2008 Sweater Wrap-up

So, I was talking to a friend on about NaKniSweMo (National Knit a Sweater Month, hosted by the awesome Shannon Okey in the month of November), on November 1st or 2nd. I was nearly finished the Swirled Pentagon Pullover and was considering unofficially participating in NaKniSweMo with a new sweater.

Wha-BAM! That was the sound of the knitting gods smiting me. I apparently lost the ability to read directions when it came to the yoke. I also had to go down two needle sizes to get gauge for the pentagons, but didn't figure that out until I was away from home with only the recommended needles. I finally figured out that I needed a visual aid to see how the pentagons formed the yoke (I had only photocopied the pattern pages from the book, not the page with the large photo), and lo and behold, I finished it on November 30th.



All the struggles were totally worth it though, because I love this sweater so much. All the more so because it only cost me $15 in yarn (the cost to my sanity is still being calculated. However, I take full responsibility for this and I do not blame Norah Gaughan in any way. I would not recommend this for your first sweater, though).





Swirled Pentagon Pullover from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted, about 4.5 skeins in a discontinued blue
Source: a booth whose name escapes me at the 2008 New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival
Needles: Brittany Birch U.S. Size 7 dpns, Susan Bates U.S. Size 6 24" circular needle, Susan Bates Quicksilver U.S. Size 8 circular needle (worked flat)
Modifications: Added waist shaping, worked pentagons on U.S. Size 7 needles instead U.S. Size 9. Omitted turtleneck.






I also decided to "whip up" something to go with my Christmas Eve outfit five days before Christmas. I had this idea in my head of a shrug that was just sleeves (as opposed to having fronts like a cardigan) but I couldn't find a pattern for it. Luckily my Ravelry queue came to the rescue and I saw the Evening Shrug from the Purl Bee.

It was a little tricky because I used laceweight mohair instead of bamboo but I'm really happy with the end result.

Evening Shrug by Whitney at the Purl Bee

Yarn: Knit One Crochet Two Doceur et Soie (laceweight silk/mohair blend, the same as Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Madil Kid Seta), 1.5 skeins black

Needles: Addi Turbo U.S. Size 8 12" circular needle, Susan Bates U.S. Size 8 24" circular needle (worked flat)

Modifications: Knit across the back for 8.25 inches, used Kitchener stitch to seam the back.

Next up: My awesome crafty Christmas presents and the first knits of the new year!