theraineysisters knitting and so much more

June 2, 2009

From Sally — The Cathedral of Learning

Filed under: Cathedral — surly @ 11:41 am

Knitting is a learning experience. What I learned from my most recent project:

1. I like knitting with pure cashmere. (I think I already suspected that.)

2. No matter how many times I measure, it will always be too short (except when it’s too long, but that’s a different story).

3. When I debate whether or not to add an extra repeat for length, the default answer should be “yes.”

4. When I don’t knit the extra repeat for length, angst and desperate measures are sure to follow.

5. Lucy is useful for sewing in set-in sleeves.

As you may have guessed by now, I finished my Cathedral sweater, but it was somewhat shorter than I find wearable. I had used a provisional cast on because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at the bottom (the pattern called for a few simple rows of garter stitch). Unfortunately, I didn’t absolutely decide it was too short until I had put it together. I considered knitting another repeat and then grafting it onto the bottom, but decided (wisely, I think) that it was beyond my grafting skills to do so with this particular pattern. So my choices were to have it be too short (not a viable option), reknit the entire sweater after taking it apart (uh, no thanks), or try to be creative.

In the end, I added a motif that mirrored part of the upper patterning. Is it perfect? No. Is it long enough? Yes. Just. Would it have been easier to knit another repeat? Undoubtedly.

With my lovely daughter as a model, here is Cathedral. (She’s taller and thinner than I am, so it doesn’t fit me exactly the same way. But hey — she’s much more photogenic!)

And here’s Lucy helping:

Pattern notes: This sweater is from a Japanese pattern book: Couture Knit #13. It, and other Japanese pattern books, are available to purchase online at Needle Arts Bookshop. I knit it in Jaeger Cashmina on U.S. 2.5 (3 mm) needles.

47 Comments »

  1. From Susan — It’s stunning, as is your lovely model, Nora!!

    Comment by lv2knit — June 2, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

  2. Beautiful!! Did your lovely daughter give it back. It looks like you knit it for her.

    Comment by Eunice — June 2, 2009 @ 1:20 pm

  3. Looks fantastic! Really beautiful. And cashmere? Wow. I am amazed you could get it back after she put it on.

    Comment by CraftNinja — June 2, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

  4. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. WOW

    Comment by Tracy — June 2, 2009 @ 1:49 pm

  5. Turned out so beautiful

    Comment by Clestial — June 2, 2009 @ 1:53 pm

  6. It’s stunning! So is your daughter!

    Comment by Lisle — June 2, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

  7. The sweater looks great, congratulations – and your daughter is so beautiful! Is she a model?!

    Comment by June — June 2, 2009 @ 2:40 pm

  8. I’m applauding maker and model both!

    Comment by Cornflower — June 2, 2009 @ 3:02 pm

  9. Amazing! Both the sweater and the daughter! I’ll bet she wanted to keep it. It’s perfect for her.

    Comment by Joanna Ryn — June 2, 2009 @ 3:21 pm

  10. What a beautiful young woman and a gorgeous sweater.

    Comment by Gale — June 2, 2009 @ 3:27 pm

  11. What an incredibly gorgeous sweater. How resourceful and talented you are. It’s gorgeous on your daughter.

    Comment by Toby — June 2, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

  12. Wow, that is a beautiful sweater. What lovely work you do!

    Comment by marissa — June 2, 2009 @ 4:20 pm

  13. Happiness is…the talent to make a beautiful sweater and to have a beautiful daughter on whom to model it.

    Comment by Kathy B. — June 2, 2009 @ 4:25 pm

  14. Both the sweater and the model are gorgeous! Congrats.

    Comment by Delores — June 2, 2009 @ 4:40 pm

  15. omg. I am in love. That sweater is fantastic. I could not wear that color (nor am I anywhere near that thin…) but I want one for myself! I think that the added bottom looks pretty good. I like it!

    Comment by Jaclyn Bailey — June 2, 2009 @ 5:09 pm

  16. WOWIE ZOWIE!! That is all I can say.

    Comment by Marsha — June 2, 2009 @ 5:52 pm

  17. Gorgeous! You must be so proud – but just try to get that sweater back, LOL:)!

    Comment by Joan — June 2, 2009 @ 6:13 pm

  18. As all have said, both sweater and model are beautiful. I applaud your addition of the upper motif to the bottom. I think it creates an even nicer garment. It’s nice the way necessity sometimes pushes us to even higher heights.

    Comment by twinsetellen — June 2, 2009 @ 6:18 pm

  19. I like your choice to extend the length, although I agree it would be better with a pattern repeat instead. Your daughter is lovely (oh, and so is the sweater)!

    Comment by Amy — June 2, 2009 @ 6:29 pm

  20. It’s fabulous! I love your solution to the length problem. That’s definitely on my to-knit list, though I plan to start with the cover pattern of that issue.

    Your daughter is gorgeous!

