I cast this on for Eleanor right at the beginning of the year on the 1st of January. It's taken quite a while to get it finished but in my defence, there have been periods when I haven't picked it up to work on at all for weeks at a time, and periods when I've been waiting for Eleanor to come home from university to try it on before continuing on the knitting.
It's quite a big undertaking though, there were nearly 400 stitches on the needles and as it's knit in 4 ply, or fingering weight yarn, it grows very slowly. A boxy style which is knit in stocking stitch, it's a great project for TV knitting or for working on whilst chatting as you really don't have to concentrate on it.
Eleanor chose which colour she liked from the Drops Baby Merino range and I think she made a good choice. This is Light Grey.
I've got a couple of gripes about the sweater, the first being the hem. It tends to curl upwards and I was worried the whole time that I was knitting the sweater that it would curl when being worn. I knew about this problem before I started the sweater so I knit double the amount of rib that the pattern instructed and this, along with a good blocking, has just about cured the issue but many people have highlighted this problem in their notes on Ravelry so I'm surprised that the designer hasn't looked at this and solved the issue. The second gripe is my own fault. There's a bit of an issue to the side of the neckline where I picked up stitches and though I knew about it after a couple of rows, I couldn't be bothered taking it back as I just wanted the sweater finished by this point. It's only a little untidiness and when I showed Eleanor she didn't know what I was fussing about, and to be honest, it's much less noticeable now that the sweater has been blocked.
I like the yarn I've used, Drops Baby Merino is really soft, it was nice to knit with and has made a lovely drapey fabric but I think it will be prone to pilling, time will tell.
I'm pleased to have finally finished this project, I like the finished garment, I think it really suits Eleanor and Eleanor's very happy with it.
It looks lovely, that is a lot of knitting there.
ReplyDeleteThe stocking stitch was endless but I like some easy knitting for when I'm watching TV or chatting, it was perfect for that.
DeleteWhat a very lovely model, your knitting looks perfect, it's so easy to have a twisted or split stitch just where it shows, stocking stitch in a light colour can be very unforgiving. I love the weight of 4ply, but all those stitches on each row.
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of stitches on the needles which could be daunting for some people but I just took my time and enjoyed it. I think the blocking has given a lovely drape to the fabric.
DeleteIt looks fantastic, Jo. Eleanor is so pretty and all grown up. How did that happen?? :o)
ReplyDeleteEleanor had her twentieth birthday last month, I don't have any teenagers any more. She's really pleased with the sweater, it will be nice to wear when the cooler weather comes.
DeleteIt's beautiful Jo. It really suits Eleanor and fits perfectly. X
ReplyDeleteI wasn't so sure about the style when I started knitting it but I think it's nice now it's finished. A nice casual style.
DeleteIt's beautiful! I love the color and it looks very nice on Eleanor.
ReplyDeleteI would have chosen a darker grey but Eleanor chose this light grey, I think she made the right choice now I see it knitted up.
DeleteLooks great on her.
ReplyDeleteI think the style really suits her.
DeleteIt's a nice modern style which Eleanor will enjoy wearing. I like the detail stitches on the shoulders with the rest plain. Glad you could overcome the hem problem and the soft yarn knitted up well.
ReplyDeleteI like the shoulder detail too, it just breaks up the whole plainness of the garment. I was really worried about the hem issue the whole way through knitting it but I seem to have sorted it out.
DeleteThis is lovely. I'm making All the Love, which is another of Jojis and falling out with myself for making mistakes. Your daughter is a lucky girl....and looks great modelling.
ReplyDeleteI've just had a look at All The Love and I really like it. I see it's a similar boxy style but with some added patterning, I bet it's easy to make a mistake. I'm really pleased how the sweater looks on Eleanor.
DeleteIt certainly is a great make and looks lovely on her. Love the colour.
ReplyDeleteI thought I might get bored making such a large garment with so much knitting, especially in one colour, and grey especially, but I didn't and I love Eleanor's colour choice.
