Friday, April 13, 2007

FO: Aran baby sweater


Aran baby sweater
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk.
Tax time is good for knitting, if you're not the one doing taxes. Wednesday and Thursday the Sweetie was working on taxes, giving me time to seam and finish this sweater, my second goal for the Bustalong.

Specs:
Pattern: Heirloom Aran baby sweater, by Lisa Lloyd, from the Spring 2004 Interweave Knits. It is also available from her web site. I knit the smallest size.
Yarn: Schaefer Anne, colorway Rosa Parks, less than one very generously sized skein.
Needles: size 1 straight bamboo needles, I forgot the brand (with Addi Turbos and KP size 1 circulars for the neckline).

Notes: This was a lot of fun but also a lot of work. The pattern notes start out warning that this pattern is so intricate it would have to be "for a very special baby" - and I have to agree. The cabling patterns, though, were easy to memorize.

It seems to me that the sleeves are very large in comparison to the body, even though I blocked to measurement.

The dye ran a bit when I blocked the pieces. I will block/wash the sweater again when I've sewn buttons on, at which point I'll first soak it in a vinegar solution, as per suggestions from the Schaefer rep I asked.

More photos available here.

6 comments:

Macoco said...

Oooh it's very beautiful. I love the warning that it's for a very special baby. From the looks of it - it would have to be a very, very special baby. Beautiful work.

Kristi aka Fiber Fool said...

That is a gorgeous sweater! I'm needing to knit a baby sweater, but I'm afraid I want something that will be a semi-quick knit so I think I'll write this one off for now...

Brenda said...

Beautiful sweater! I can understand the warning that it's a lot of work. Well done!

Grace said...

well, just save it for when you start your family! that would be a VERY special baby, indeed. :) If you had a boy, you could just change out the black sparkly buttons...

kathy b said...

THe sweater is tres impressive!

Al would probably like it if it is intricate and fun for you types.

Anonymous said...

Love it. I always like baby sweaters not knit in "baby" colors. But what a lot of work!