#8. Erica's Sweater

I would be remiss if I didn't add a project that I finished at the end of 2009.  A striped sweater for my then 4 year old granddaughter - a gift for Christmas.

A special knitting project - not just because it was for Erica, but also because it was the first ever "garment" that I had ever knitted.  I know that scarves and socks can be classified as garments per se, but I prefer to think of them as "accessories".  A scarf is more of a one size fits all deal and are ARE supposed to be more fitting.  A sweater is just different.

As soon as I saw the picture in Fons & Porter’s Love of Knitting, Spring 2009 - I quickly scanned the pattern instructions to make sure it didn't contain a lot of knitting terminology that was scary to me.  That would include things like k tbl, MB, p1 f&b. 

I was happily surprised to find what looked to be pretty easy instructions.  Convinced I could handle this - with the aid of my wonderfully patient teacher - I decided it was a go.

I showed the pattern to Marie the next Saturday and she was very enthusiastic - agreeing that this was quite within my meager capabilities. 

(I must add - since that first little disagreement about when I would be ready for sock knitting classes - Marie has said I was ready for anything.  Patient AND an optimist. Or a really good liar?  What more could you ask for in a knitting instructor?)

I immediately began scanning the shelves of yarn for the perfect colors of budget friendly possibilities.  One must also consider the washability of yarns used for garments.  100% wool is nice and warm - but throw it in the washing machine and you get a much smaller version of the sweater - and felted at that.  With the help of my fellow classmates, I decided on the yarn.

Marie's older sister - a 90+ year old avid knitter herself - made the final determination on color sequence and I soon had my bulging bag of yarn and was ready to cast on.

I was surprised at how quickly and easily the sweater knitted up.  Each color stripe was only 4 rows, so I didn't get bored knitting up so much stockinette stitch.  It was fun watching all the colors come together to form the stripes.

I told everyone I was making the sweater (knitting form of “commitment”) so I had to stick with it and finish it.  I didn't make the Christmas deadline as I was still seaming the pieces together.  That was after weaving in 5,267 loose ends.  I might be a few short on that count, but you get the idea.  Holy smokes!  Stripes mean lots of loose ends.

Since I had no previous experience with knitting something that needed to actually fit, and I didn’t have the benefit of being able to try it on her as I was making it - I was a bit anxious to see if it would even go over her head.  The sweater was complete a few days after Christmas.  

I called Erica over to try the sweater on and was mildly heartbroken when she wanted nothing to do with it.  After some coaxing and bribery from Mommy and Daddy, she finally allowed the sweater to be put on her.  I was thrilled that it fit!  It was actually a darn good fit too.  Certainly room to wear it over another shirt and to get another season of cold weather use if she wished.

All together, I was very pleased with my first finished "garment" and look forward to making many more sweaters.  I would even make that same pattern again - perhaps in a nice solid color!

Specifics:

Pattern was printed in Fons & Porter’s Love of Knitting, Spring 2009.

Yarn:  Utopia by Reynolds

Pink #294

Teal #133

Orange #162

Yellow #151

Purple #277

Needles:  Size 8 Circulars – Addi Turbo

Recap:

Best part of the project was the fact the sweater was a good fit when finished.  I know it is probably much easier to knit for a child and get a good fit than to do so for an adult.  Especially when sizes are basically estimations and I don’t do that whole “swatch” thing.  Yet.

Worst part of the project was definitely seaming the pieces.  I need a lot more practice with making seams look less “home-made”.  I have lots of garment projects planned for my needles, so I am sure that practice will come with time.