Dec 17 2007
(Nearly) A Year in the Making
I started her last January… and here we are in the middle of December. It is good to have this little darling finished and off the needles!
Pattern: Hoodie from Patons Street Smart
Yarn: Cottage Craft 2-ply in Maritime Blue (100% wool)
Source: Stitches East 2006 (Baltimore)
Needles: Size US 7 and 8 circular needles
Started January 2007 / Finished December 2007
I did not make any modifications to the sweater, although I have to admit that I have not yet sewn in a zipper. I had a little mishap – purely my fault. I bought a zipper at the craft store and was thrilled to find such a close color match (without customization) and in my haste, I neglected to study the package: it was a non-separating zipper, which is really of no use for a cardigan. So, I have a choice of going back and looking again, or just holding off (à la Central Park Hoodie?) on the zipper all together. It does not pull to the sides, and is quite comfy, so it is quite wearable without it… still have to decide on that one.
The pattern was pretty easy to follow, and once I got going, quite enjoyable to knit. I really enjoyed the cables and the bobbles. The cables remind me of chromosomes (inner voice: hush now, your nerd is showing!) and I guess it is fitting that it is a female cardigan 
I considered cutting the cables out of the back panel, but I am glad that I stuck with it. They turned out really nice. I made the Medium size – which is supposed to be for a 38″ inch bust with ease to 41″ inches. I went up one needle size, so I think it may be closer to a 39″. It is a great fit – perfectly comfortable with different tops underneath.
The only notable problem that I had with this garment was the hood. It is BIG. Totally HUGE. It was a nightmare to seam up, and I am still not 100% happy with it (but I will settle for 98%) I blocked the thing like crazy, but when attaching it to the body in the seaming process, I had to do about five hood stitches to every body stitch. I looked at the directions, and I did it right, so I guess it is supposed to be that way. If I had known this earlier, I would have made the hood smaller in the first place. However, I do feel some accomplishment: this was my first hood ever, and overall the results are pretty good. Funny how a head covering can make you feel like a completely different person. (I can’t quite place it: I feel like a 16th-century milk maid, or a fantastical gnome…) Of course, the hood will be worn down most of the time.
I have already sung the praises of this yarn. I could easily sing an encore. It is amazing. I love it. It is a wonderfully simple wool yarn that blocks and blooms beautifully. It is one of those quintessential yarns that works for a large number of projects. I have only seen the distributors at Stitches, but I imagine that you can probably mail order from them as well. My stashbusting mantra forbids me from ordering more (now) but this yarn will undoubtedly be used again the future.
…and now my hoodie and I are headed off to the library for a first outing…
It looks fabulous! Enjoy wearing it this winter.
What a lovely, comfy looking cardi! It matches your eyes really beautifully. Great work, Lolly!
What a lovely hoodie, well done, as always!
What a great sweater! I love the pattern, and it’s adorable on you! Looks like one that will be perfect for all kinds of outings.
What a fantastic job you did! Love love love the color too!
Yay! I’m so psyched you finished this – and it looks so wonderful. That color is totally perfect on you. At the risk of exposing MY inner geek, I have to say that wearing the hood up makes me feel like an elf from Lord of the Rings.
Beautiful colour, it suits you so well, not to mention the great pattern, wonderful job! *^v^*
It’s stunning on you! Great job — I love the color and the photos!
Gorgeous.
Oh my lord, that’s so cute on you. I thought you used denim yarn for it and had to do a double take. I am inspired to knit a hoodie now too.
What a great year it was – this sweater is beautiful. I’ve already checked out the yarn shop – what a great price on that stuff! I like it without the zipper, but if you happen upon the right one sometime, I think it would definitely be a nice finishing touch.
Really, really great. Congratulations. The color is beautiful and it look great on you-yeah:)
So worth the wait! This looks like a store-bought sweater — in a good way! It’s very current, yet totally classic. And the color is PERFECT for you.
As I said before, you are on a roll, Lolly!
This is lovely! The color is so pretty on you.
It’s beautiful! The color is incredible on you. I don’t think the hoodie is too big at all!
That looks awesome! Such inspiration for me to get going on Rogue….
Beauteous! And if you do break down and get a zipper, Zipperstop.com has always been fabulous for me. Nice work!
Really, this is a gorgeous version of this cardi. Just lovely! You look beautiful too.
