As We End The Year Of The Sweater...

I am still without a handmade sweater. In my defense, socks got in the way and I found them a worthy challenge. However, I had nearly forgotten my promise to the entire internet that I'd finish a handmade sweater in 2007.

It's not gonna happen.

But I found the one I will do!! And my project slate is fairly clean save one scarf that I'm throwing together for a friend at Christmas (don't get any ideas, anyone, she's not a blog reader).

Meet the sweater.*

This little lovely covers all my bases. Can be done in Cotton-Ease, available in sizes for larger Americans, not boring (take a look at the picot bind off! and cables! and exotic increase/decreases!), able to be layered and multi-season.

I have consulted a knitting professional regarding said increase/decreases and she offers some good help. I'm open to more. I'm also mulling over the color possibilities.

*Cat not included. Really, I'm a 36 year old single English teacher who knits. Let's not have me fulfill every stereotype all at once.

The Talk Has Grown Tiresome

It's time to stop with the thinking and leap into the Year Of The Sweater.

I have three finalists. Leave any thoughts you have.

Finalist #1-Regine (clicking here will lead to you to a .pdf file, be warned) has the basic yet interesting style that would serve me well. Behold also the minimal finishing! Although long sleeved, it's thin enough to work from Fall to early Spring. Concerns? Do I really have to be the hero and knit an entire sweater on such small needles? Will it take me so long that by the time I finish, I'll hate it? And what of all that stockinette stitch? Would I fall asleep knitting?

Finalist #2-Blaze also has the "wear it every day" quality, but would take me from early Spring to late fall (provided summer wearing is inside an air-conditioned building). The wacky texturing insures that I'd seldom be bored. Concerns are similar to those of Regine, would the medal I'd get for knitting an entire sweater on small needles match my other clothes? Do I want the medal?

and now, a last minute entry for finalist #3

Invested is the exact sort of cabley vest I was speaking of. It's also made with chunky yarn and larger needles. It would take me through Fall and Winter. I wonder, however, if I am insane for thinking of a zipper. It also has a more limited window of wearing.

Thanks to all who sent and commented with suggestions. I'd love your continued feedback. Is anyone else taking on a first sweater?

The Second Coming And The Year Of The Sweater

It was my favorite yarn. It's makeup was 50% natural fiber and it was light enough for a warm climate. It was a good yarn in a pleasing color palette that was affordable and even more so with coupons from the discount stores. I loved it, but never got around to making the sweater I had hoped to make. And I just looked around, and it was gone.

And now behold, the Lord has heard my cries to restore a great loss (although really, this isn't the loss I was praying to restore...).

Behold, the second coming of Cotton Ease!

I shan't make the same mistake twice and so with its resurfacing, I now declare 2007 The Year Of The Sweater. So now, it's just about which pattern to make. Here are my thoughts, I expect pattern suggestions and well wishes.

Sweater guidelines:
1. It needs to be versatile and classic because I will want to wear it until I die (because even though I will do this once, I don't see doing it often).

2. Should be lightweight because I live in Oklahoma and work in a heated building.

3.Shouldn't be crazy difficult, but stockinette will bore me to tears over the course of an ENTIRE garment (remember, I'm not small).

So, all of this says to me either short sleeve pullover or a sleeveless piece to layer (for I am bare armed phobic). Perhaps cables? I have this vision of a big cabled vest or a cabled zippered round neck cardigan (also sleeveless). Short sleeve pullovers should have some sort of shaping to give the glorious illusion of girl-shaped-ness.

So there. It's the Year Of The Sweater and I need your thoughts. Any other new-ish knitters care to jump in with me?