favorite pullover
when i submitted this design to pam allen at classic elite, i called it the "favorite pullover". that's because it's the kind of sweater i had imagined throwing on again and again, something simple, in a beautiful yarn, with just a few interesting details.
this sweater is knit from the top down, except for the funnel neck, which is worked upward after completing the sweater to keep the shaping of the fold and button details the same as the sleeves.
i love this sweater, which is why i threw it on for a few pictures before i mailed it off in january. i normally avoid this when the yarn contains alpaca, and i paid for it with a lovely patch of eczema for a week afterward. please excuse the odd poses. i was trying to show the button details.
this pattern is available in one of classic elite's fall booklets, called saturday afternoon. (ravelry link)
you can queue the pattern on ravelry here.
thanks for all your kind words about my patterns. i really appreciate it!
in other news: i quit smoking! today is day 29, and i wish i could say that it's getting easier, but it's still pretty hard. i'm sticking with it anyway. i was a pack a day smoker, which is crazy, considering that i didn't smoke in my home or car. really, it's just hanging around outside or on the porch that's the hardest, so i'm pretty much avoiding that altogether. what's been helping a lot is my gym membership, keeping track of how many cigarettes i didn't smoke so far ( 580 ! ), and a little retail therapy. when i go to work in a new shirt or something, i like to tell people that it cost "3 packs of cigarettes". just trying to remember how much extra money i have now. wish me luck!
xo
melissa
Comments
You are doing so great. Everyone is so so proud of you. You can do it :)
Posted by: Diane | July 29, 2009 10:39 PM
Such a nice sweater! Congrats! I am also so glad for you that you stopped smoking! You can stick with it, even though it is very tough!!
Posted by: erika | July 29, 2009 11:31 PM
Congratulations on quitting - you go, girl!!
The sweater is beautiful, too.
Posted by: Smellyann | July 30, 2009 12:03 AM
This is exactly the sort of sweater I'm attracted to!
Just think of all the nice things you can buy instead of smoking...that's definitely a good incentive!
Let's get together and knit soon!
Posted by: Gudrun | July 30, 2009 08:00 AM
Good for you (quitting smoking)! Sounds like you have some good strategies in place. Keep up the good work! And the sweater looks great too!
Posted by: Rose | July 30, 2009 08:20 AM
The sweater is lovely!
Congratulations on no smoking!
I quit smoking 10 years ago and it was hard. First i would treat myself to something each week or so with my cigarette money. Then I started saving it up and bought a ridiculous pair of sneakers at 6 months and had a really fancy dinner at 1 year. My husband and I still celebrate every year. The first 6 months was the hardest and I was really cranky so cut yourself so slack. You will return to normal after a little while. Good Luck.
Peace and Yarn,
Annie
Posted by: annie | July 30, 2009 08:43 AM
The sweater is gorgeous! Just the type of unique, yet easy going sweater that's perfect for the fall. I hate alpaca too; though I'm not quite as allergic as you are. I just think it's very itchy and ppl usually think I'm crazy for thinking that. But alpaca is one of those fibers that are softer in the skein than on the body somehow...
Congrats for quitting smoking. Sending encouragement your way. Think of all the yarn you can get with the money you save from cigarettes! :)
Posted by: connie | July 30, 2009 09:06 AM
the sweater is beautiful! i already faved it on ravelry :) also, congrats on hitting day 30 of no smoking! you are doing so great and i'm so proud of you! i think it's great to think about how much money you're saving by not smoking. good luck and keep it up!!
Posted by: mai | July 30, 2009 09:30 AM
1 - congratulations and good luck keeping to it (not smoking)!
2 - that is one dear sweater! it looks so comfy and cute!
Posted by: marri | July 30, 2009 09:49 AM
Dear Melissa's Designs,
I am in love with you.
Love,
CR
Posted by: Cirilia | July 30, 2009 09:49 AM
The sweater is absolutely gorgeous in its simplicity and fine details! Sorry for the eczema, though...
Huge congratulations on quitting to smoke. Yay!
Posted by: Ana | July 30, 2009 10:26 AM
Beautiful sweater! I love the neckline, it looks so cozy.
Also -- congratulations on quitting smoking. I don't smoke, but when my smoker friends say I'm spending a lot of money, I point out that it's x number of cigarette packs.
Keep it up!
Posted by: Ophélie | July 30, 2009 10:47 AM
Love this sweater design!
And yay for quitting smoking too :)
Posted by: jillian | July 30, 2009 12:44 PM
I quit smoking a couple of years ago. It gets easier. Eventually you come to hate the smell of ciggis, too. I still find that turn a strange one.
Congratulations! You can do it! I chewed on a lot of toothpicks as I weaned myself off.
I love the sweater - it's gorgeous. How can you even knit with it if it breaks you out?
Posted by: hadley | July 30, 2009 12:45 PM
Omigod, I LOVE that sweater! I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
Good luck with the no smoking!!!!!!
Posted by: Clumsy Knitter | July 30, 2009 01:49 PM
god damn, that is a cute sweater!
