15 June 2012

Colorwork Sweater


After a couple of weeks of hard work and a couple of months spent simply glaring at it and wondering why I wouldn't just finish itself, the colorwork sweater is complete!


Now I can finally cross off another one of my Fiber Goals for 2012:

Complete a colorwork sweater

Needless to say, I'm very excited to announce this development and honestly, I can hardly believe that I have finally finished this project considering how long it took to complete.

There are some things on it that are a little bit wonky (part of the collar just didn't work out great), but overall, I love it and cannot wait until it is not 90 degrees outside every day to wear it.  I'm thinking that it will make a great sweater to cuddle into during classes and especially exams because it is super warm.


The pattern was Velvet Morning from Knitty, bis winter 2011.  As I have written in past posts, this pattern was not very well written and I had some huge problems with it.  There were some techniques that I think could have been used to make this a more finished project, as well as more fun to knit.  For example, using steeking to allow for knitting in the round rather than flat.  At the time I didn't feel comfortable enough to modify something as huge as the body of the sweater (although some people have); however, I did knit the sleeves in the round and was so glad that I did. 


The yarn was Cascade 220 Superwash, the only Cascade yarn that in my experience is worth buying.  The dark blue was the Blue Velvet colorway (856) and the other colors started out white, but were hand dyed by me using Jacquard Acid Dyes.  This project definitely gained a whole other dimension when I decided to dye yarn specifically for it and it is something that I would really love to do again someday.


Finishing this project has been a huge challenge for me, but now that I have finally finished it, I can say that it did pay off.  Now I need to start working full steam on two test knits and the three remaining sweaters.  But now, with this momentum, I really feel that I can finish them all.

32 comments:

  1. It looks so cozy! Congrats on finishing, I haven't taken on a sweater just yet.

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  2. Oh my - that is so lovely and well done for persevering....you must be as pleased as punch.

    Have a lovely weekend,

    Nina x

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  3. GORGEOUS!! Such an awesome project -- with all the mods and the hand-dyed colors -- well done, you!

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  4. Lovely lovely lovely, well done! May I just say I adore the colour of your hair, it is the colour I always wished for myself!

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  5. Great sweater and great job finishing it! It looks perfect for cuddling up in the winter with a cup of hot tea while you study.

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  6. wow that is a super pretty sweater, the colours are fabulous - really well done.

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  7. I'm glad you got your momentum, and let me say, that sweater was well worth everything you put into it. I love the color and how you dyed the yarn yourself, and it does look very warm! I'm so happy for you!!!

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  8. WOW, that's beautiful! I can only imagine how comfy it will be this fall... wish I had something like that during my fall semesters in college.

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  9. Well done!!! It looks so cozy and warm!!

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  10. I knew you would do it, and I knew you'd feel great! A big day for us both because I finally finished my cardigan today too!
    I didn't realize your sweater is so long - it's more of a jacket isn't it? It is really fantastic and you should be proud. The custom colors give you something as unique and wonderful as you!

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  11. That is awesome! I haven't been able to tackle colorwork mitts yet but you're inspiring me.

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  12. I admire this post and you for several reasons:

    1. You knit a whole sweater
    2. You knit color-work in a whole sweater
    3. You dyed your own yarn
    4. You knit the yarn that you hand-dyed
    5. You used my favorite acid dyes.
    6. You used my favorite Cascade yarn.
    7. You stuck with a lousy pattern and it looks amazing.

    I love the length of it and the colors. Although the pattern was lousy you learned invaluable skills for how you could modify it. Also its one of a kind, no matter if someone else knits the pattern, because you dyed the yarn it will always be the only one in existence. I love it so much I'm so envious of you for having such legit knitting skills!

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  13. OMG, this is a huge project! !
    You did such a great job.
    The thought of tackling this staggers my imagination, gal.
    Seems to me you did it in record time, too.
    Pat yourself on the back, big time.
    Can't wait to cold weather to see how much you'll be using this beauty.
    Congrats! !

    hugs

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  14. Haha. Summer sweater finishers unite! It looks beautiful. I know I've already said this but such great colours.

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  15. Your sweater looks just great! You should be super proud of yourself.

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  16. Oh my - such an accomplishment, and it looks fantastic too! I see more colorwork in your future...

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  17. You will wear this gorgeous sweater with such pride all fall and winter long. You do know that you will be stopped and asked where you bought it over and over again, right?

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  18. Oh you beautiful girl..that colorwork sweater is just all kinds of fantastic. I love the length, the cuddly look, and the color selections! What an amazing goal to cross off your list. You are fabulous, in case you didn't know. :)

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  19. So pretty! Fantastic job! I can see that being so nice to wear in a chilly classroom next fall - enjoy your new sweater!

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  20. Congratulations, it looks fantastic! I really like the colours you chose (or more accurately, dyed).

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  21. oh, it does look cuddle worthy! I remember the classrooms at uni as being so cold... a sweater like that would have been a real treat. I like your color choice. You have ever reason to be proud!!! :)

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  22. Oh so gorgeous! You did a great job!

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  23. wow! congratulations!!! I can't believe you even dyed the yarn for it. super! :)

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  24. Oh my gosh!! It looks even more beautiful than I imagined it would! Congrats, and enjoy!! :)

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  25. That is a gorgeous sweater! I love how it turned out and it looks fantastic! :)

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  26. Wow - Wow - WOWEEEEE - the sweater turned out AMAZING!!! I am so pleased for you that you stuck with it, because it is so worth it. Stunning colour work and it fits like a glove. I would want to wear it day and night

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  27. What a great accomplishment. The sweater is gorgeous! Thanks for showing us a modeled photo shoot. It bet is not easy to be in front of the camera. Nice pictures!

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  28. LOVE this! Congrats on a project well done!
    xo

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  29. GORGEOUS! You did such an amazing job on this sweater. I can see it being a go-to for fall/winter! It's so pretty and looks very, very warm!

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  30. I'm so sorry you didn't like the pattern! When I was designing it, I wanted something that wouldn't scare newer knitters away from the colourwork, and steeking is one of those techniques that, while totally awesome, intimidates a lot of knitters. Surpisingly, more than purling colourwork. I thought it would be fun to design a sweater that encouraged unusual construction from what is typically done. Thank you for sticking with it, your finished sweater is great.

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