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…
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