Knitting: Lacy Short Sleeved Sweater for Audrey

I have had this sweater for Audrey on my mental list since last summer.  I'm so happy I finally got to it and have finished it! For the past year or so I have shied away from knitting in favor of quick crochet projects--many fun and fast things for Tess, for instance. And then I got a bit distracted by all the Looped Scarflettes, which, while very fun, kept me from more intensive projects such as knit sweaters. It felt really good to settle into this and realize knitting isn't so slow afterall. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Especially something with a pattern such as this--straight stockinette or garter stitches become quite boring to me. In fact, I was getting a bit antsy about the long ribbed waist on this sweater. But phew! I finished!

And I love it! I love sweaters that can be knit in the round (I'm really impatient about the finishing process). I love the lace pattern and the little capped sleeves. I have always loved short sleeved sweaters. When I was a teenager I wore a red crewneck one my mother had knit for my father (it was the era of very oversized sweaters!) and I have a few in my closet now. This little lace sweater is just begging for a skirt to go with it so that is next, or at least soon, on my list. I hope I love the way it looks on Audrey. Sometimes I get so excited about what I'm making that dressing my girls in it is a bit of a letdown. I wonder if anyone else has the same experience? What I envision in my mind is always a bit more perfect than the reality. As I was saying to my husband not long ago, creating has its risks, but it's still worth it.

This sweater is knit in Mission Falls 1824 Wool, which is a merino superwash. It's the first time I have used their yarn--I bought a bunch of it in different colors last summer because I found it on sale (always compelling) but also because I found their color palette irresistible. And it's so soft, especially for a superwash, but sad, I just learned they're closing the business! Good thing I bought it when I could. The color of this yarn is "Stone." Isn't it gorgeous and enigmatic? When I showed it to Audrey she instantly loved it and described it as "greyish purple" though one could argue "taupey pink" or "oatmeal" or something else. I try not to use the p-word ("pink") with Audrey as it's generally a turn-off for her. The pattern specifies knitting on double-pointed needles, with which I could really use some more practice (sock knitter I am not), and it was nice to get some practice, though I did switch to circular needles part way through.

I should have taken some pictures before I blocked this sweater because it was a great "before and after." Before, the ribbed section was awfully tight and I wondered if I should have switched to larger needles in there, but after blocking it relaxed nicely and the yarn puffed up in general so it's even softer. I just need to pick a button for the back neck and it's ready to wear. Once I start and finish the skirt that is.