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…
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. [...]