05 April 2013

Evergreen sweater

Finally I have finished my self-designed Evergreen sweater!  It has been a rocky road with this project too, considering every time I've mentioned it here it has been with frustration.  But I was looking for a challenge and I got one.

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One of the biggest things I struggled with was deciding how I wanted the neckline to look.  Now I wonder why I didn't ask my knitting friends for advice earlier, they all gave me the confidence to keep going with it.  Once I finished the neckline I realized the sleeves were too tiny, but I've been in good company with Audry, somehow it always makes it easier when you know a friend is going through the same mess.

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It isn't the most perfect sweater I've ever made, but it is definitely special because I knit it without a pattern (I still cannot believe I get to type this).  This was a huge step for me personally, but I'm not sure if I'll do it again any time soon, I think I prefer following a pattern.  I also wish that I had more of the brown yarn because I would have liked to do more colorwork.

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This sweater was knitted in Berroco Ultra Alpaca, one of my all time favorite yarns.  I had been coveting the green colorway for a while and I love it even more knit up.  I also find it hilarious that I finished this alpaca/wool blend knit just in time for spring!  But it snowed here in North Carolina yesterday, so perhaps I'm not too late after all.

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Gleefully I get to cross off one of my goals for 2013: Finish Self-Designed Sweater!
Now on to another item on the list...

33 comments:

  1. I would say that's a perfect fit, well done you did a great job. Lets hope your weather improves so you can put it away til next winter. Here's hoping

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  2. It looks fantastic! Clever you! So what's going to be your next challenge off your list?

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  3. Congratulations, it looks great. It's very satisfying when you design something for yourself. I highly recommend Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard as it has nice patterns in it AND at the back of the book has a few "templates" for making your own sweaters. I've knit a few using the guidelines given in that book. Once again, well done, it really suits you.

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  4. This is so awesome!
    I agree with the others, it looks perfect on you and suits you so well ...

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    Great work. :)

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  5. I love the neckline! Did you do pleating? I can't tell about the arms. It looks perfect on you, you skinny miss. You're such a cutie.

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  6. Congratulations for finishing the self designed sweater! The neckline and the sleeves all look fine. I like following other people's pattern too, and once you make a few similar things it's much easier to alter patterns or design your own.

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  7. Adorable! Congratulations on finishing your sweater. It truly is an accomplishment (mine is currently gathering dust in my knitting basket at home). Come next winter, I'm sure you'll fine plenty of days to wear it (and with pride, too!).

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  8. Very cute! I really like the pleating around the neck.

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  9. wow! That looks fantastic! You should be very impressed with yourself for sure. I like how the waves of colorwork play with the waves of fabric around the neck.

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  10. It looks awesome, congrats to you. I'm in need of ripping out a couple of rows on the green sweater I'm making for DD...bought now trying to finish an afghan...I'm close.

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  11. WOW, congratulations! You look amazing in your beautiful sweater!!

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  12. Oh it looks awesome! I think the neck turned out great.

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  13. IVY! That is stunning. You have every right to be proud. The photos are gorgeous and so are you in that sweater :)

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  14. Take a deep bow because the sweater is stunning and looks fabulous on you!

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  15. Congratulations! Its a lovely sweater and I love how your neckline turned out! Awesome fit, well done!

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  16. Absolutely beautiful-- you and the sweater! I love the neckline! The ruching adds interest and femininity without competing with the colorwork or looking too busy. And what a gorgeous color on you!

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  17. Gorgeous! Well done for finishing. Knitting a sweater without a pattern is no small feat.

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  18. Beautiful sweater! The neckline is a favourite. And I love the colour!

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  19. I LOVE it! The neckline is perfect! You look fantastic in that green. Are you designing another yet? :)

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  20. THAT. IS. BEAUTIFUL! And it looks great on you. Congratulations on designing it yourself!

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  21. Absolutely stunning. I love it and hope you get a lot of love as you wear it.

    Are you going to write up the pattern? !?

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  22. Congratulations! It looks beautiful!

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  23. GREAT JOB!!! I love what you did with the neckline! It's so cool how it gently gathers at the top. You're really very good at knitting without a pattern! You should write up the pattern for this one. And the color suits you perfectly.

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  24. It's fantastic! Congratulations on your first unscripted sweater project! You did a fantastic job with the design. I think the colorwork is just the right touch to your overall classic pullover. :-D

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  25. The sweater looks gorgeous and it's so well fitted!

    Well done on designing your first piece :)

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  26. Congrats on finishing your sweater! I love it! The only thing I knit without a pattern is blankets. I make that up all the time.

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  27. Your sweater is fantastic and looks so good on you! You must be thrilled:)

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  28. Hurrah!!! So professional looking! I love the colorwork! So many exclamation points! Ultra Alpaca is one of my all-time favorites too ... sadly, it only gets cold enough for a sweater in like ... once a winter ... here in Mississippi. So I have to stick with hats, mittens, cowls, etc to get my fix! :)

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  29. I love the ruching at the top of your sweater. It looks lovely. And I'm glad you were able to sort out your sleeve problems. Now I don't feel so alone. Although my project is still in time out.

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  30. the colors are amazing and the sweater suits you very well! good job! :D

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  31. Hi, Ivy. I love the yarn color you chose--I'm a big fan of green. The way that the yoke is done is interesting and attractive, too--sort of a gathered effect. I just worked out a simple pattern for a pair of fingerless mitts and am exhausted! Someday I'll attempt a sweater of my own design, but maybe after the school year ends.

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