That really is gorgeous! Color, style, fit… all of it. Yum!
lolly — it is sooooo pretty. congratulations. wear it with pride! i appreciate your comments about things (like the hood) you’re not 100 percent happy with. occasionally i feel like a knitting poser since i sometimes (dare i say often?) settle for things being less than 100 percent. it’s nice to know that knitters i look up to sometimes do that too. oh, and i did the EXACT same thing with the non-separating zipper in my son’s kindergarten sweater (you can see it in my ravelry projects). the only difference? i (well, my friend who helped me) had already installed the zipper before discovering that little issue. oy vey!!! thankfully my friend ripped it out and put in a correct one. anyway, again, your sweater is gorgeous!
it looks great! i have no idea what a non-separating zipper is, but maybe you can do crochet loops and buttons like this instead (second set of photos by jen burns): http://www.knitscene.com/knitsspotting/gallery-hoodie.asp!
What a beautiful sweater! I really love the way the yarn photographed.. it looks so yummy! And you look really happy with it!
It looks absolutely wonderful!
Lauren – that color is FAB with your eyes.
ADORABLE! And the color is totally you.
Now that’s beautiful!
So cute! Congratulations on finishing!
I love it! The color brings out your eyes
I agree that the first hood is a bit daunting. i had some trouble with my Central Park hoodie hood being too big too! I guess that’s just how they are designed.
Great job!
Oh, Lolly, it’s gorgeous! That color looks fantastic on you. And I guess I’m a nerd, too, because I agree that those cables are reminiscent of chromosomes
Congratulations on finishing it! Beautiful work!
It’s stunning on you. This is a new favorite of mine, perhaps because I’m in love with that color blue you chose. Truly flattering project!
Beautiful! The color looks so amazing on you!!
Personally I like it without the zipper.
Yay for inner nerds slipping out!
It’s beautiful and the color is amazing.
Beautiful job! The color is lovely on you. That pattern is in my queue, too.
It’s stunning! I also love that blue yarn. I haven’t seen it in person, but I’ll be on the lookout now.
that blue is just perfect for you! i don’t know if it’s windy in your neck of the woods, but that would have been the perfect sweater for the weather we’re having here!
enjoy your hoodie, it’s gorgeous!
How cute are you! You looks so fab in that sweater. I think you could easily get away with no zipper. It looks pretty cute just hanging there.
What a great sweater! I love that color, and it looks great on you.
Great knit, and what a fabulous color for you!
So gorgeous! Love it!
It looks so great on you. Blue really suites you. The photos are fantastic as well.
BTW you are looking very Milkmaid/gnome chic with your hood up =)
It’s an absolutely wonderful sweater Lolly! Enjoy it!
The hood really looks great on you…so does the sweater!
fantastic lolly!! what a great knit. i love it. also, could you not be a hotter model
LOVE it!
What a beautiful colour! The cardigan looks stunning – congratulations!!!
I would put a zipper in it – somehow it seems to be a zip-up cardigan, sweater-like.
In any case, great job – well done, Lolly!!!
Looks fabulous on you! Great color. And just in time for the seriously cold weather. Great job!
As mentioned, the blue totally compliments you! The photos of you in the hood remind me Arwen in LoTR. Now, how geeky is that?
Beautiful cardigan. Love all the cabley goodness.
Lolly, this looks wonderful on you!
It’s wonderful! I adore the color and it looks great on you! You know, I started this sweater 2 years ago, finished knitting it a year ago and it still sits unseamed in my bag. I have to finish it. That said, I have the same problem with my hood, it’s freakin’ huge. and also, really pointy. I don’t know if you’ve listened to my podcast (www.insubordiknit.com/podcast), but episode 2 has a What’s on my needles song that is all about this sweater (the orange cable hoody, mine’s orange), it goes on and on about how the hat is big and pointy…it’s way funnier in the song. heh.
Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous! What about instead of a zipper, toggle closures? I think it would look lovely with a light brown wood for the toggles…but whatever you decide will be lovely. Everyone is right…that color looks fab on you!
Very nice! A truly wearable knit! Great job
Great job! The blue of the yarn really brings out your eyes.
It’s gorgeous, Lolly, and so are the pictures!! Do you use an off-camera flash?
Maybe the best color EVER on you!! What a fetching milk maid you make…
really great color for you.
