Thanks for asking, Suzan! The White Swan has landed! My Eala Bhan. I finished her about a month ago, but needed the post to marinate a while!
Eala Bhan was another of my “quest” projects. A project that you see and are drawn to immediately, with an “I-must-make-that” fervor. Surly and I ordered the yarn (Hebridean 2-Ply from Virtual Yarns, my color: Lapwing) as soon as we received our books (the newly republished Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore). I was in such a hurry to start, I insisted that Mairi of Virtual Yarns mail the yarn to Sally’s house so I would not miss a day (I was visiting her at the time).
That was the easy part! I decided to knit the fronts and back as one piece to avoid reverse stockinette seaming. Thus, with fair isle weight yarn and small needles, I had hundreds of sts at the start. It was like Eala Bhan and the Three Bears!! The first attempt was too big, the second too small, and the third was just right…lots of casting on (with an elaborate scalloped cast on) and lots of ripping.
As we know, I am not the smallest cherub in the choir, so I was making the largest size. I also lost my waist in the great “Eat Out” of the mid 90’s, so the extreme waist shaping of Eala Bhan (~12 inches are reduced at the waist!) was a no go for this fatty knitter. I only took out 4-6 inches at the waist — letting just the reduction in stitches from the large cables into the smaller cables do the shaping. I also made many other minor modifications, too numerous to describe or remember!
Eala Bhan requires a fair amount of finishing work due to the construction and button bands. The buttons called for are quite small, which made them difficult to find. As most knitters know, finding the right buttons is sometimes the hardest part of the project! I wanted metal buttons, very detailed, in a bronze color, with a shank — a shank button is easier to sew onto a sweater and the thread does not show.
Again, it was Eala Bhan and The Three Buttons! The first ones I found were beautifully detailed, in a bronze finish, BUT they had no shank and were PLASTIC (ugh). The second ones were still plastic, garish gold, but at least they had a shank. I stumbled across the third ones by accident: bronze, detailed, metal and a shank (see PS 5 below for details)! Yay!
So, here is my Eala Bhan, at long last:
This captures the color in the sunlight perfectly
Button Detail
After blocking, the fit is perfect. The sleeves flare over my hand at just the right spot. The hint of a waist gives me the hint of a waist. The length is perfect. The yarn softened to buttery perfection. I love this sweater.
Grade: A
Pattern: B (very long, complex, and needed tweaking — but a gorgeous concept)
Yarn: A
Fit: A+
Today we leave for the American Birkebeiner Ski Race. John turned 60 on Tuesday and is hoping for one of his best Birkies. I am hoping to not miss him at the finish line, which happened the last two years. 
It’s my only job and I blew it!! It is supposed to be VERY cold, too. 
Then on Sunday I get to watch Colin Firth receive his Oscar…wow! Great weekend!
PS1 to Diana: “And if I had the power I would have Colin present you with your award.” I would actually pass out if I ever saw him in person!
PS2 to Leigh: I did all the cabling without a cable needle: every RS row you are moving sts and I would have gone stark raving mad if I was juggling a cable needle.
PS3: I am in Hayward (free WiFi — yay!). John finished his 28th Birkie but it was a very hard ski for him. The last half was a slog! Just like some knitting projects I know! Thanks for all of the extremely kind comments about EB.
PS4: Colin won! Yay!
PS5: To Amber — where did I find my buttons? I bought them at Hancock Fabrics. They are JHB Buttons # 93287, 1/2 inch (scroll down and you will see them). Three buttons for $3.10.
I can’t wait to see you in it!
Also, go Colin.
The handsomest, best actor around.
Comment by jess — February 25, 2011 @ 9:36 am
OMG, your sweater is absolutely gorgeous! I think whatever pattern mods you made suit it perfectly.
Comment by Maryanne — February 25, 2011 @ 9:46 am
Beautiful knitting and finishing!
Comment by Chery — February 25, 2011 @ 9:58 am
Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES! This is gorgeous. (And so is Mr. Firth, who ought to have tied last year with the equally gorgeous & talented Mr. Bridges.) When you first got the yarn, it looked like a greyed down forest green, which is …nice … I guess, but now that I can see that it’s really a dark heathered teal, well! Should have known better, since it came from the Divine Ms. S. BUT! your mods have made it perfect for those of us with IMperfect figures. The waist shaping in the original rendered it a no-go for apple-shaped me. So now the only question is whether I have the patience (whazzat?) to get past the first four inches or so……
Comment by Suzan — February 25, 2011 @ 10:16 am
Wow! You did a beautiful job. I hope someday to have the patience to knit such a gorgeous sweater.
