". Seeing your tweedy one makes me wonder how Rowan Felted Tweed would look, that I had set aside for a Tangled Yoke.

[margene]

As always you have put together the perfect combination of yarn and pattern along with perfect mods. Nice work...enjoy it!!

[ann]

ooh pretty! I love it in the tweed.

[ivete]

It looks great and those are some awesome FO shots! I made this sweater, too, and it quickly became a new favorite, you'll get lots of use out of it I'm sure!

[carolyn]

that turned out super cute! congrats!

[Glenna]

You always have such awesome FO photos! I need to go find me some gothic churchyards next time i take pictures... ;)

(Oh yeah, nice sweater, too!)

[mick]

Lovely, as usual. Glad to hear you've come out the other side of the craptastic school work!

[Nicole]

Sorry to hear you've had a tough go lately. Glad that things are getting better.

The sweater is so lovely, and it looks great on you!

[Heather]

Once again your FO photo shoot is a thing of beauty...

[Leela]

I like this sweater much better on you than on the model. In fact, you make nearly everything you wear look fun and elegant. That is a superpower if ever I saw one. Fabulous!

[knitbug]

SO beautiful!! (sweater and knitter)
my knitting has a lot to learn from yours!
p.s. I covet your hair :)

[Alli]

Wow! This color looks amazing on you! I hadn't considered this pullover in a tweedy type yarn but it looks great! Congratulations on knitting something for yourself during a stressful time, it's nice to have a tangible reward for all your hard work!

[lorent]

Gorgeous! I'm knitting the same sweater in the same yarn (mine's green). I'm halfway through the second sleeve. I love the color you chose, but I'm sworn to knitting from stash this year, so what I got is what I got :) I also added length, and made mine a bit A-liney, just for variation from other, more fitted sweaters that I've knit for myself lately.

Enjoy your sweater, and congrats on seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

[earthchick]

It looks absolutely FANTASTIC on you. I wish I had added more length to mine. As it is currently, I have to wear a cami underneath it to feel comfortable. Love the color you chose - simply gorgeous.

[Gina]

The pullover looks great, and I have to say that you look more beautiful than usual in that final photo. Your face has a peacefulness to it.