I quit smoking 7 years ago and the only way I could do it was to also not drink for 4 months...at the time I was an, ahem, heavier drinker. Keep at it - you will feel so much better once it is all over!
XOX
Posted by: kate | July 30, 2009 02:22 PM
The neckline on this baby is a major winner. And you couldn't be any cuter!!
Posted by: Heather | July 30, 2009 03:17 PM
i love love love this (and all of your other) designs! can't wait until your book comes out!
and congrats on quitting smoking! really! that's tough!
Posted by: elisabeth | July 30, 2009 09:22 PM
What an awesome sweater! I covet! I will have to knit that one up - it is such a great design. Congrats on quitting smoking. Stick with it, you'll never regret it. I quit just about 10 years ago and I'm so glad I did. The urge, desire, and "habit" does completely go away, it just takes a while. You can do it!
Posted by: Monica | July 31, 2009 10:29 AM
what a gorgeous pullover!! I love the design. Great job!!!
Posted by: Julie | July 31, 2009 10:42 AM
Congratulations on quitting! You should be really really proud.
Posted by: RainyDaisy | July 31, 2009 01:04 PM
Oooh, I love the neckline on that sweater! And great job quitting smoking!!!
Posted by: Kala | July 31, 2009 01:29 PM
Great work on the sweater - and great work on quitting smoking! That second photo of the model with the book cracks me up - why does she look so surprised?
Posted by: k | July 31, 2009 01:38 PM
i absolutely love the sweater!
good for you for quitting! i've been ready to quit for a while. thinking about it in terms of money saved is a smart idea!
Posted by: susannahbean | July 31, 2009 10:29 PM
beautiful sweater!!! and nice work quitting smoking. think of all that extra money you'll have to spend on yarn!
Posted by: carrie | August 1, 2009 06:25 PM
So pretty! And yay for quitting smoking. I hope it gets easier soon.
Posted by: katie m. | August 1, 2009 07:17 PM
The sweater is fantastic. It's such a classic fab design that it's certain to be anyone's "favorite sweater".
It totally rules!
Posted by: Preita | August 3, 2009 11:00 AM
Your designs are kicking so much ASS!
And stay strong quitting smoking - it's the hardest thing I ever did, really. I tell everyone to just remember that cravings are temporary. When you are struck by the urge to smoke, just wait it out. Either distract yourself with yarn or candy or whatever, or just sit there and freak out about how much you want to smoke. No matter what, the feeling will pass and you will emerge victorious. Then you just repeat that little mini battle about 50 times per day, and slowly over time the battles get further and further apart, and your resolve gets stronger with every day, and before you know it, you're a straight up non-smoker. Even after 10 years I get occasional cravings, but they are easier to deal with when you start racking time under your belt. Good luck!
Posted by: sarah | August 3, 2009 02:45 PM
Congratulations on both the pattern and the smoking! Go you!!
Posted by: Melissa | August 3, 2009 04:22 PM
Congrats on the quitting smoking! I'm coming up on my two year mark. It gets easier. You're awesome, and I know you can stick with it!
Posted by: Jennifer | August 3, 2009 07:31 PM
Love the sweater!
Good luck with quitting smoking! I quit 10 years ago and never once regretted it! It wasn't easy, but I didn't regret it. I still get the occasional cigarette craving too. It really does get easier, especially if you're determined to do it.
Posted by: Meg | August 4, 2009 08:05 PM
Great sweater -- don't you just love top down knitting? Definitely persevere on quitting smoking -- it does get easier!
Posted by: jayaycee | August 5, 2009 04:38 PM
lovely sweater! ... I am sending you some good thoughts to keep up with that quittin' thing!
Posted by: gretchen | August 5, 2009 11:51 PM
Fabulous pullover! Congratulations on making it a whole month without smoking. It may be tough now, but you're going to be so grateful you did it. I think retail therapy and counting the cigs you did not smoke is a wonderful way to reinforce your efforts.
Posted by: Cassy | August 18, 2009 01:18 PM
What a beautiful sweater.
I just swung over to admire it, and read your story of quiting smoking. Congrats. I'm approaching my 11yr anniversary of quitting. It does get easier. The best thing I did (and it sounds like what you're doing) is no longer doing the activities that I associated with smoking. (I know that wouldn't work for everybody; fortunately for me that didn't include things like reading!) Eventually, I was able to return to the things I had done while smoking, but not smoke. They're definitely my trigger activities, even still, but the desire wans more with every passing day/week/month/year.
Posted by: smokey | August 25, 2009 11:46 AM
i love this sweater. great job! congratulations on your commitment to quit smoking.
Posted by: lynette | August 27, 2009 01:03 AM
Hey M! This new sweater is just a beauty. I love that neckline and the button. Very nice! and that is great about your commitment to quit smoking. Sounds like you are really doing well :D
Posted by: lolly | August 29, 2009 11:19 AM
Your sweater is beautiful...so are you!
Congratulations on quitting smoking, it is a really difficult habit for people to break, but really, who deserves good health more than you?
Posted by: Gemma | September 12, 2009 09:23 AM