Pattern: No.39 Wrap Sweater with Eyelets from Rebecca 29
Yarn: Classic Elite Lush (angora/wool blend) in pink, 4.5 skeins
Gauge: 18sts on 7/4.5mm needles

So I substituted GGH Soft Kid with Lush because SK and I were just not getting along. At all. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough and traded them in for the very aptly named Luuusssshh. Though it made the sweater a real 'knit' piece rather than a fluffy, light-as-air one, Lush was nevertheless a great substitute. Until you got to the sash, then it became seriously inappropriate. I redid it a couple of times, decreasing the number of stitches from 21 to 9 to make it more ribbon-like and less rope-like. Better, but not great. Still can't double tie it. It also curls like mad despite attempts to block and steam the bloody life out of it.

Alas, to no avail.

What I should have done was to knit in garter stitch...or double crochet it...I had also thought about using my one leftover SK skein in HOT FUSCHIA to use for the sash. Could have been a nice accent against the pink. But I couldn't bear to redo it yet again so I'm going to live with it and be happy with the results. And I am. It's very very VERY soft, warm but light, and pink! I don't usually do pink, but every now and then it must be incorporated into wardrobe to remind self and others that despite the boy-like figure, I am actually a girly girl.

I also enjoy the occasional lace

Other notes:

Substituted yarn, yadda yadda.
Next time (if there is a next time) garter stitch the sash to prevent unruly curling. Notice I did not say "try using Soft Kid as suggested."
Did not crochet slip-stitches around the arm cuffs or body.
Picked up about 140 stitches around the V-neck and back neck, purled one row and bound off the next knit-wise, per instructions. I was afraid I had picked up too little and it would pull in, but it didn't and the end result looked really nice.
It got a little hairy at times knitting the front pieces, as there were so many things going on simultaneously: eyelet pattern, increase shaping on one side, sloped bind-off on the other, armhole shaping, do this every other row but do this once every 8th row, etc. etc. etc. Groups of tick marks everywhere.
Mattress stitch as usual for seaming. For the cap sleeves I did the usual combo of grafting/mattress stitch to attach top to body (I think Vogue Knitting calls it "invisible vertical to horizontal" seaming), and then mattress down the sides. I posted to a news group asking about preferred method of attaching sleeve, since my books reference backstitch as the "right" way to attach cap sleeves. But the vote was unanimous: mattress. Less bulky, more flexible, and easy. Awesome. I don't want to do backstitch.

Next up: The famous Apricot Jacket. Finally. Already started it using Cotton Fleece in teal. The instructions are totally confusing, but I got around it, I got around it.

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Filed Under: Completed Projects | Rebecca 29 | Eyelet Cardi