DeleteLucky Girl :) it's lovely,
ReplyDeleteIt looks so soft and comfortable.
well done x
I think it's a nice comfy sweater for casual wear. The yarn is really soft and I think the style will be very comfortable to wear.
DeleteHow lovely she is, it does look good.xxx
ReplyDeleteI think the style really suits Eleanor, she's very happy with it.
DeleteEleanor looks fabulous. Well done you with all those tiny stitches.
ReplyDeleteIt was an enjoyable make but I was pleased to get it off the needles after such a long time.
DeleteIt looks lovely. It must feel so good to have it finished after all this time.
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I'm really pleased to have it finished. I knew when I cast it on that it would be a long term project with me working on other things alongside it but it's nice to finally have it off the needles.
DeleteWhat a lovely sweater, looks very good when worn no wonder Eleanor was pleased, but what a lot of stitches to cope with, quite a marathon in 4 ply too. Such a sense of achievement when you finally finish a large project xcx
ReplyDeleteI think it's a lovely style and will be comfortable to wear. There were a lot of stitches on the needle but I don't think you notice them when knit in the round as much as you would on straight needles.
DeleteBoth the jumper and Eleanor look amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe colour and style suit her so well.
Well done … she is going to enjoy wearing it.
All the best Jan
I think Eleanor's looking forward to some cooler weather now so that she can wear her new sweater. I think it suits her.
DeleteGorgeous sweater - the drapiness is lovely! I've finally finished all the pieces of the sweater that I've been knitting but they have to be blocked before I sew them together, which I've sort of been procrastinating on. Hopefully I'll get to it by months end.
ReplyDeleteI think the blocking has brought the drapiness about, it hangs really lovely. I must admit that blocking isn't my favourite thing but definitely worth it when you see the results.
DeleteVery nice indeed and Eleanor looks lovely in it.
ReplyDeleteI think the style suits Eleanor. I enjoyed knitting it but it was nice to see the end of it after all this time.
DeleteI love that sweater! I have it on the needles and am about 4 inches in....definitely a TV knit..
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy knitting it as much as I did. I didn't think about how much plain knitting there was, I just enjoyed it.
DeleteIt looks great! I can see why she's happy with it, I would be too. :) Good work.
ReplyDeleteI really pleased with it, I think it's nicer than I thought it would be. Eleanor's pleased too and that's all that matters.
DeleteYou did a beautiful job. Boxy looks like a very comfortable go-to sweater for the fall days that will be coming up soon.
ReplyDeleteI think it will be a perfect sweater for autumn. Being a floaty design it will be ideal for chilly days when Eleanor doesn't want to wear anything too heavy and warm.
DeleteIT is gorgeous, just so gorgeous. I understand what you are saying about the hem, seems that happens so much and you have to block the snot out of it to get it to say down.
ReplyDeleteI worried so much about the hem when I was knitting it. It would be better to have no ribbing at all and just let it be a rolled hem than have it actually flipping up on itself, but I think knitting extra and the blocking has solved the problem.
DeleteWOW,that is really lovely,you must be proud of that result.Your daughter is Beautiful.xx
ReplyDeleteIt's actually turned out much better than I imagined so I'm very pleased with the end results and so is Eleanor.
DeleteIt's stunning, pretty model too.
ReplyDeleteWe're really pleased with how it's turned out. Eleanor wore it last week and it looked really great on her.
DeleteOh goodness, 400 sts? Wowzers, that is an awful lot! I have to say, it does look really good though and your daughter wears it so well. I hope it feels worth it in the end... or at least, hopefully it will once you've had a chance to forget how long it took! ;)
ReplyDeleteS x
400 stitches is a lot but I don't think you notice them in the round so much as you would if you were knitting back and forth. I enjoyed knitting it, it did take some time but I just picked it up as and when I felt like it and that way I didn't feel under pressure to get it finished. It looks better than I expected it to and I do think I'd knit it again.
Deleteoh, I just noticed that you knit a Boxy... it's gorgeous, I have recently started one and have given myself a whole year to knit it...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed knitting it, in fact, it's a project I wouldn't mind undertaking again. It's mindless knitting, great for getting out when watching TV.
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