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June 5, 2006
Hourglass
Hourglass is finished and I believe this might be my best sweater effort to date. I tried very hard to pay attention to all of the details and make modifications to fit my taste and body, and I think it turned out nicely.
Project Details:
Pattern: Hourglass from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Worsted Merino in Color No. 37
Needles: Addi Turbo US #7 in 24" and 47". I used the shorter needle for the body and the longer one to magic loop the sleeves and the neck after it got too small for the 24".
Gauge: 19 sts/28 rows to 4"
Modifications/Thoughts: I knit the 33" size and added an inch to the length and 2 1/2 inches to the sleeves. The finished sleeve length is about 22 inches after blocking (I gained an inch with blocking). They're a little long, but I like a longer sleeve with the bell-shaped sleeve style.
I knit the bottom hem facings (the body and the sleeves) with 10% fewer stitches than called for in the pattern and then increased to the specified number on the row before the purl turning row. For the neck facing I didn't increase like the pattern specified, but simply knit the facing with the same number of stitches I had when I purled the turning row. I really think this worked well because I don't notice any flaring at the hems. On the bottom hems I knit the hem facing together with the body of the sweater and on the neck I grafted the facing to the inside of the sweater (I thought that mimiced the look of the facings on the other hems). Grafting the neck hem was a huge pain in the ass, and it took me forever, but I think it was worth it in the end.
I added 5 decrease rounds to the neck shaping for a narrower, less flashdance-esque neckline. I initially tried 2 short-rows for the back of the neck, but I didn't like how it looked. I'm not entirely sure I did them right, and that could have been the problem, but in the end the slight boatneck works for me.
The negative ease of the sweater makes for a flattering (at least I think it is) yet comfortable sweater. However, taking pictures yesterday when it was 80 degrees points out that I probably won't be wearing it much this summer, but it still cools off in the evenings, so I may be able to wear it out to dinner before fall.
Comments
It looks great and the color is fabulous on you.
Posted by: Carole at June 5, 2006 9:51 AM
Your sweater is fantastic. I like the fit for you.
Posted by: Chery at June 5, 2006 9:55 AM
very pretty, now I think I get the drawing on your blog :)
Posted by: pixie at June 5, 2006 9:57 AM
wow! it looks absolutely gorgeous. the yarn is beautiful with the slight variegated green. you must be very excited!! i actually went and bought the book just recently for this pattern.
Posted by: blossom at June 5, 2006 10:04 AM
Very nice....the green looks great on you!
Posted by: Stacey at June 5, 2006 10:04 AM
Beautiful! I am so impressed at all the modifications you made. It is super flattering.
Posted by: Leslie at June 5, 2006 10:04 AM
Looks great! The hems are a nice touch. I'm glad you were able to figure out how to get everything to lay flat. Those details are what really make the sweater nice.
Posted by: Cyndi at June 5, 2006 10:08 AM
wow! what a gorgeous sweater! everytime i see an hourglass i see all the little additions that make it "your" sweater and just how perfect they are. this is a real winner. congrats!
(i'm totally going to have to make one of these)
Posted by: gleek at June 5, 2006 10:11 AM
EXCELLENT! What a gorgeous fit! You did a spectacular job. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Cara at June 5, 2006 10:12 AM
Nice sweater, nice pictures. You have a great figure, and the sweater really flatters you!
Posted by: jessie at June 5, 2006 10:13 AM
It looks wonderful on you! Fantastic color and fit!
Posted by: grumperina at June 5, 2006 10:15 AM
Your Hourglass is super duper beautiful. The yarn, the colour, the shaping, it is spectacular.
Posted by: Liz at June 5, 2006 10:16 AM
It's beautiful! All the mods you made really made it so much better. I love it!
Posted by: mari at June 5, 2006 10:17 AM
Steph, it's gorgeous and looks fabulous on you! Yippppeeee! You should be proud of yourself for knitting such a beautiful and well-fitting sweater. And I love the artsy photos, too!
Posted by: caitlyn at June 5, 2006 10:22 AM
Beautiful! the fit is great, the hems nonflaring, neckline perfect - all add up to a lovely sweater! super job on Hourglass.
Posted by: Diana at June 5, 2006 10:39 AM
Congrats on a fantastic project! I love the color, especially against your beautiful scenery. I think Purly was right - the color is really wearable and looks great!
Posted by: Carolyn at June 5, 2006 10:56 AM
I LOVE the colour and it's so super flattering...very inspiring!
Posted by: allison at June 5, 2006 10:56 AM
it fits you perfectly! so gorgeous, I may have to knit another one! I especially love the neckline, but all the mods are spot on!
btw, do you realize you look like you're 20 in those pics? hott!
Posted by: yahaira at June 5, 2006 11:16 AM
Love it. LOVE. IT. Love it.
Posted by: Cindy at June 5, 2006 11:19 AM
So beautiful! I love how perfectly it fits you and the color is amazing. Lovely photos too!
Posted by: Steph at June 5, 2006 11:23 AM
It looks wonderful on you! I really love the colors.
Posted by: keri at June 5, 2006 11:28 AM
Stephanie I love it!
I'm glad to hear that you had positive results with the -10% hem facings. I like that method.
and i think i'm just gonna need to splurge and make a sweater with that yarn. seems like it'd be hard to beat. have you washed it yet? (i think you said it was superwash, right?)
Wondeful job. thank you for sharing it with us!
Posted by: j a r e d at June 5, 2006 11:59 AM
Wow, it looks beautiful! Congrats on a lovely sweater! (And great pics too!)
