Absolutely Audrey
I am both pleased and embarrassed to finally introduce Audrey.
Pleased, because I think she is a lovely top that I will want to wear on a regular basis. Pleased, because I think she fits well and I am happy with my technical execution. Embarrassed, because she sat in my armoire for three months because I was too lazy to remove the lace edging, take out one repeat and re-attach the edging -- a process that only too a couple of hours when I actually sat down and did it. I'm not sure why I thought it was going to be such a painful repair. Knitting those repetitive lace units must have softened up my brain.
These shots aren't intentionally artsy -- the best light in the house just happened to be near our sliding glass door. I would have gone outside, but a whole bunch of snow and low temperatures kept me on the warm side of the window. Fortunately, most of you already know what Audrey is supposed to look like, and my Audrey is no exception. I did the increases and decreases that create the darts exactly as described in the pattern with no alterations. I'm a bit surprised at how much those darts seem to - er - augment certain portions of my anatomy. No wonder this sweater went over well when I introduced her to John.
I always like it when a sweater looks as going as coming. There's definitely no odd rippling or gapping here!
What did I learn from Audrey?
- I like Calmer. It's a great yarn that knits up well and feels lovely against the skin and heavy enough for three season wear. It can split a little bit, however, if you're not paying attention to it when you knit with it. I think it would make a very man-friendly garment.
- Kim Hargreaves is still my favorite designer for Rowan. This top has a lovely classic shape. And as long as I don't change shape too much, I'll be able to wear this top for years to come.
- In spite of everyone's concerns, the increases and decreases as written in the pattern work just fine -- at least to my eye.
- Knitting a sweater in K2 P2 ribbing was not as painful as I thought it would be, but I won't be searching out another one anytime soon.
- Attention to detail makes all the difference in the world. By elimating one of the lace repeats in the collar, I made a significant impact in how the collar lays on my shoulders. With 19 repeats: big gaps, collar did not lay flat. With 18 repeats, no gapping, collar lays the way it was meant to.
My first February fix is in and I now have an Audrey I'm happy with. For anyone interested in making Audrey, I'd say that she's an intermediate level project. There is a little thinking involved in getting the increases and decreases correct and attaching the collar to the body of the garment requires patience and a little basic math. For more detail, you can check out the Audrey project blog where a lot of other Audreys and helpful details have been described -- and where I'll have posted more details about what I did to get the collar tacked down gracefully.
You look gorgeous in her!!
I've been waiting to see your Audrey in all its glory! Thanks for doing the Knitalong, even though I was blogless at the time and you kindly allowed me to participate.
Hi ! Audrey looks perfect on you. I saw many ppl knit this pattern but I couldn't. I am to fat to wear rib pattern sweater >
OO, your Audrey turned out wonderful! great job!!
Hot damn, that looks good!
Beautiful Audrey! :-)
Wow, she looks great! The colour really suits you. I just bought book #35 on sale, so I will have to add Audrey to my list of things to knit. Thanks for the inspiration!
BEAUTIFUL! I bet you're so happy to have finally gotten her done.
She is so utterly lovely!!! That's really inspiring!
Simply lovely and flattering! The color is wonderful on you. And, as an aside, did you get a fair bit cut off your hair? (I'm rarely a commenter but an avid reader.)
You've inspired me to do the same with my lace edging. I wear my Audrey a lot and just pretend that I wanted the off-the-shoulder look. Yours looks fabulous!!!
All right, I give up! I need to knit Audrey, too. I have been assimilated. Just let me get through the March gift knitting first, please...
Looks great! Fits you perfectly and the color is very flattering. I've been wondering if I should do the same -- to rip out a lace repeat. Mine's just on the wrong side of the flashdance line for my liking.
So worth the wait !
The colour really suits you and it's very figure enhancing indeed ! ;-]
Your hair is looking fab too.You had quite a bit trimmedYes ? A very nice length on you.Looks vert swingy.
You're sickening really ! Just as well I like you. :0)
Wow, it looks amazing! But er..a *February* fix? As usual, you're way ahead of the game!
Audrey looks great.
And I don't know how I missed the hair cut but it is very flattering on you! The shorter length is great!
Yeah, I see why your boy likes it. Beats a Wonderbra all to hell.
Actually, I could use me some of that.
Beautiful sweater. I'm glad the fixing went so smoothly for you - it would have been a tradgedy if you'd had to rip it all out.
Well, T, that was certainly worth the wait ~ it's beautiful! I don't recall seeing one in this color, which is especially pretty on you.
Beautiful color on you and your HAIR looks really nice, btw.
The color looks great with your hair and skin (like the hair shorter too!) Fabulous.
Beautiful! It must feel good to get it done.
I'm jealous--that pattern does not suit my body.
And, you've inspired me to fix some things hiding in my closet too.
Great job on Audrey! It really looks great on your svelte figure.
It's beautiful, beatiful – fits you so nicely. :-)
The sweater looks amazing! Beautiful work!
Your Audrey is delightful. It fits you to perfection.
What a way to choose a sweater that flatters you so much! Audrey is beautiful and was definitely worth the weight!
Really gorgeous. :)
I recently started my own Audrey - I'm on the first sleeve. A lot of what inspired me to choose to knit Audrey was seeing how lovely so many people looked in this sweater. Thanks for starting the knitalong, and congrats on finishing!
Wow. Nice pictures, absolutely lovely sweater (I like the lace neckline!) and you look fabulous in her. Good job!
YOWZA. I've been wanting to make an Audrey for a long time, but the neckline was stopping me a bit because I really don't like the off the shoulder look on me. Buuuut now I know what to do to fix that. Thanks! (and this looks so good on you!)
What a beautiful, flattering sweater.
Audrey fits you perfectly! A huge congratulations, you look stunning in her. About the decreases, the same ones were used in another K. Hargreaves that I made last summer and I liked the way they looked, I'd use them again. Wear her proudly!
Great work on Audrey! I am sure you'll enjoy wearing her constantly.
That is one great sweater! May have to investigate that pattern myself....
i love your sweater! the color looks great on you!
beeyoutiful~
Fabulous sweater - and what's more - it really works on you. I find that lots of people seem to knit sweaters that are beautiful, just not ideal for their body shape. I love the blue too. Yay for you and Audrey!
Beautiful job on your Audrey! You look lovey in that color and the fit is perfect. Congratulations on your first February fix!
Your Audrey looks AMAZING! I love the way it fits you and looks so lovely and feminin. Congratulations!
What a lovely top! Congratulations.
Holy moley! What a great job! It's looks wonderful on you. I'm inspired even more to start mine...