garter love
a few posts ago, i hinted at starting a new sweater. i actually started it the same day i finished my last sweater, but aside from the mention, i neglected to blog about it at all. well, here it is, just in time for a drop in temperature!
the details
pattern: none. i was heavily inspired by this baby sweater that i knit in march. i didn't use the pattern at all, but i loved the garter yoke so much that i knew i had to make something similar for myself.
yarn: rowan scottish tweed aran in "lewis grey", 4.5 skeins
needles: one us8 5mm 40" circular for everything, even magic-looping the sleeves
time to knit: march 21- april 29, with some socks and a shawl in there somewhere
more info: i knit this top-down, working 3 increase rows within the garter yoke. after that, i switched to raglan increases for the stockinette portion. i knit the button band as i went, adding buttonholes every 8 rows eta: i meant every 16 rows. sorry!. i tried it on throughout the whole process, adding waist shaping, and after that, a few extra increases for a "booty allowance". heh. the sleeves were knit using magic loop, without any shaping.
i really wanted yellow or red buttons, but after sewing on a few different ones, the orange won out. they're just cheap plastic buttons from a fabric store, but i really like them.
i am so happy with this sweater. i'm planning on squeaking out a few wears this spring by using it instead of a jacket on cold mornings. cross your fingers for some cool days for me, will ya?
Comments
love. love. love.
the buttons. the yoke. the garter. the tweed.
love.
Posted by: kate | April 30, 2008 09:21 PM
I love it! Great use of simple texture, beautiful yarn, and funky buttons. I'd like to have one myself.... Will you write up a pattern at all?
Posted by: meg | April 30, 2008 09:29 PM
That is a really nice sweater! Wow! The orange one you linked to is fantastic too! One day I'll have the courage to just whip something up with no pattern, I'm not quite there yet though!
Posted by: Shannon | April 30, 2008 09:34 PM
How much do I love the gray yarn and the orange buttons? So, so much. This is really wonderful, and so impressive that you made up the pattern.
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 30, 2008 09:48 PM
Love the classic simplicity...looks gorgeous..you chose a great colour!
Posted by: Gudrun | April 30, 2008 10:05 PM
LOVE this sweater!!! So cute!
Posted by: Keri | April 30, 2008 10:07 PM
OK so you can't show us an amazing sweater and NOT have a pattern to share. If you ever decide to write out the pattern I would love a copy of it. I can't wait to see what other awesome patterns you come up with.
Posted by: Kelly | April 30, 2008 10:10 PM
Such a simple idea, and yet, such a fantastic garment. Love the orange buttons!!
Posted by: marisa | April 30, 2008 10:32 PM
Wow!!!! That is so adorable, it fits you perfectly and from what I've seen from your blog it fits your style perfectly as well! I think I would be too shy to rock those bright buttons but they coordinate so well with the gray! I'm definitely sending chilly weather thoughts your way so you can wear sweater tons before summer!!!
Posted by: Alli | April 30, 2008 10:56 PM
Oh That is one beautiful sweater. Congratulations !!!
Posted by: eSSKnits | April 30, 2008 11:35 PM
wow, i love it! you make such simple, yet awesome sweaters! how do you handle so much stockinette? i think i would go crazy :). i'm sure you'll be able to wear the sweater for at least a few times before summer hits!
Posted by: mai | April 30, 2008 11:39 PM
Seriously, this is just fantastic. I totally admire your ability to plan and execute simple sweaters. And I'm going to copy this idea from you (I'll use different colors, though, I promise!).
Posted by: femiknitter | April 30, 2008 11:50 PM
This is a really inspiring sweater, I would love to make one.
Posted by: veruca | April 30, 2008 11:55 PM
very cute. you're so sweater-prolific, i'm quite jealous. hope you get some wear out of it before the weather warms up!
Posted by: k | May 1, 2008 12:34 AM
Beautiful. And the buttons are lovely. I can never seem to find nice ones, myself.
Posted by: hadley | May 1, 2008 01:16 AM
That's beautiful! It reminds me a bit of the cobblestone pullover, but cardiganized and girlier. I might have to copy you too.
Posted by: Elin | May 1, 2008 04:10 AM
I love it. It looks fabulous on you!
Posted by: Emily | May 1, 2008 05:09 AM
Those buttons! That colour combination! Everything! Sooooo fantabulous. I absolutely adore this (and had to come out of lurkdom to say so). I want one!
Posted by: Claire | May 1, 2008 05:54 AM
SO unbelievably cute. I've been hankering after starting a top-down yoke cardigan for ages, but haven't plucked up the courage to figure out how to do it yet. And Scottish Tweed is yummy. Oh yes.
Posted by: Dawn | May 1, 2008 06:38 AM
Love it! Great job!!!
