Pearl Buck Swing Jacket Finished
The weather did get better today, but my photographer didn't get up early enough to take pictures before work (actually, he didn't go to bed early enough... a new computer game can be a terrible thing). But I wanted to go into the weekend with the finished pictures of my new Pearl Buck Swing Jacket, so the pictures shown here are from a cold grey windy morning (which is why the jacket and my hair appear to be in motion -- it was hard to keep things in place with the wind blowing all around and I really wanted to get back inside where it was warm!)
Project: Pearl Buck Swing Jacket from Interweave Knits
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, Lava
In the end evaluation, I like the pattern. It was easy to execute and it has some nice details without being over the top. The yoke is behaving better than I thought it would and some severe blocking got the pleat in the back to mostly stay in place (I'll have to wear it out and about a bit to see how it really holds up). I think calling the sleeves "bracelet length" is a little optimistic, but it wouldn't be hard to make them longer if that was what was desired. In fact, I think that the photography for this project was a bit deceptive. Of course, I should know better by now than to judge a garment by the way it looks on the model, but some habits die hard. I made the smallest size -- which is supposedly the size pictured on the model in Interweave Knits. A 36" finished size is usually fine for me, but I must be a giant compared to the model they selected. As I look at the picture, it looks like the set-in sleeves are almost drop shoulders on her and the jacket hangs much lower past her waist than it does mine (and I am pretty short-waisted). So if you knit this jacket, be sure you like the measurements. I thought about doing the next size larger, but I'd swim in a jacket that was 41" around.
I do like the yarn and would knit with it again in another project with a raised stitch pattern. The texture and drape are very nice at this gauge and I think the heathery quality of the yarn fits the pattern and the design elements very well. My only complaint about the yarn was that I found quite a lot of VM in it, and it wasn't always easy to pull it out of the yarn. On the flip side, I found hardly any knots, and if I have a choice between knots or VM, I'll usually take the VM. The combination of this yarn and a good blocking process seems to have convinced the front edges not to curl too much. Once again, it will be interesting to see whether that remains true after the sweater has been worn for a while.
The weight of this yarn and the length of the sleeves makes this more of a spring and fall sweater. So, unusually enough for me, I think I've actually had good timing with regards to when I completed this sweater. Today we had some of our first truly spring-like weather. I'm hoping that Friday will be equally nice so that I can take the sweater out for a little jaunt around the neighborhood.
What a wonderful job you did! So neatly knit and the color is fantastic - suits you perfectly! Congratulations!
It looks fantastic! Love the wind-blown shots, actually.
It looks beautiful! I love the color and the detailing down the pleat. Very nicely knit. Thank you for sharing.
Your pearl buck looks great. I am in the process of seaming mine right now. Mine is done in Jaeger luxury tweed. I love the feel of it, but I don't think my raised stitches pop like yours. Anyways I am real happy with it.
I knit the biggest size in this sweater because I usually always have to...I am thinking it is going to fit more like the one in the magazine....I guess I will find out in the next day or two!
It's nice to see someone else's Pearl Buck- I really do think it is a lovely pattern. And I love your color!
Love the jacket and your commentary. It suits you well and I'm sure she can't wait to hit the streets for a test drive!
I started a second pair of socks for hubby (b-day socks and he's greedy) and then started them again, and again....socks that rock does frog well. I have the cuff ribbing done and lets hope this pair stays on the needles. I'm picking a simple garter stitch rib pattern from SensationalKnitted Socks.
It's a lovely jacket and looks great on you! Fabulous color, too.
I've knitted a textured cardigan in silky wool. I had more than a little VM in mine, I left a small pile of what looked like hay wherever I'd been knitting. I also found undyed slubs of white silk from time to time. Having said that it was a pleasure to knit with and I'd certainly knit with it again. It is my mother's favorite woolly because it's light in weight but shows the cabling well. It's been washed a few times and so far it's wearing well.
Yours is a lovely colour and I like the way it looks on you. It's always going to be a warmer season garment because of the weight of the wool so I think that the sleeve length is not the drawback it would have been if you were aiming for something to wear through the winter.
Lovely jacket! That's a great color for you. I like the detail along the front edge. Was there even a picture of that in the magazine? I'm thinking that there were only pictures of the back. Anyway, it's nice. I hope that pleat holds out for you. It looks really good right now.
Gorgeous haircut. I wish I could get mine done that nice.
It looks beautiful! Love it, love the color.
It looks wonderful, Theresa! Indeed quite different than on the model though. The color is wonderful and the construction has nice details!
It look gorgeous on you! I saw the pattern in IK and just loved the detail.
OKay the front is nice, but I just absolutely love that back! It's a great color too.
I'll bet you'd feel comfortable wearing that to the office. Pretty color on you!
Looks great! And the back seems to really be laying nice and flat. Yeah!
So cute! It looks fantastic on you!
But really...bracelet length sleeves? Even if the pictures are deceptive, they don't look even close. They look great, but not bracelet length.
You did a great job. It looks beautiful. Love that color.
Wonderful job! It was great to hear the details while you were knitting it and now to see the finished project.
Absolutely gorgeous color and the cardi/jacket looks great. I really love how it fits on you. Great job!!
I actually like the fact that the wind is moving your hair and the jacket around. It makes for a good picture!
Please do update us as this is a pattern I'd admired.
The pattern is very catchy and I love the way yours turned out! Great color on you, too.
Congratulations! It's beautiful!
Oh so pretty on you, Theresa!
It's a lovely jacket that looks wonderful on you Theresa! Great color choice and don't you just love the Silky Wool?
You could probably tack down the back pleat with a bit of sewing if it doesn't want to stay pleated.
it's beautiful! great job, theresa.
Do the happy dance and don't forget to do some twirls so everyone can see your jacket swirl!
The Buck sweater looks great. I love the back.
I guess it would be nice if the magazines told us the height and weight of their models so we'd have SOME idea of what the sizes really meant. But I don't think they'd be that nice to us.
Very pretty color, too.
Wonderful sweater--great color for you.
I love Silky Wool--the colors are charming, it knits into a fabric with a lovely drape, and it is very light and warm. In New England it's at least a three season fabric.
If you like the yarn, check out Elsebeth Lavold's patterns which are very suited to the yarn, with interesting textural patterns.
Kathleen
Ooooooh... I bought this yarn originally (in the burgundy shade), and then returned it when I read your post about the concern with the pleat in the back. I decided to just wait and see how it blocked out. It looks *fabulous* - I might just have to go back and get it! Since I live in Houston, the "spring/fall" weight is perfect. We don't get to wear bulky sweaters down here - I miss winters in Illinois!
I hope you post the results of wearing it out and about!
What a perfect Spring Chicago sweater! Love it - the pleat in the back is perfect!!!!!!
That jacket looks fantastic. I'm thinking of making it for my mom, so I'm glad to hear that you liked the pattern.
Your Pearl Buck is beautiful. Congratulations!