Sunday, March 16, 2008

Bed & Breakfast

Just in time for an Alaskan Spring....or maybe next winter....



I finally finished my Bed & Breakfast sweater. I. Love. It. I love almost everything about it. I know, I do need to reblock it, the top's just a bit too wide and the shoulders are down on my biceps and makes the sleeves a bit too long......I look like quasimodo in the picture but it's just the angle of the photo and the way I'm standing. I love the yarn (Elann.com's Sierra Aran). So soft. (and so very well behaved when you're blocking it) I can wear it next to skin..but I prefer a T-shirt or tank underneath. I love the pattern. This was my first complex cable project. Yes...I did the front AND the back in the same cable pattern.



I learned to cable without a cable needle. I learned to do a bit more complex seaming. I learned...oh god how painful it was...to make a damn neckline go from cables to a complementary rib....and that you still need to bind off necklines with a LARGER needle if you want the thing to fit over your head. I learned it takes me almost 2 hours to weave in 37 ends. These were seaming ends...and neck pick up ends. I spit spliced the joins.



I LOVE the way this fits, feels and looks. I love the fact that finally....after TWO years...this UFO is finally a finished object. Cause for celebration I'm thinking!
Whoohoo!

The specs:

Pattern: Bed & Breakfast by Kathy Zimmerman from IWK Winter 2003, size 40"
Yarn: Elann.com's Sierra Aran, 80% wool/20% alpaca, 14 skeins Damson, 1 skein Mulberry
Needles: various sizes to keep gauge over the life of the project...mostly size 6-7.
Started: March 06 as a KAL with some of the other Elannimals.
Finished: With ends woven in and everything, today! Cheers!



Well, it's back to work tomorrow. Have a very knitterly week!

17 comments:

NightOwlKnits said...

It's beautiful Lisa - and what a great color on you! Congrats on a wonderful project.

Joe said...

Binding off necklines with a larger needles... never thought of that! But of course, it's very logical :P Thanks for the tip ;-)

Nan said...

Wow! This is beautiful! I love the color and pattern both. I just learned how to make the cable a few weeks ago, so I know I won't be ready for such a project anytime soon, but something like this is my ultimate goal... one day... when I can focus on one project long enough to make something other then a hat or scarf!

Les said...

Hurray, a finished object! And a damned nice one, Lisa. Great colour on you!
Les

Robin said...

beautiful! Love the color...

CatBookMom said...

That is terrific! I love the color, it glows and is great on you. OK, you're encouraging me to go finish a poor UFO of my own - Ribby Cardi, that Bri got me to knitting a couple of years ago, too.

Enjoy the sweater and all the compliments you're going to be getting on it.

junior_goddess said...

Verreh verreh nassss. seriously.

Holly Jo said...

It is beautiful! Very impressive knitting too. You just never know the skills that knitters acquired with various projects - this one is quite a feat. :)

Jknits said...

Wonderful sweater - Holly Jo sent me over since you have a 15yo - me too. Then I saw you are in the Fashionably Late clappy group - me too. Only I'm running fashionably later. Yours looks great.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! You did a wonderful job. Why did you have so many ends to weave in if you spit spliced it? I've had the flu, so my brain isn't computing very well. I've had some Sierra Aran for another Kathy Zimmerman sweater for awhile now. So glad to know the SI works well with her designs. Beautiful!

Knittyholic said...

It is absolutely beautiful! You must be so proud of yourself. You are an inspiration in regards to WIP's. I have MANY, but I tend to ignore the biggies. You give me hope for finishing some of my more challenging WIP's. Now...if I can just remember where I stored them..LOL...

Laura Jane said...

Utterly gorgeous Lisa. Great colour, great fit, great photos too.

I've been away, so please accept my all-in-one comments on your clappy - DIVINE!!!!, and I'm also drooling at the look of your swap package with all the cocoa etc. Yummy.

Been thinkin of ya!

hakucho said...

Your sweater is splendid! Very nice job ...you should be proud:)

happy knitting :)

aksunflour said...

Wow! the sweater is beautiful- and to be done. What an accomplishment, you can wear it and enjoy it a few more weeks (winter isn't over yet!)

Lindsey said...

wow that is just stunning! the color, the pattern, and the fit! perfect!

Joan said...

Beautiful, Lisa!

smariek said...

Congrats! The B&B looks great on you! Wow, 37 ends, gosh that would take me ore than 2 hours. I recently spent 1.5 hrs weaving in 18 ends on a scarf (knit in 2 halves & grafted, knots in balls, and I couldn't get the darn 100% wool yarn to spit splice).

Your clappy looks good too. I never would have thought to pair Sonata up with that pattern until I saw yours.

I love Clara's cards. That looks like so much fun.