Wednesday, January 03, 2007

...and for my next trick....

IMG_2704.JPG The mystery project is complete! I received an email the other day that made the completion of this project necessary. Don't babies know they're supposed to wait for their sweaters to be completed?

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That's right! I made Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket! I just love this little thing. Once I finished the rectangle, I amused myself for at least thirty minutes, folding and refolding it into a tiny sweater. I gave the rectangle to my boyfriend and challenged him to make a sweater. He got it dissapointingly quickly. Maybe I shouldn't have told him it was meant to be a sweater. This pattern, I think, is a testament to the genius of Elizabeth Zimmerman, and has shown me the way. I've got to buy all of her books right now. I've been seeing a lot of another cardigan of hers, most recently on Tipper's blog, that is so sweet. I just wish someone I know would have a girl.



This pattern was one of the more challenging I have completed, mostly because the "pattern" is more of a guideline. I'm sure someone with more knitting experience than I would have an easier time with it, but I had to make a spreadsheet to keep track (on the advice of Ellen). Once I had the spreadsheet, the project was a breeze. I used about 1.25 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Flames, and US5 needles. I mattress stitched the seams together, as I was at a loss how to invisibly seam multi-directional garter stitch. This was my most successful go at mattress stitch, and I have officially added it to my seaming repertoire. I casted on for some wee booties last night to match the sweater. No further information on mitten #2, it is still in yarn form.

As an aside: on my monitor at home, these pictures look good, but when I look at pictures at work (on my break, sheesh!), I notice they look darker. How do they look to you?

3 comments:

tammy said...

The surprise jacket is wonderful! My favourite book by EZ is the Knitter's Almanac. I go back to that one again and again. Such logical and useful items. All her books are fun to read though, not just to knit out of.

The picis are a bit dark to me, not difficult to make out or anything, just like they are on a cloudy day. The ones of you in your new hat are nice and bright though. Nice hat, btw!

Amy said...

The pictures look fine to me, and that jacket has to be the cutest thing ever.

I'm planning on picking up some EZ for myself--let us know which ones you like!

Anonymous said...

Love your jacket and your blog! I just started this jacket a couple of days ago but am having a bit of hard time. Like your idea of a spreadsheet, any chance you can help me out with one? I'm stuck at around 15 ridges and starting to panic that I won't be down to 90 sts when I should be according to the pattern, confusing...ahhh! Thanks! (: Michele