Posted by: Michele | May 1, 2008 07:12 AM
What a great sweater! I've actually been looking for examples of yokes-turned-raglan, since I have a design in mind that would incorporate both. Thanks for the inpiration!
Posted by: Meghan | May 1, 2008 07:20 AM
When you describe the process, it all sounds so easy. It's a perfect fitting sweater! Congratulations! I like the garter yoke very much too. You are an inspiration!
Posted by: Monika | May 1, 2008 07:29 AM
Oh, it is just beautiful! It would be thrilling if you posted the pattern!
Love the orange buttons...!
Posted by: AnaB | May 1, 2008 07:31 AM
will you give me your address, please, so i can break into your house and steal that cardi? it's fantastic!
Posted by: kris | May 1, 2008 07:49 AM
That is one of the nicest cardis I've seen lately. It's so simple, but it's flattering and it shows off the yarn so well.
Posted by: Stephy | May 1, 2008 08:56 AM
i LOVE it! it's so classic and looks very comfortable without being frumpy. really, just fantastic! i'm so jealous of all your sweaters this season :)
Posted by: gleek | May 1, 2008 09:06 AM
*Gorgeous*! I love the design, and it looks fantastic on you!
Posted by: Andrea (noricum) | May 1, 2008 10:24 AM
M, this is GREAT! I love the shape, the yoking, and the buttons! I would love to make one... if you write up notes, it will be made! :)
Posted by: lolly | May 1, 2008 10:26 AM
Oh it's gorgeous! And the buttons are perfect, I think.
Posted by: Kathy | May 1, 2008 10:30 AM
I am totally, totally going to rip you off. That is just too adorable.
Posted by: Hanna | May 1, 2008 10:56 AM
wow, i love it!!!
Posted by: carolyn | May 1, 2008 11:50 AM
that is so gorgeous.
Posted by: val | May 1, 2008 12:20 PM
I just love how you took a construction that screams "little kid" to me, and made it very fresh and grown-up through the yarn, and the waist shaping, and the buttons, and just everything. Great job, really.
Posted by: Amy | May 1, 2008 12:36 PM
WOW!
Posted by: Veronique | May 1, 2008 12:54 PM
Beautiful! And you picked the perfect buttons to go with it. How are you liking the yarn?
Posted by: Steph | May 1, 2008 02:03 PM
oooooooo. so lovely. i so hoped you would cite a pattern. but it's great that it's completely your pattern. and it fits you so well, too.
Posted by: rebecca | May 1, 2008 02:41 PM
This is the Cutest. Sweater. Ever. I will wish you some more cool days, but I hope it stays in your neck of the woods. I am in Maine and I am totally over this cold weather! Again, the sweater is perfectly gorgeous!
Posted by: Rebecca | May 1, 2008 03:11 PM
I absolutely love that sweater! I just ordered the Knitter's Almanac to have the same inspiration. I'd love it if you shared more details about how you did this too.
Posted by: LizKnits | May 1, 2008 03:51 PM
It's beautiful! It looks like the most perfect spring sweater!
Posted by: Viktoria | May 1, 2008 04:02 PM
LOVE IT!
I will copy this, oh yes, I will... But first, answer me this: did you hide the increases on the non-ridgey part of the garter portion? And, what increase did you use? I ask because sometimes I find that increasing/decreasng in garter creates a weird st, but yours looks sooo smooth.
Again, LOVE IT! I have me some ecological wool that would look fantasgreat in this design. Maybe with green... nope, orange buttons. DAMN!
Posted by: Aura | May 1, 2008 04:16 PM
That's fantastic. The orange buttons are such a great touch! Add me to the list of people who aren't as clever as you & would love a pattern if you had the time to write one up - which I realise is a huge ask! I would definitely buy a pattern for that though, it's so wearable and all-round groovy :) Huge congrats on your FO!
Posted by: jane | May 1, 2008 05:26 PM
I love it! Kind of a retro silhouette, and the orange buttons work perfectly, even though they weren't what you were initially going for. Super cute.
Posted by: Karma | May 1, 2008 06:24 PM
Unbelievably gorgeous. You have major talent in design...if only we could all be so lucky. Love the garter yolk!! It looks so great on you.
Posted by: Devon | May 1, 2008 06:28 PM
I can't tell you how much your sweater, I mean everything about it, is just so incredible! The buttons are such a sweet treat!
Posted by: lucy | May 1, 2008 07:09 PM
Perfection all around!
Posted by: Anne | May 1, 2008 07:10 PM
What a simple/gorgeous design. Orange on grey is one of my favorite combinations.
Posted by: Laura | May 1, 2008 11:32 PM
That is a great sweater, you should publish it for sure.
