May 2, 2006
Liberty from All Angles
Break out the champagne, Liberty is absolutely and completely finished. Not a single end remains to be woven in. All the last details are wrapped up and in place. All that remains are the pictures. And here they are:
While I don't like cold grey weather, I wasn't completely upset that today it was cool enough to wear a wool/microfiber/cashmere blend sweater to work. Yes, for me, Liberty does require a little tank top underneath. It could be suggested that I made a size too small, but the rest of the proportions are right, and the wrap edges reach where they should. Liberty just has a little more sex appeal than I initially gave her credit for.
As you can see, the back fits almost perfectly (in support of my feeling that the sizing is correct). I am very much in love with the way this top looks from the back. I think the shaping is lovely and the ties add a sweet little detail. I initially wondered if the ties would be heavy looking and feeling, but in the end I think they are well balanced for the garment.
How could I not love a sleeve like this? See how well matched the striping is to the side of the garment? I would love to take credit for that, but it's all part of the design. The cap is also meant to match most of the way up the armscye, and it does. It's things like this that make all the effort worth while.
Now that the project is complete and I can wear Liberty out into the world, I will say that I think that the effort was absolutely worth it. I love the fit of the garment and a days worth of wearing resulted in no itching or scratching. I just felt so happy all day long at work in my new sweater. Also, after a days' worth of wear, it retains the shape that it's supposed to and didn't start pilling violently. Not only that, the wraps stayed completely in place where they were supposed to. Liberty is definitely a top that fits into a professional wardrobe. And I now have something knitted with a happy bit of orange and green in it that doesn't make me look like I am vaguely seasick.
A few notes...
I did very little in the way of going beyond the pattern. I did choose to do a tubular cast on, which I think makes a nicer edge for the ribbing and one that doesn't pull in where it's not supposed to. To seam the edges of the ties, I used a very simple stitching which involved just sewing through each pair of cast on and bound off edge stitches. I attatched the ties to the back of the edging such that the short end edge was juxtaposed against the inner edge of the grey trim and stitched it in place with some leftover yarn. Setting in the sleeves was a breeze since there were stripes to be matched against.
So this long-delayed, somewhat unloved project has really moved to a special place in my sweater drawer. Wearing this garment makes me feel happy and a little bit sophisticated and like a Knitter with a capital "K". There's really nothing about it that I can complain about. The armholes are just right and not binding, the waist shaping is perfect for me and lands in exactly the right place. The seaming looks presentable. The edging lays exactly the way it is supposed to. All that finishing work was rewarded with something that will be in my spring and fall wardrobe rotation for some time to come.
And for anyone who is interested, you can still download Liberty for free from Rowan.
Very very impressive! Thanks for posting the link - I was going mad googling for it, and failing.
Very beautiful! Congratulations, Liberty looks to be well worth the work you put into her.
Lovely! Congratulations and wear it well.
Liberty looks absolutely amazing on you! The perfect fit.
Totally, totally, totally worth it! In fact, I may have to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne myself -- you know, just to toast you and Liberty!
I think the fit looks great and I like the addition of the tank underneath. Wonderful job!
What an accomplishment! Liberty looks fantastic and fits beautifully.
Well, well done.
That looks really nice! I couldn't quite picture what it would look like finished. Good job.
Also, I don't know about anyone else, but that link takes me to a pattern called Clyde, and the Liberty pattern doesn't seem to be available on the site today. Oh well.
Congrats! I have to admit that I was a bit worried about the wild (in my book) colours, but they do look great on you. :)
That looks wonderful on you! You have every right to be pleased! Nice job!
It looks beautiful! It looks like it should be worn with something underneath - you're stylin'!
LIBERTY ROCKS!!!! Love it!
It's beautiful, and so flattering!
Your new sweater is absolutely fabulous, and it looks great on you! In the end, slogging through all that finishing was most certainly worth it.
That sweater look GORGEOUS! Very well done.
it looks great, Theresa! I think that style is always meant to have a camisole or t-shirt worn under it -- sizing looks perfect. I love the matching sleeve detail, too. Woo!