Beautiful! I love the cardi, and that color, and yum. Lovely.
what a fabulous sweater.
It looks great on you!!!
It looks great! Congrats on finally finishing it.
I love it! Beautiful color and it looks great on you!
Oh my! It’s a fabulous sweater on you – you look so happy in it, and rightly so. Congrats on finishing in time for lots of winter wearing
That is beautiful! Looks great! Makes your eyes pop! Love it! Love it! Love it!
Beautiful work, Lolly – and I adore your photos.
wow, that sweater color really makes your eyes look gorgeous! lovely work!
So totally worth the year! It’s lovely and matches your eyes so well..which I’m sure was taken into consideration on color.!
I think you should try to get a zipper, they make sweaters so easy to get on/off..etc.
The photos are great! Your smile on the last one says it all.
Lolly – so worth the wait! Lovely lovely lovely on you! Fantastic job!
Gorgeous. Love the pattern and yours look great in blue.
Wow! You can finish a whole sweater in the time it takes me to seam one. I hope you really feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment with this – not only because the cables and fit look so great, but because you accomplished your long term knitting goal! Cheers to that!
I think this could look cool with toggles and button loops, if you wanted to go that route…
Wow really beautiful. The color really looks nice on you. Hope you find your zipper!
Congrats on the finish! It’s a wonderful sweater, and the color is fabulous with your eyes!
WILD APPLAUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done, Miss Lolly! You couldn’t have chosen a better yarn/color for this pattern. The color suits you and your lovely eyes so well. Enjoy!
Gorgeous Lolly! As usual, it looks great on you!
The color is stunning on you, especially with the eyes! I personally love the hood….you said it made you look like a 16th Century milk maid???? Throw in a pearl earring & you could be Vermeers’ next model! Lovely!
Congratulations Lolly for finishing such a great sweater! The color is fab on you!
Beautiful Lolly! Gorgeous colour.
It looks wonderful on you and the knitting is lovely! Well done!
PS – Please put in a zipper, it would be a shame to have such a classic and beautiful sweater looks “unfinished”…if you don’t want to do it, a taylor/dressmaker will!
Oh, it looks amazing on you! That color really flatters you. Great job!
Yay! It looks amazing! Great colour for you too.
So pretty! I have a thing for hoods, and I’m not afraid to wear them, which has caused my family to nickname me “monk girl.” Hey, they keep my head warm!
that came out great!!!! my hood is big too, but at least it’s functional (unlike a lot of other hoodie hoods I’ve seen!)
Terrific sweater! And the color is just PERFECT for you!
You and Hoodie are absolutely adorable together!!
Wow! Gorgeous!
I am so happy that you finished it and the blue is perfect for your eyes!
FABULOUS KNITTING!
Worth the wait??
Happy Holidays to you and your Hoodie!
Oh my heavens! That is so pretty. It is just beautiful.
What a wonderful hoodie! It turned out fabulous and it looks great on you!
ok that’s the second reference to chromosomes that i’ve read about in a knitting blog today! my bio exam can’t come soon enough!
anyway, that color is just gorgeous and the sweater is lovely — even if it’s covered in chromosomes.
gorgeous–really brings out those baby blues!
Wow!!, the hoodie is really gorgeous…love the colour. It look perfect on you.
That came out so wonderfully. The color looks great on you. Wear it well!
beautiful, beautiful cardigan, and your hair looks adorable
i’d vote for putting in the zipper, but it does look cute either way. was kris the photographer? whoever it was, they did a great job with the lighting.
Just stalking you here from Ravelry! That is a really fabulous FO. I am mightily impressed. And the close-up photos of your face are really good – nice catchlights!
I’m looking at the pattern booklet right now – yours is SO much prettier! The blue is perfect and looks gorgeous on you!
I LOVE IT!! I would wear that all the time, and so lovely with your baby blues.
Can you believe I will see you this week?!!! I am excited!
Love you
I vote for putting in a zipper. I made the same pattern about two years ago, and it is my most worn handknit. That zipper makes it a great layering sweater, and has gone to many cold locales with me. The hood on mine is gigantic as well, but I never wear it up.
Congrats on a lovely new sweater!
That color was made for you! Well worth the wait – it looks great!
I love it! The shot of you right before you lament the size of the hood is fabulous. That’s really your color!
It’s so great!!!