Posted by: Carrie at June 5, 2006 12:03 PM
Love it! The color, the fit and well everything! I am inspired!
Posted by: Joelene at June 5, 2006 12:04 PM
That looks awesome Steph! It fits you so well!
Posted by: Angela at June 5, 2006 12:09 PM
Hourglass is beautiful and just the look I had hoped to create. Thank you for sharing your modifications. Now I can knit it without worry. You look fabulous in it!
Posted by: margene at June 5, 2006 12:09 PM
The sweater, the color, the fit--it all looks fabulous!
Posted by: --Deb at June 5, 2006 12:24 PM
Just beautiful - the color is great on you! I am going to have to knit this one... every time I see it, I like it that much more.
I do have a question for you about the hem facings... how exactly did you sew those things? With yarn or with thread? Is there a great how to somewhere? I have never finished Rogue (bad - bad!) from not being certain about those darn facings!
Posted by: Kathy at June 5, 2006 1:04 PM
That's a great looking sweater!! All the mods you made worked out so well and the fit is very flattering. Plus the yarn texture and color are gorgeous!
Posted by: jillian at June 5, 2006 1:20 PM
The sweater is beautiful. The fit and color are fabulous.
Posted by: silverarrowknits at June 5, 2006 1:26 PM
That is absolutely awesome! It looks to be a perfect fit and gorgeous on you!
Posted by: Stephanie at June 5, 2006 1:36 PM
Umm, gorgeous! You don't have to worry about if it you think it turned out nicely, it did! Looks great!
Posted by: Wanda at June 5, 2006 1:57 PM
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the colour and it looks HOT on you!
Posted by: Carolyn at June 5, 2006 2:14 PM
Stephanie is stunning. Your pictures are great too. They remind me very much of that book by Sarah Dallas.
Posted by: Rebekah at June 5, 2006 2:14 PM
omg! so incredibly beautiful - both the sweater, the pictures and the model!
the fit is perfect and the colour heavenly. well done, my dear!
Posted by: kris at June 5, 2006 2:30 PM
Wow. That is an unbelievably gorgeous sweater you have there. Hope you get to wear it (comfortably) soon!
Posted by: anne at June 5, 2006 2:32 PM
Wow! Beautiful, the fit is wonderful!
Posted by: Areli at June 5, 2006 3:48 PM
That looks amazing! And it fits like a glove. Great job!
Posted by: Kim at June 5, 2006 3:54 PM
Damn girl! Your waist is tiny!
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. You did such a phenomenal job making it fit you perfectly. I'm so glad you had a positive experience with the yarn and I hope you get years of wear out of it.
Posted by: Purly Whites at June 5, 2006 4:27 PM
A Masterpiece for sure, Stephany, congratulations.
Posted by: Rita at June 5, 2006 4:49 PM
That looks positively fantastic! Wear it with pride (when the weather cools down that is)!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool at June 5, 2006 5:05 PM
so lovely!
Posted by: diana at June 5, 2006 5:25 PM
That color is to die for!!!!
And va-va-voom woman! You've been hiding your 'endowment' from us!!!
THe sweater is great. I can't believe you whipped up a sweater that quickly. Granted it was a teeny-tiny sweater, but still. Oh and I LOVE the long sleeves!
Posted by: Jenn at June 5, 2006 5:30 PM
OMG - that's you? Don't make me hate you - eat something! Seriously though, the sweater is gorgeous. I'm so jealous - I never knit for myself because all sweaters make me look even boxier than normal. Exercise would help, but it would cut seriously into my knitting time!
Posted by: Theresa at June 5, 2006 6:47 PM
Hourglass looks great. I haven't had the courage to alter patterns too much. You're inspiring me to be more adventurous.
Posted by: Kris at June 5, 2006 7:56 PM
Wow! Your sweater looks beautiful.
Posted by: Daphne at June 5, 2006 9:21 PM
it's gorgeous! the fit is dead-on. so many people have struggled with the neckline on that pattern but you really made it work beautifully.
i'll keep my fingers crossed for a few cool evenings so you can wear it sooner :)
Posted by: jody at June 5, 2006 9:33 PM
This is so so cool. I love the way you moded it to fit you perfectly!
Posted by: Amber Lee at June 5, 2006 10:24 PM
gorgeous! The color is really beautiful on you.
Posted by: Coleen at June 5, 2006 11:26 PM
Wow! It looks wonderful! That color is fantastic as well!
Posted by: Leanne at June 6, 2006 4:20 AM
Simply gorgeous!
Posted by: Wendy at June 6, 2006 5:24 AM
It looks gorgeous. It's so nice to see something that fits that well!
Posted by: Amelia at June 6, 2006 6:18 AM
Steph, it is absolutely stunning - a perfect flattering fit in a gorgeous yarn. I simply have to reknit mine... I hope it turns out half as well as yours. Gorgeous.
Posted by: Lolly at June 6, 2006 6:37 AM
All your hard work on this really paid off. Your attention to detail created a sweater that fits like a gem!!! You have such a tiny waist and this sweater accentuates it perfectly!! Beautiful!!!
Posted by: Sarah at June 6, 2006 11:48 AM
very, very nice. Very impressive. I'm also rather impressed with your shape, btw :-)
Posted by: jennifer at June 6, 2006 3:19 PM
gosh i am so late reading blogs! it looks fantastic. i hope mine (when i get around to knitting it) turns out half as good!
Posted by: jacqueline at June 7, 2006 1:32 AM
That looks really lovely on you. Nice design choice, yarn, mods and knitting job!
Posted by: claudia at June 7, 2006 2:02 PM