It is gorgeous! Fantastic job. When you first started it, I was inspired to also make one. I am at the ends sewing in stage and one sleeve to go. I am a little worried about the fit of the sleeves (too narrow) because I sized them down from the pattern, but I am blocking one now and will see. I am so excited to see one done, that I will get back to the sewing! Jane
Capital K indeed. The sweater is amazing and suits you and your sense of style. I have been following your progress and appreciate all your attention to detail and sharing info with your readers.
It's absolutely stunning! Perfect fit!! Concratulations on a(yet another) fantastic completed work!
Beautfiful! (Not that you haven't heard that before....)
Yes, it really looks amazing! And fits perfectly (I don't find it too sexy, I find it just right!) Unfortunately, the link also sends me to a pattern named Clyde (nice, but far less exciting) instead of Liberty. I want the Liberty pattern :(
Gorgeous! How awesome that you got to wear it right away too. As usual, amazing detail work. Thanks for sharing it.
Absolutely beautiful!
I got Clyde from that link as well. Maybe Liberty expired! She looks absolutely perfect on you - the color, the fit - it all works so well!
Thank you for all the nice words. Y'all sure know how to make a girl feel good about her new sweater.
I'm sorry that the link that I thought was to Liberty doesn't work any more. Clyde definitely isn't Liberty. For anyone looking for the pattern it's from the Rowan Classic Cafe book.
Liberty looks great on you!
It's wonderful, Theresa! And the fit is perfect at every spot.
All those ends were definitely worth it! Liberty is gorgeous on you! The shape is beautiful.
It's gorgeous. Really beautiful and a perfect fit. Congratulations!
Oh, Theresa! This is a stunning piece of work. And you know I love how the sleeve striping matches with the body striping, right? It's genious.
Liberty belongs at the top of the sweater drawer!
Looks gorgeous! And I think the size is perfect! If you made it larger, it would be too big across the back and in the arms. It looks like even the sleeve length is perfect!
WOW! Totally worth all your hard work. Liberty is fantastic!!
Liberty is gorgeous! Great job and congrats!
Someday I hope to knit a sweater I love as much as you do yours! Right now I can't even commit to a tiny T-shirt type thing. But someday, I'll work on a multi-colored, printed sweater that I can be proud of. Your sweater, and the whole story on your blog outlining its construction, is inspiring!
It looks fabulous on you! Great job!
oh T, it's great! perfect for our weather right now with just a tank. at least today should be warmer
wow, what a gorgeous knit!!! i love it!
Gorgeous! Congratulations!
It. Is. Gorgeous!!!
Theresa, congratulations on a *great* project! It looks fantastic! Thanks for your thoughts on knitting Liberty, they will come in real handy when I try my hand at it later this year.
Oh wow...Liberty is gorgeous! And you look beautiful in it. Such lovely shaping.
Let Freedon Ring! It looks really stunning on you. VERY flattering.
Congrats on finishing it! You must feel quite happy and relieved! No more ends for a while, huh? :)
I love it Theresa! Liberty looks wonderful on you. Just gorgeous. Those colors were definitely winners. It looks so good. Very well finished too. I think the fit is fabulous and you look like a million bucks in it!! I'm so happy that you finished it!
WoW! That came out amazingly well! The sizing looks just right. I have two wrap sweaters (purchased) and a tank top is usually in order, so just think of it as better safe than flashing! Really, really beautiful work!
that sweater looks great on you.
That is unbelievably cool. Congratulations!
It is just gorgeous! You did a fabulous job =) enjoy wearing it
Yay, it's finished and looks great on you! What else could you ask for?
That fits you perfectly. Excellent job.
Beautiful sweater. I saw this sweater in Ruhama's in Milwaukee this past weekend and was waiting to see your version. Very nice!
Just beautiful! Congratulations and well done for all your hard work. :-)
Beautiful!
Theresa,
Liberty is beautiful. I'm especially impressed with how the striping lines up. You really worked hard on this and it was such fun watching the process. Thank you for sharing it with us.
It's awesome! You should make sweaters more often!!
Absolutely gorgeous, Theresa!
You are your sweater are just beautiful!!
Gorgeous sweater, perfect fit, extremely flattering! And I have to say, your photos show the sweater to much better advantage than the one on the Rowan site. They should hire you (and your photographer!)
Oh wow. That turned out really amazing!
It looks so great on you! Wonderfully done.
Truly gorgeous ! I really love Liberty. So flattering,a perfect fit. A wonderful garment. Fab knitting !