Monday, August 16, 2010

Tilly Sweater--the first of many



The Tilly Sweater is finally finished and I'm so pleased with it. Thanks, Calana Crafts, for the pattern.

The yarn is Araucanía Ranco Multi, color 319. It took one skein for the main part of the sweater and a partial skein for the ribbing. I judged it pretty well and didn't run out of yarn for the body. Trust me, when they say there are no dye lots, they aren't kidding. Every single skein is different, but I must say it worked out pretty well using the second skein for the ribbing. The buttons might be my favorite part of this sweater. I love the way they pick up the various colors of this variegated yarn. They're not a perfect match, but they really do girly up the predominately blue yarn.



Using two skeins forced me to make some mods. I shortened the sleeves and body just a bit and compensated by making the sleeve and body ribbing longer. I would have run out of yarn had I not done this. I like a longer cuff anyway--you can fold it back. Hopefully, Tilly will be able to wear it longer this way. Babies grow so quickly!

I also chose to do a different button hole. I used the 3-row buttonhole from Knitting Without Tears. Elizabeth Zimmermann calls the 1-row buttonhole "pigseyes." I agree--most of the time, that's what they look like, mine included. EZ's method takes a little longer, but is far superior. That said, there's a 1-row buttonhole in Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting that looks promising.

I will probably use this pattern again, but next time with a dk weight yarn and bigger needles. I shouldn't have to change too many numbers to get a bigger size, but I will change the bottom ribbing. Take a look at middle photo--the way the pattern is written, you lose the K2 of the K2P2 ribbing. Next time I'll start and end with K3 to allow for the knit that gets eaten by the button and buttonhole band.

Here's one last artsy-fartsy shot. I bought a light tent so I could get some nice infinity shots and the darn thing DIDN'T come with a white background. I photoshopped the seams out of the first shot, but I'm off to the fabric store for some white fabric and velcro.

10 comments:

  1. I think it turned out great. I can't even tell about the different skeins. I also think those little flower buttons are so cute and go really well with the colors. Good job!

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  2. Love the sweater! Tilly will be stylish in her sweater made by Gramma.
    I know what you mean about yarn with no dye lots. I knitted the parts for a size 2 yr old pullover and didn't like the way the yarn was so different. It's still sitting in a bag to be sewn together!! (and the 2yr old is now 4!!)

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  3. Beautiful Tilly Sweater number 1. Those buttons are so pretty, and that yarn is just beautiful. I can't wait to see her in it!

    Now I want a light cube thing too!

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  4. It looks lovely.
    And you already know I like the buttons.

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  5. What a sweet little sweater! I love it when little ones get some colors outside of the pink-is-for-girls and blue-for-boys traditions. The buttons just add to the deliciousness.

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  6. What adorable buttons! And I love the yarn too!!!

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  7. Just beautiful. Love your Tilly sweater.

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  8. I too am a fan of the buttons.

    I also appreciate the reminder that there is more than one way to do a buttonhole.

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  9. What an adorable sweater and the buttons are a perfect accent.

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  10. great job, thank you for posting this..Calana Crafts

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