Project: Zebra Striper Sweater from Dale of Norway "Favorite Baby Designs"Yarn: Dale of Norway Baby Ull, Various Colors
Needles: 2.5 and 2.0 mm Circular and DPs
I now have an incredible appreciation for people who have to photograph clothing on small children. It's so hard to get them to face the right direction and look at you at the same time. I chased Z around for the better part of an hour on Saturday -- lucky for us the weather was stunning and the little sweater actually got some sunshine to go along with the baby action.
As you can see, it's quite large on her. The sleeves are much too long, and the shoulders are quite broad. But loose is good when you're a toddler on the move. And large means that it could possibly last beyond this season. Which would make this momma knitter very happy indeed.
Of course, during our "photoshoot" the one place she wanted to be was the dirtiest place in the park -- the baseball diamond. She's fascinated with dirt right now, and drawing in it. I guess it's a good think that Baby Ull is superwash wool.
One thing that makes me quite pleased, is that you would be hard pressed from a distance to tell that the sweater is handmade. I think I did a bang up job with neat seaming and weaving in ends. About the only thing that would make you notice (if you got up close) is that the motifs aren't quite centered on the front. This was one of those "read the instructions" bits that I didn't do as well as I should have (because they were in the front of the pattern section, not with the pattern), but, in the end, marks the sweater as something made by a loving person and not a machine.
I don't have a lot more to say about this little sweater than I already have in the series of construction posts. I'm very happy with the black buttons. This was a fabulous introduction to both colorwork and steeking. In fact, steeking was in no way as scary as I thought it was going to be and I can't wait to try it out on a larger sweater project.
As far as this pattern is concerned, I found it quite easy to follow. I think the instructions are clear, but sometimes you need to read very carefully to make sure that you follow the whole train of thought. I did have to refer to some internet tutorials to help with the steeking process -- mostly I wanted a few more visuals to make sure that I was handling the machine stitching the right way. While it can get a bit tedious knitting a sweater on tiny needles with tiny yarn, if you want to try out colorwork and/or steeking, this is the perfect sort of project to get your feet wet on. The amount of colorwork is actually quite small relative to the rest of the sweater and, since it is a small project, I think there's a little less fear when it comes to the "cutting your knitting" part.
Before I had children, I could never understand the point of knitting them anything complicated. What was the point when the recipient wouldn't really understand the work that went into it and would grow out of it so quickly. When I see Ms. Z in this sweater, it makes me so happy inside, I forget all about how much time it took me and the fact that there will be a time that this little sweater will be relegated to the "outgrown" pile -- and then I start trying to figure out what I am going to make for her next.
Of course, during our "photoshoot" the one place she wanted to be was the dirtiest place in the park -- the baseball diamond. She's fascinated with dirt right now, and drawing in it. I guess it's a good think that Baby Ull is superwash wool.One thing that makes me quite pleased, is that you would be hard pressed from a distance to tell that the sweater is handmade. I think I did a bang up job with neat seaming and weaving in ends. About the only thing that would make you notice (if you got up close) is that the motifs aren't quite centered on the front. This was one of those "read the instructions" bits that I didn't do as well as I should have (because they were in the front of the pattern section, not with the pattern), but, in the end, marks the sweater as something made by a loving person and not a machine.
I don't have a lot more to say about this little sweater than I already have in the series of construction posts. I'm very happy with the black buttons. This was a fabulous introduction to both colorwork and steeking. In fact, steeking was in no way as scary as I thought it was going to be and I can't wait to try it out on a larger sweater project.
As far as this pattern is concerned, I found it quite easy to follow. I think the instructions are clear, but sometimes you need to read very carefully to make sure that you follow the whole train of thought. I did have to refer to some internet tutorials to help with the steeking process -- mostly I wanted a few more visuals to make sure that I was handling the machine stitching the right way. While it can get a bit tedious knitting a sweater on tiny needles with tiny yarn, if you want to try out colorwork and/or steeking, this is the perfect sort of project to get your feet wet on. The amount of colorwork is actually quite small relative to the rest of the sweater and, since it is a small project, I think there's a little less fear when it comes to the "cutting your knitting" part.
Before I had children, I could never understand the point of knitting them anything complicated. What was the point when the recipient wouldn't really understand the work that went into it and would grow out of it so quickly. When I see Ms. Z in this sweater, it makes me so happy inside, I forget all about how much time it took me and the fact that there will be a time that this little sweater will be relegated to the "outgrown" pile -- and then I start trying to figure out what I am going to make for her next.
This is a beautiful work of love!
You created a family heirloom - it is just gorgeous. Thank you for sharing the process and the final results with us.
I think you are underestimating how long Ms. Z will be able to wear this sweater! I expect she will be able to wear it well into the early grades of grammar school - even if the sleeves become fashionably 3/4 length!
Beautiful job!
Beautiful sweater on a beautiful little girl. She'll get a number of years of wear out of that, I think. I agree with Milena that it could well become a family heirloom. Congratulations on the completion!
It's really beautiful, as is your model. Well done!
Wow! You did a great job on that sweater - it is absolutely gorgeous - almost as lovely as the model!
I get the same way about some of the knitting I've done for my husband. It makes me happy when he puts on a hat I've made. He might not always get the amount of work something is, but he tries and he seems to enjoy the end result.
Wonderful job! I love the colors and I agree with you- it does NOT have that "homemade" look. I love the black buttons. They look just like I pictured them. I think the b/w print buttons would have been a great option too, but that's the kind of thing you can never seem to find when you need it.
Holy wow, this is one of the most beautiful things you have ever knit. And I think it will fit her for some time!
Both the sweater and the model are truly lovely.
Bravo!
It's a masterpiece. I too am sure she will wear it for several years. I always made sweaters for mu daughter way too big, which she never minded, and then they went on and on. I still have the first little fairisle sweater I knitted for her. It was in the days before steeks, and it was a nightmare, going back and forth.
It certainly is a special sweater. I'm glad it is washable and a little on the big side so it can get plenty of use! You do very nice work.
It's beautiful. Very nice work. She looks very chic in it!
Adorable! You did do a bang up job on this. She looks so very cute in it.