    Comment by Cheryl S. — June 2, 2009 @ 6:59 pm

  21. Incredible! It is absolutely beautiful. And so is your daughter. Looks like it fits her perfectly 😉

    Comment by Beth — June 2, 2009 @ 7:10 pm

  22. That sweater is almost as beautiful as your daughter. 🙂

    Comment by Kay — June 2, 2009 @ 7:27 pm

  23. Gorgeous sweater, beautiful daughter — or vice versa. I think your solution worked very well to add length.

    Enjoy!

    Comment by Pam — June 2, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

  24. Your daughter can surely pull off that sweater. It’s a great pattern and a great learning experience.

    Comment by Angelika — June 2, 2009 @ 7:50 pm

  25. OMG! The sweater is wonderful, and your lovely daughter looks terrific in it. Congratulations on finishing the sweater and raising a beautiful daughter.

    Comment by Elizabeth Risch — June 2, 2009 @ 8:27 pm

  26. It is fantastic! No offense to Lucy… but it looks so much more beautiful on a live (and lovely) model! You are truly an expert in the field of knits… and I want to say thanks for so generously sharing your trials and tribulation… it help to know even the experienced knitters run into snags every now and then.

    Comment by Michelle — June 2, 2009 @ 8:32 pm

  27. This is simply exquisite! I love the shape of the sleeves.

    Comment by Mary Lee — June 2, 2009 @ 9:20 pm

  28. It’s stunningly beautiful! Both sweater and daughter!

    Comment by Kay - From the Back Yard — June 2, 2009 @ 9:27 pm

  29. Both your model and the sweater are extremely photogenic! Just lovely. Now, will you be able to peel the cashmere sweater off her?

    Comment by LaurieM — June 2, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

  30. It’s absolutely spectacular!

    Comment by Trudy — June 2, 2009 @ 10:30 pm

  31. Sally – edited
    You’re daughter is obviously your most beautiful creation…and your cashmere sweater is a close second! You did a beautiful job…wear it, look gorgeous, and be happy! You’ll receive rave reviews and many compliments to be sure! Your knitting is exquisite…I can only aspire to knit something that lovely and that perfect! Congratulations…it’s well deserved!

    Comment by maureen — June 2, 2009 @ 10:46 pm

  32. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the ground. It’s beautiful (and so is your lovely daughter).

    Comment by rudee — June 2, 2009 @ 11:31 pm

  33. Lovely photo, lovely daughter!!

    Comment by Lee Cockrum — June 3, 2009 @ 7:19 am

  34. Oops, meant lovely sweater, lovely daughter!!

    Comment by Lee Cockrum — June 3, 2009 @ 7:19 am

  35. Beautiful sweater, I know we all say this but I could never do that. In my case it’s less about skills and more about patience…I would lose it about halfway through the body. Also, the Cathedral of Learning is a real place in case you didn’t know! It’s part of the University of Pittsburgh and is among the tallest educational buildings in the world (42 stories!).

    Comment by Elizabeth — June 3, 2009 @ 9:12 am

  36. You could put anything on Your daughter it will still look amazingly good 🙂 The sweater is very nice, but the beauty of Your daughter shades it.

    Comment by Jolita — June 3, 2009 @ 9:18 am

  37. Very nice, lovely sweater.

    Comment by Samy — June 3, 2009 @ 9:28 am

  38. I doubt that anyone would suspect the band was a fix and not part of the original plan! Yes, and extra repeat would have been better but you came up with a fabulous solution.

    Enjoy it!!

    Beth

    Comment by Beth P. — June 3, 2009 @ 11:48 am

  39. Beautiful sweater, beautiful model. I think your solution for adding length was ingenious.

    Comment by Angela — June 3, 2009 @ 12:03 pm

  40. Delurking to say I don’t know which is more beautiful, the sweater or the daughter!

    Comment by Tricia — June 3, 2009 @ 4:03 pm

  41. The sweater and your daughter are lovely.

    Comment by Tiny Tyrant — June 3, 2009 @ 7:22 pm

  42. Such a great solution to your problem! The sweater is beyond words. Your daughter does justice to your excellent workmanship. It looks like it was made for her or has she already hinted to the fact?!

    Comment by Rosemarie — June 3, 2009 @ 9:54 pm

  43. OH. MY. GOD! Breathtakingly beautiful…both the sweater and your daughter!

    Comment by Tora — June 4, 2009 @ 12:22 am

  44. It is absolutely stunning, and the added length panel goes beautifully with the entire sweater design. You have superb taste and amazing knitting skills. Plus, you have a truly beautiful daughter.

    Comment by Astrid — June 5, 2009 @ 6:20 am

  45. Hi Sally, your sweater is very beautiful. It is more beautiful than the original one published in the book (prefect fit).

    Comment by Vicky — June 8, 2009 @ 10:35 am

  46. Whoa, that is just stunning! Your knitting is an inspiration!

    Comment by Aim — July 3, 2009 @ 3:04 pm

  47. Wow.Stunning. On all counts.

    Comment by Nic — July 9, 2009 @ 2:16 pm

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