Delurking to say that your hoodie is beautiful and the color suits you so well!
it’s fabulous!
Gorgeous! And the blue in the sweater makes your eyes really stand out!
Beautiful sweater, Lolly! The blue really brings out your eyes. I hope you have a fabulous holiday season!
Lolly that sweater is absolutely stunning – it’s gorgeous and you look fabulous in it! Congratulations! I’m actually knitting away on the Central Park Hoodie right now, and I made modifications to the hood – I think I ripped the thing back 3 or 4 times and I still think I might have knit it too big…we’ll see. hope you had a great trip to the Library in your hoodie! Happy holidays to you
Oh Lolly, you look so pretty in it! The color is perfect for your eyes!
I love that yarn. I love the date stamp at the top of your entry. I love the pictures. I love the big hood.
Nice nice nice work.
It looks beautiful on you Lolly. The color is just so YOU.
Amy
Great hoodie~ and great pictures too!
Beautiful work Lolly! You always seem to find the best blues!
Lolly-Lolly bluetiful!!!! XXOO
Just gorgeous Lolly! Your pictures capture the joy you have for ‘finally’ making a sweater that was one of your initial inspirations as you started to knit. I’m sure it will be well worn this winter.
Once the holidays are over I’ll be picking up my 1st sweater to work on – I’ve missed it as I’ve been gift knitting.
Beautiful work and the color is perfect too with your eyes and skin!
WOW. The blue is perfect for your eyes. Great job on the hoodie!
O.K. this came out amazing! You look absolutely gorgeous in blue–one of your best colors I must say:)
The large hood looks elegant and romantic. The lovely blue which brings out your wonderful eyes doesn’t hurt, either.
Lolly – so, so gorgeous!!! And, I think the hood looks very Elizabethan. Love it.
I will add my “what a fabulous sweater” comment to the mix here, Lolly. It looks great, you did such a good job, it suits you quite well!
Congrats on an awesome sweater! It matches your eyes!
it looks so lovely! and i say hold off on the zipper for now — zippers are a pain!
happy holidays dear lolly!
Gorgeous
Very nice work.
Gorgeous sweater! Gorgeous colour on you! Quick question: Is the yarn you made it with scratchy? I looked at the link to the mill you bought it from and think it would be perfect for a project I have in mind.
Beautiful, Lolly! Looks great on you! You did a fabulous job!
Your hoodie is gorgeous and looks fabulous on you. I’ve had similar mishaps with non-separating zippers. Why do they make those in all of the colors you want?
Wonderful sweater!
Looks great!
I actually love the deep hood. There’s something so…satisfying about it! Plus, I feel like I look silly in shallow hoods, but kind of elvish in deep ones. I’ve never attempted to knit one, though…baby steps. Congrats on finishing!
I LOVE It! wow! the color is simply gorgeous and so are you. I can tell that that is going to get a lot of use.
Soooo pretty! The color is wonderful — so blue and rich.
It’s so cute on you! It was definitely worth it, despite the time it required. Blue is a very good color for you
That is such a beautiful sweater!
That is an absolutely gorgeous blue! Turned out great- looks cozy!
Happy knitting-
ali
What a gorgeous sweater!! That color blue looks totally fab on you!
Love the Hoodie! That color looks great on you.
Happy Holidays!
Tami
wow, that color is gorgeous on you. i’ve been reading your blog for awhile as a lurker, but i had to post about this. i’m going to give that yarn a try…
i think wooden toggle buttons would be cute on the front of that sweater. (someone linked to crocheted loops and buttons at knitscene–if you scroll down, you’ll see an example of wooden toggle buttons too). or a zipper. imo, you might get tired of having no way of closing the front.
Stunning! This one of my most favorite colors of blue too.
It’s lovely, a great colour. And it looks great on you! I saw this on Flickr earlier. Hope you’re having a good holiday.
wonderful job, beautiful sweater, gorgeous on you!
It’s great, Lolly…you’ve inspired me to finish my own SSH! Beautifully done.
[...] As I bound off on the shawl yesterday, I had the inspiration to focus on the natural ivory of the yarn, pairing it with some white clothing. From there, I wanted to experiment with some photographic elements, and I asked Kris to help me put together a photoshoot. We picked up a Strobist Kit with remote flashes last year. Kris uses it a lot for his aquarium photography and I have used it occasionally for both light box photography and FO shoots. [...]