I'm getting a little tired of seaming around here. Don't feel like I can knit until Klaralund and Bunnies are sewn, so I've not knitted in over three days and I'm getting bored with this self-imposed block. But, it's just not right with Easter, spring break and Grandparent's visit around the corner not to finish Bunnies before doing anything for myself. Just not right. But boy would I like to be less responsible right now! Klaralund wore me out. Too much sitting. Way too much fiddling. Got DH to take photos today. Sorry for the mixed quality, but he's new to the camera and I just don't want to change back again (it's 67 and sunny, not sweater weather until evening).
So, here it is. I like this photo because it shows the modified garter rows across the shoulders. It's a nice bit of texture that doesn't show as well in other shots.
I like Klara now, but in honor of full disclosure, I must tell you this baby got WORKED. I blocked the heck out of it only to find that once again, my arms really really really are that short. You'd think I'd finally believe, but I keep trying to extend them through sheer will. Worrying that these sleeves would be too short, I pulled them to the pattern length. Yeah sure. I kept quiet here, but I was having huge doubts when I was sewing as to whether I'd look just bad, or deeply horrible. All that seaming gave me ample time to contemplate how I would blog this failure - maybe a sweater photo only? Finally couldn't wait a second longer to see, so I put it on with the right front bodice unsewn. It was truly comical - that side of the panel dropped down and made it the ultimate nursing sweater. Sorry, no blog pics.
Finished the seaming and found the whole thing just too darned big. Not only am I short, but I'm actually not that wide. Looked like I'd raided my big sister's closet. So, I stuck it in the wash, let it dry flat about 85%, then stuck it in the dryer. A daring and desperate move, but it worked. Took 3" off the bodice and 2" off each sleeve. And it's softer too.
Here are two more pics to show the sleeve treatment. The pattern has you cast on the final number of stitches and knit straight all the way up and across the shoulder to cast off, but I shaped the wrists instead and I'm happy with that. (See my previous post for a blocking photo.) I also shaped the waist, which again I'm happy with. It was a mistake though to open it back up again at the bodice - I'm a little more pear than hourglass. The fit, particularly on the dropped shoulders, would have been better without that extra inch on each side. Please forgive the goofy "STOP in the Name of Love" pose - like I said, these were the best of 15! Laugh at me, but please don't laugh at my sweater - that I couldn't take.