Comment by Lise — February 25, 2011 @ 10:23 am
Eala Bahn is lovely. And so is Mr Firth. I have not seen the movie, but I would vote for him no matter.
Have a great Birkie. Here is hoping the weather is good.
Comment by Needles — February 25, 2011 @ 10:26 am
This is truly one of the most perfect sweaters I have ever seen. And in my favorite color, too! Congrats!
Comment by Katie K — February 25, 2011 @ 10:35 am
Beautiful sweater – enjoy the race – I too look forward to seeing Colin Firth win an Oscar – it is well deserved.
Comment by Anne — February 25, 2011 @ 11:07 am
And the Oscar goes to Susan…lv2knit..for The Most Beautifully Knit AND Finished Sweater of the 2010-2011 Season. And if I had the power I would have Colin present you with your award. Thank you for always being a remarkable inspiration!
diana
Comment by Diana Wessel — February 25, 2011 @ 11:21 am
Stunning! What a gorgeous sweater.
Comment by Ruth — February 25, 2011 @ 11:23 am
hello, a quick note to France to tell you that I watch your blog regularly and I find your work is always gorgeous and perfect perfection itself, congratulations, too bad I do not speak English, I translated with google but I ‘love your blog.j will love coming to this perfection.
Comment by monique — February 25, 2011 @ 11:24 am
Damn, that’s fabulous.
Comment by Gretchen — February 25, 2011 @ 11:57 am
That sweater is amazing! Do you think I can tweak it enough to make it work for a guy? 😛
Comment by Yarndude — February 25, 2011 @ 12:10 pm
It really is beyond gorgeous! Can I ask: did you do the cables with or without a cable needle?
Comment by LeighK — February 25, 2011 @ 12:18 pm
Absolutely gorgeous! And your sweater is beautiful too! It represents a lot of hard work and expertise and you should wear it with pride.
Comment by MaureenTakoma — February 25, 2011 @ 12:22 pm
Beautiful sweater, beautiful color!
I have some of the same “shape” issues you mentioned. I wish I knew how to make the mods that would address them. I can do simple adjustments, but with a complex pattern like Eala Bhan I wouldn’t know where to start.
Congratulations on a job well-done.
Comment by technikat — February 25, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
Your photos truly capture this sweater’s beauty but, as one of your devoted weekly peeps, Eala Bhan in person is stuuuuning!! Words cannot describe its perfection! Your button choice elevates it to Olympian Levels. We are rooting for John at Birkie and Colin at Oscars!! Happy Weekend!!
Comment by KathyW — February 25, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
Wow! This was TRULY worth the wait. Everything you do is always beautiful but this heads to the top of the list IMHO. The mods you made for fitting make it so much more wearable for those of us who’ve had our waists disappear to find younger ladies.
Comment by LISA — February 25, 2011 @ 1:10 pm
Absolutely stunning! I don’t think I would have the patience (or the eyesight?!?) to handle all that cabling in fingering wt yarn. So happy to see someone else do it, though!
One suggestion on this type of button – small, metal, shank, kind of celtic – I have found some really cute ones in antique/collectible stores. So now whenever I am wandering through an antique store I look at their button collection. They usually cost very little, so I pick up any interesting ones I find. I am building up a stash of them!
Comment by Audrey — February 25, 2011 @ 1:16 pm
Your cardigan is gorgeous! You did a beautiful job. It would be nice to see a photo of someone wearing the garment so we can all see how great it looks on a real person.
Comment by Linda — February 25, 2011 @ 1:26 pm
I ordered the yarn for mine last night, and am excited about knitting it. It will take me a very long time, as I am a slowpoke. My waist has disappeared too.
Your is amazingly beautiful. I only hope mine turns out half as well.
Comment by joanna — February 25, 2011 @ 2:18 pm
Oh, my. Drool-inducing post! First, that most exquisite of sweaters – a masterpiece. Second, that most delicious of actors. Thanks for letting me feast my eyes on both…
Comment by Emm — February 25, 2011 @ 3:06 pm
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous sweater and workmanship! Enjoy it!
Comment by Lori on Little Traverse Bay — February 25, 2011 @ 3:43 pm
Now I am feeling guilty and thinking I should pull my own Eala Bhan out of the UFO heap.
