2014 - A YEAR OF KNITTING FOR ME - Sweater #1

It is FINISHED! Sweater #1 is knit, blocked, pieced together and is being worn today.

Here it is . . . just the way I like to show my sweaters. However, my year of knitting specifically for me, was meant for better than this. Anyone can knit a sweater to look good on a dress form. Dress forms don't have body flaws. So here it is, on the body it was knit for:

This body does have its flaws. This is the very first sweater I've knit for me, that fits me perfectly. I usually put my finished sweaters on the dress form and look at them for a few months, before I have the courage to try them on. Many of the sweaters I've knit for me, in the past, are in a box and have never been worn.

This is my first "Fit to Flatter" (F2F) sweater, knit from a pattern generated by Amy Herzog's Custom Fit software. You can generate and purchase your own patterns here: http://customfit.makewearlove.com/customfit/about/.  Amy walks you through gathering all of the necessary measurements and the software does all the math to write the perfect knitting pattern just for you.  You can see that my sweaters fits in the most important place of all (in the shoulders).  When, like me, you have an over-abundance of curves in the lower quadrant of your body, it is always difficult to get a good fit in the shoulders.  Nothing says "poor fit" like slouchy shoulders. 

The lace pattern comes from Brooklyn Tweed's "Peabody", and it is knit of KnitPick's Swish DK in Garnet Heather. It has been interesting to ponder Amy's concept that we have the same shape body from birth to death. It is good to know that if I am able to muster the willpower to lose the pounds I've gained over the past year, that I can simply take in the seams, and I'll still have the perfect fit. Whether you are thinner or wider, your body always maintains the same basic shape or bodytype.

Here I am, getting ready to put on my coat and head off to work this morning.  This was a surprise photo, taken by my husband, and there was no fussing about with the sweater before he took it.  I wore it comfortably all day, and I'm already thinking about what I can wear it with next.  I think that box of cast-offs is going to see some unravelling.  There is a lot of great yarns in there, and I can now see they were all knit to a standard "Jane Doe" set of measurements.  "Jane" is definitely a different size than I am.  Standard knitting patterns or ready-to-wear garments, have to be designed to a standard.  I wonder if "Jane Doe" actually matches anyone out there in the world.  I'm guessing she is just an average of many woman in a certain range.

SWEATER #2:

Sweater #2 is planned to be Amy Herzog's "Afterlight". It is on the needles (US2) and well underway. Knit of Lorna's Laces - Soulmate in the color Harrison. It is a fine, sock weight yarn in a hand-dyed colorway. I'm learning to alternate skeins, to prevent color pooling. It is a fine gauge, and I think I'll just love it.

This design is knit all in stockinette stitch, so the body shaping is easy to execute, without much thought. However, Sweaters #3 and #4 both have stitch design elements, so I'm doing some thinking about how the shaping will be incorporated, without compromising the stitch pattern. Hopefully I'll be able to figure this out.

Wow . . . I am sure learning some great knitting skills, and I hope your 2014 will be filled with lots of knitting knowledge too. My next post will include all of the great projects produced by my "Knit Night" buddies. They have all been working hard, and it will be fun to show off all of their efforts. Happy Knitting!