Finished!

Finished! This was made out of Knitpicks Gloss. This pattern was really interesting-- fun and challenging, and I just love the special details, like the hem, that just end up looking super polished.

It ended up being smaller than I hoped... and significantly shorter. I got gauge (actually, truth be told, my gauge was slightly bigger) and blocked twice, but it didn't quite make it up to size. Because of this, I am considering removing the hook and eye tape and going for a one-hook closure just at the bottom of the v-neck.

Because of the length and tightness, it won't be super-wearable for me, but I know it'll look cute as a cropped cardi with some dresses.

Ahhhh, I love finishing stuff... now I'm on to Sahara!
But none of that silk and sequin business... just a nice soft cotton blend, TBD.

I can see the end...

I'm blocking the body and the sleeves now! I really enjoyed knitting those sleeves, by the way. Quite meditative.

This is Knitpicks Gloss-- very nice! Hope to have a FO picture in the next few weeks.

Hola!

Well hello all! It has been pretty quiet in here lately, but I hope to get a good amount of posting done on this project. I've been doing ok up until the waist decreases... they are giving me some trouble. Its sounds so easy in the directions, but just doesn't seem to work out without some difficulty. Of course, I was knitting while watching the Pats play the Colts (boo Colts!), so I may have been a bit distracted!
The yarn I chose is Knitpicks Essential in Ash. The bottom pic is more accurate color-wise.
Wish me luck!

Stilted progress

Well, here's my Serrano, which I haven't actually touched since October (but finally got around to photographing).



I suddenly found myself with the wrong number of stitches, and then got distracted by other projects (can't remember which offhand) while it was in time out. I may frog back to the hem and start the lace over, but I definitely want to remember to do a gauge check before I do. Either way, this is officially the next active project. (Although that Tubey I have going might be nice for the cold weather we're getting...)



The yarn I'm using is Karabella Aurora 4, which is just *delicious* and doesn't seem to suffer too much from frogging.

Done, but...

Hi folks,
Sorry no pictures!
I have finished Serrano, but decided that the body is too short--the waist shaping is too high, and the overall length isn't right.
I *think* I could fix this by picking up the row just below where the arm and neck shaping start, knitting 2 patter repeats, and then grafting it to the upper part of the body. It seems to me that this will work, but does anyone have any cautions, "no, don't do this because..." or anything? I figure that in the worst case, I would have to frog everything above the neck and arm shaping, which I will if I have to, but I'd rather not!
Please let me know!

Sorry for the delay, but here it is.

I know I am a bit late in doing this update but my 2year old daughter came down with a cold, so there was lots of cuddlying and not a lot of knitting.

Sorry for the photos but the person who took them obviously doesn't realise the need for showing off the details:-) But I hope you still get an idea of just how beautiful it is.

I did not do the waist shaping as I was not comfortable with doing it only on the one side as I felt it would look unbalanced and I also decided not to put buttons or anything that closes the front.
I always have to make my knitting on the smallest size for myself but this was the first pattern I have ever found where I could/should of done one size bigger as it looks fine now, but as soon as I try close it, it looks like I have outgrown it.

But anyway enjoy... now I can move on to new things:-)

Almost there:-)

Just a quick update...

This weekend was very productive and tiring because I started the second sleeve Saturday morning and finished it last night. It is now sitting blocking and hopefully tonight my daughter will give me time to do some more work on it.

I have blocked everything and already sewn the first sleeve into place, I am about three quarters done with knitting the collar band. So hold thumbs and maybe I will have FO pictures for you guys tomorrow.

I can't belive that it is almost done, this has been a weird pattern to knit. On the one hand trying to follow the instructions frustrated me no end, and on the other hand I was knitting something that was looking so beautiful.

After all my moaning about the difficulties in doing this pattern, I still want to say thank you to the designer (if she reads this), because I as a knitter could never NEVER design a item that actually makes people want to knit it. Actually I don't think I would ever be able to design anything period. I find it's too difficult to do it, and I say thank you for taking the time and effort to give us a cardigan of such amazing beauty... I can't wait to wear it.