Comment by surly — February 25, 2011 @ 4:42 pm
As all of the above Comments have stated that is truly The Most Gorgeous Sweater! I would imagine that it is even more amazing in person. Any chance we could see a photo of you wearing this beautiful garment? Between you and your sister, I am in complete AWE!!! Seriously, I can only hope to aspire to be even remotely that talented – thank you so much for sharing this.
Have a wonderful weekend (to both of you!) and I’m rooting for Mr. Firth also!
Comment by Barb — February 25, 2011 @ 5:09 pm
Wow. Blue Ribbon. Definitely!
Comment by (Another) Joan — February 25, 2011 @ 5:56 pm
Wow. You are the kind of knitter I want to be. I learn so much from you. Thanks!
Comment by Kate/Bocomo/K8 — February 25, 2011 @ 6:16 pm
This is one of the most gorgeous sweaters I’ve ever seen. I love all the details and the color. It certainly deserves the A rating.
Comment by Beverly — February 25, 2011 @ 7:03 pm
Oh my gosh – that is beautiful! If the equally gorgeous Mr. Firth does not win Sunday night, the earth will shake with the collected shrieks of women everywhere! 🙂
Comment by Kathy — February 25, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
It is AMAZING!
Comment by Michelle — February 25, 2011 @ 7:30 pm
It is stunning!!!!!!!
Comment by Julie — February 25, 2011 @ 7:34 pm
Please wear it to Yarnover so we can see it up close and personal!
Comment by Bonnie — February 25, 2011 @ 8:20 pm
Thank you for the preview of the 1st Place in Textured Adult Cardigan at the MN State Fair this year!!!
Comment by twinsetellen — February 25, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
I’m speechless! Such a gorgeous sweater; perfect fit, stunning colour… definitely a source of great satisfaction for you and a real pleasure for us to share with you. You’ve spoiled us, you know. What comes off your needles is always well thought out and executed. That’s what I call quality and the reason why I so enjoy the Rainey sisters!
Comment by Rosemarie — February 25, 2011 @ 11:43 pm
WOW! Eala Bhan is BEAUTIFUL!!
Comment by Sue J — February 26, 2011 @ 12:08 am
It is so beautiful! Wow!
Comment by dclulu — February 26, 2011 @ 3:22 am
Your post was funny and inspiring. The pictures of Eala made me want to make this. Congratulations.
Comment by Janet — February 26, 2011 @ 7:20 am
WOW! You’re sweater is absolutely gorgeous. Great job!!
Comment by Sandy — February 26, 2011 @ 11:59 am
Another amazing sweater by a Rainey Sister. The waist shaping you did Susan makes this design much more graceful and gorgeous. The original shaping looked too severe and dates the sweater. Keep it coming!
Comment by Nancy — February 26, 2011 @ 3:10 pm
It takes my breath away!!
Comment by Jane — February 26, 2011 @ 5:48 pm
beyond-belief STUNNING. a tour-de-force achievement!
Comment by shela — February 26, 2011 @ 11:37 pm
It looks amazingly stunning. Bravo!
Comment by Amy — February 27, 2011 @ 8:35 am
Your sweater is absolutely amazing!
Comment by Penny V — February 27, 2011 @ 9:20 am
Congratulations to your husband,too! I can only imagine how hard that ski race must be!!
Comment by Barb — February 27, 2011 @ 1:42 pm
Good Grief Susan you almost gave me a heart attack! As I was scrolling down your post reading about hubby and his ski adventure I noticed Colin’s photo and thought, “Holy Crap, Susan’s husband looks JUST LIKE Colin Firth!” Imagine my disappointment when I learned my mistake!!!
Comment by Tora — February 27, 2011 @ 4:53 pm
Such a gorgeous sweater made with fabulous yarn! Your mods sound right on — who among us with offspring has the waist we used to have?
Comment by kmkat — February 27, 2011 @ 6:18 pm
Sensational work – just love your sweater. Oh yes, I too love Colin Firth and he was wonderful in this movie.
Comment by Karen — February 27, 2011 @ 6:31 pm
gorgeous, gorgeous sweater! And congrats to two winners – you with sweater and your husband the skier!
Comment by NewJerseyLaura — February 28, 2011 @ 5:33 pm
Beautiful! Would you mind saying where you found the buttons?
Comment by Amber — March 2, 2011 @ 11:35 pm