A couple of days ago I think I finished this sweater —
I say “I think” because I’m not at all sure it fits. The sleeves are awfully tight, and the sleeve caps are very lumpy. I’m somewhat tempted to redo the sleeves, but only somewhat — because as you can see, they were plenty of work.
Here are some details:
Yarn, purchased at the Maine Fiber Frolic in 2006 from Ruit Farm North, four hanks of natural dark brown and two hanks of light natural tan Coopworth yarn, something like DK or worsted weight; by mail order from Hatchtown Farm, two hanks of natural white and one hank of natural silver gray maybe a tiny bit thicker than the other yarn. At least, the gray seemed a little thicker than the rest. All lovely lanolin-smelling wool. I have a bunch of all but the silver gray left.
Pattern, for the fair isle pattern I followed the charts in Knitting in the Old Way, Gibson-Roberts and Robson, pp 164-166. For the sweater pattern I tried to follow this pattern on the Garnstudio web site. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. In spite of Theresa’s lessons on reading Norwegian patterns, I don’t think I got it all. Mostly I didn’t increase the sleeves properly, or maybe the gauge was wrong. Or of course, maybe it’s just that my fair isle gets too tight. I keep trying not to let it pucker, but it’s always a struggle.
Well, I wore it out in public tonight when I went to the library to renew Landscape with Reptile, which is an entirely other subject. At least it’s big enough that I can get my arms into the sleeves.
Dean — What you’ve done with our yarn is beautiful…amazing!! Usually the yarn is sold and we never know what happens to it. This is such a treat and you’re so talented. Thank you *so* much for sharing a photo of your work. I’ll sleep happy tonight & can’t wait for Nina to see your email in the morning. Pam
my2cents: If you’re not entirely happy with the sleeves, please do fix them so you’ll love wearing this beautiful garment.
The sweater is really beautiful. Who taught you to knit? I remember teaching you to sew so you could make a Hawaiian print shirt but I don’t remember teaching you to knit—you have far surpassed my skill, that’s for sure! Did you wash the sweater? I find that often when I wash a knit garment for the first time the yarn relaxes. I don’t know if that will happen with a Fair Isles knit, where you’re carrying other yarns across.
Thanks, Hanna! Yes I remember you taught me to sew about the time I graduated from high school. The Hawaiian print shirt was actually the second one I made. The first was a brown plaid so it had the problem of matching the pattern as well as the general learning. I think I ought to consult with my spinning guru, Lucy of Mind’s Eye Yarns in Cambridge or some other yarn shop owner, about how to fix it.