Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Maggie's Sweater

Non-knitters beware - two knitting posts in a row!

Backing up, to put things in context, I do pretty well with my Christmas shopping. I have most of it done before the summer is over, keeping an eye out for gifts throughout the year.  But there is always the mad rush at the end of the year to close up the holes for the missing gifts.  One person who fell in that category (and in no way reflects my level of love) was Maggie.  I got her brother a bunch of stuff, but for her, I just didn't really come across anything.  As her mom puts it, when asked what she'd like for Christmas, she replies, "Cameron".  She loves her brother and is pretty chill about playing.  So when, in doubt, knit something, right? 

Unfortunatley I have no pictures to show for my hard work done initially.  I knit a striped sweater - pink and red out of leftover yarn.  It was so cute and modern.  Only it wasn't enough.  So it stalled.  And Christmas came and went.  And she is only 1 so of all the years to not have something, this is the one.  And Maggie's sweater slowly disappeared into the void. 

Fastforward and I was recently over visiting, knitting, and Cece asked about the sweater.  Turns out, it's not that Maggie would appreciate yet another sweater, she really needs one.  I didn't realize she had only one at the moment.  I thought she must have a closet full.  I felt horrible to leave my poor girl out in the cold.  So went home and cast on immediately using other stash busting yarn.  It's not pretty girly pink, but a nice staple - grey.  I know.  It doesn't sound snazy - but will go great with all the pink outfits (and she has a lot of pink hand-me-downs).  I rustled through my button collection I inherited from my grandmother and found these cute (and I'm sure vintage by now) pink buttons. 

Pattern: 
- Drops Design 0-684 Baby Cardigan with Short/Long Raglan Sleeves
- Size for 2 year old with the short sleeves

Yarn:
- Wool-ease by Lion Brand color light grey (I no longer have the tags)

Needles:
- US 6 and US 8 for both circular and DPs.

This was a quick knit for most of the project I wondered if it would be a little too plain and blah.  But then I got to the yoke and I like the lace work.  If I did it over again I'd probably get a little creative and add a little lace work at the cuffs too.  I like the pink buttons as it makes it a little more snazzy.  Initially I tried to morph the short and longsleeve instructions to get something in between but then thought better and ripped it back and just stuck with the pattern for the short sleeve.  I left out the bottom buttonhole as she really only buttons the top.

The yarn was easy to work with.  It's not my favorite but I have a ton of it.  And when I say a ton, I mean a ton.  My very first project (socks) and my first sweater is made with this same exact yarn (same color).  When I first started knitting I was not in on all the secrets of where to shop so went crazy when I found a Jo-Anns that had a bunch of color selection for the Wool-Ease.  On the upside it's a good washable yarn so am trying to knit it up into kids stuff.  It's a good solid yarn - just not anything super luxurious.  But then again with kids and all the washing it is a good fit.

I can't wait to see it on and will try to add a picture later of it being modeled if I can snag one.  I really hope it fits.  It looks small, but then again baby sweaters always look small.
Here's an adorable modeled shot:

 

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