Posted by: Liz | May 2, 2008 07:21 AM
That sweater is really incredible. I covet it. Deeply. :) I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed for cool weather for you!
Are you planning to write up the pattern and make it available? I'd buy it! :)
Posted by: Courtney | May 2, 2008 10:25 AM
Another beautiful design! So clean and modern, we all MUST have one. Great work!!
Posted by: aquaknits | May 2, 2008 01:15 PM
I love it and I want one! I've become a huge fan of the looks of those garter yokes. I think it looks like the type of sweater you could wear every day.
Posted by: lekkercraft | May 2, 2008 02:40 PM
Love! Orange....
Posted by: Katja Broddesson | May 2, 2008 07:11 PM
Of course the orange won out--they're awesome! And so's the cardigan. And are you the reason we've had such chilly weather??
Posted by: Mintyfresh | May 3, 2008 02:49 PM
Love this! I want one knit from Peace Fleece! (hmmm... feel inspiration coming on!) The button band looks good, too. I've read so many warnings about the knit all as one piece sweater w/button band. Wonder why?
Posted by: michelle | May 3, 2008 08:09 PM
I really love this. I may have to try something like that; I've become obsessed with garter lately, and this looks like it will be so versatile. Love the orange against the grey!
Posted by: mick | May 4, 2008 04:46 PM
beautiful!!! please write up the pattern!? i think i'm too impatient, actually, i think i'll try to copy this asap! :)
Posted by: courtney | May 5, 2008 12:17 PM
Perfection!! I want one just like it (but with green buttons so as not to be a total copycat)... It is f-ing AWESOME!!!
Posted by: rockbridge | May 5, 2008 12:48 PM
Yes, yes, please please please write up the pattern.
Posted by: Laura | May 5, 2008 02:49 PM
love love love this sweater, so cute! I would love it if you wrote it up!!
Posted by: Melanie | May 5, 2008 05:54 PM
It's friggin' perfect. Now that's garter stitch done right!
Posted by: jenna | May 5, 2008 06:43 PM
I love it! I want one...
Posted by: Alyssa | May 6, 2008 10:42 AM
I'm willing to bet money that lots of knitters are going to copy this pattern from you - it's wonderfully simple and I love the garter st yoke, too.
Posted by: amanda | May 6, 2008 04:13 PM
Holy cow, that's a lot of comments. You are very popular! Anyway, just came by to say that I was so influenced by this gorgeous piece of knitting that I bought some yarn at MDSW with specific plans to copy you. Please take that as a compliment, for it truly looks wonderful on you and my head is spinning with the simple glory of a garter stitch yoke. Brilliant!
Posted by: Jessica Kaufman | May 7, 2008 01:50 PM
love every last bit of it... makes me want to copy you!
Posted by: stinkerbell | May 7, 2008 08:40 PM
I love it!
Posted by: ceylan gul | May 9, 2008 11:01 PM
That's beautiful, I love the color and the buttons!
Posted by: Kala | May 10, 2008 01:45 PM
Gorgeous sweater....however, I want more details! I'm about to make the Feb. sweater for my niece. Then, who knows, I may have to make one for me too!
Posted by: Liz419 | May 11, 2008 06:51 PM
AWESOME sweater!!!
Love it...one of the few where I was looking for the pattern so I could make one for myself!
Posted by: Amy | May 13, 2008 08:51 AM
It's fantastic. Any tips would be appreciated. What's the 15/35/15/35 formula for raglans???
Posted by: Julie | May 13, 2008 10:25 PM
That sweater rocks! Gorgeous. I love the orange buttons!
Posted by: Linda | May 15, 2008 08:31 PM
This sweater is gorgeous! I second all the many requests for a written up pattern...I'd love to make one similar, and am soo impressed that you designed it yourself! Awesome job!
Posted by: Janice | May 17, 2008 07:26 AM
Wow, I hope I can knit like you someday. I agree with everyone saying they would love a pattern. I love the leafy shirt too. I think I'll be knitting that!
Posted by: Sherelle | May 17, 2008 06:45 PM
I would love the pattern! Great work! Seriously, unbelievable...
Posted by: Autumn | June 9, 2008 06:29 PM
Lovely sweater! Fell in love instantly on Ravelry, and had to check out your blog for more pictures. Lovely blog as well!
Posted by: Merete | June 22, 2008 07:07 AM
Just lovely! You are very talented and should be published. Are you going to sell this pattern on Ravelry? I'll buy it!
Posted by: karenthepeach | June 28, 2008 08:52 PM
This is a scrupmtious sweater! I've been dying to knit a cardigan lately. Yours is beautiful.
Posted by: Cassy | July 1, 2008 07:56 PM