Sally was planning on writing a post, but got waylaid from having no power and being surrounded by chaos! She is in the heart of the storm that struck the east coast this weekend. They are struggling with record heat and no wi fi!! Ouch!
So blogging is left to me. I did just finish a project. One that I have been working on for months. Partly because of the scale of the project and partly because of yarn “issues.” Yes. Handpaints. The yarns we love to buy and then love to hate. My Daydreams in Lace is knit out of my “crack du jour” Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in color Midnight Pass — a color that truly eludes capture.
Here is my finished Daydreams. An amazing feat because it actually fits. You know how much I hate being photographed, but here I am – bad hair day and all – to prove that it is possible to knit something that fits. I was worried because it is an unusual garment. But because it was knit from the top down, I did feel pretty confidant all the way along. The pattern calls for laceweight and Tosh is heavier, but I did see that some other knitters had used this yarn and their projects were gorgeous, so I forged ahead.
My Mods:
First, I cast on provisionally. I knew I did not like the 1×1 ribbed neckline, but did not know what I would end up doing. I finally decided on a 3-row reverse stockinette roll (4 rows with bind off) — after adding about 4 sts per repeat to keep the opening size large enough.
Next, I increased my needle size as I worked the body of the garment: from a US 4 at the yoke, to a 5 and then to a 6 to give it an A-line shape. On the sleeves I reversed the sizing, going from the Size 4 to a 3 then a 2.
I added the bottom border from the Percy Shawl (free pattern!) after seeing Catherine’s project on Ravelry. The sleeves were finished in a modified feather and fan of my own devising.
About the yarn: a stunning color, to be sure. EVERYONE who sees it says, “Wow! I love that color!” And it is true. But as we know, there is variation among these handpainted skeins. The first three skeins were dead on…very little variation. I finished the entire body with those three skeins. Then on to the sleeves.
As I started knitting, I could tell the color was very pale and washed out. Bummer. So, I started knitting with my 5th skein to see what would happen: very noticeable line. As luck would have it, Sally was arriving for Yarnover, so she brought the remaining yarn she had from a project yet to be named 🙂 . I made her buy it because the color was so beautiful! The color in her skein seemed much more tonally varied: the dark was darker, the light lighter. I contacted A Good Yarn in Sarasota to see if they had any more, thinking I could buy a few skeins and see which one matched the best. They had a new batch (? would it even remotely match the old?) but only give store credit for returns. Hmmm. Bummer. So, I used Sally’s partial skein to transition from the body to the sleeves and then finished the sleeves with my darker skein. Overall, I think it is hard to see the difference.
So, monkeying around with the different skeins slowed me down a bit. Plus, I think I did too much knitting. It is hard to tell how much additional length you’ll get from blocking lace. I did a LOT more knitting than called for in the pattern (I am the big one after all), but maybe too much.
Grade for Daydreams in Lace = A+
Pattern: A+ (and free besides!) — apparently there is errata but maybe not for my size
Yarn: A (it would get an A+ except for the trials described above!)
Buttons: A+ — Irridescent blue glass – stunning
Fit: A- (I am never 100% sold on how things look on me!!)
I may knit this again in a very different color, and make it shorter — more like a regular sweater length. I really enjoyed making this. If you have any interest in it, I say, go for it!!
It’s beautiful! And you look great! Thank you for sharing–you’re always finishing such amazing stuff.
Comment by Lisle — July 1, 2012 @ 5:50 pm
The buttons look great – my usual nemesis! Congrats on a beautiful sweater.
Comment by Amy — July 1, 2012 @ 6:06 pm
Susan, it is GORGEOUS!
Comment by Grace D. — July 1, 2012 @ 6:10 pm
It is beautiful, and you look great!
Comment by Lee Cockrum — July 1, 2012 @ 6:37 pm
Stunning and it does fit you beautifully — an A+ (with distinction) from where I’m standing!
Comment by Wool Free and Lovin Knit — July 1, 2012 @ 6:44 pm
Beautiful!
Comment by sue — July 1, 2012 @ 8:26 pm
Amazing! Really stunning on you. Congrats, you did a beautiful job. Wear it with pride.
Comment by Thea — July 1, 2012 @ 8:56 pm
Wow! I love it, and appreciate your modeling it. It’s so hard to visualize how knits will really look on real people. I’m sure you have just inspired many readers to give this one a try.
I had a similar Madelinetosh matching problem. I ran out of yarn while knitting Spectra (Stephen West). I ordered another skein, but the original skein of French Grey was very taupe colored, the new skein is much more of a steel grey. I tried blending the two, but it was a pretty stark difference in the colors, so I had to settle for a short scarf. It was still a fun knit, and I love the character of the Madelinetosh.
Comment by Fran — July 1, 2012 @ 9:01 pm
Beautiful! The color really suits you.
Comment by Beverly — July 1, 2012 @ 9:03 pm
It is beautiful. Will you bring it to camp?
Comment by Renate Baur — July 1, 2012 @ 11:21 pm
Susan, it is really stunning and perfect on you. The black looks great under it. So, you put it on, and dared go out and take a picture when it was 95?
Comment by Pat — July 2, 2012 @ 12:10 am
Susan, tell Sally to hang in there. A large fleet of Oncor Electric trucks and repairmen left the Dallas-Ft. Worth area at 5:30 this morning, headed for Sally’s area to help in the massive electric service restoration effort. Never fear, the Texans are on their way to save the day!
Your sweater looks great, and you should certainly give yourself A+ in the Fit category. Madelinetosh opened a store in Ft. Worth about 2 months ago. Think of walls filled with their yarn in all weights–a sight to behold! Just Google on Madtosh, Fort Worth to see their website. If you ever need a personal shopper and you know what shade and weight you want, I’ll be happy to go shopping there for you.
Mary G. in Texas
Comment by Katie's Granny — July 2, 2012 @ 1:07 am
Beautiful – and thanks for showing it on YOU. If I’m contemplating making something, I really appreciate all the people who are willing to wear their finished sweaters – helps me so much.
Comment by Pam — July 2, 2012 @ 2:11 am
Fabulous job….I love that you have taken. A good design and made it your own with your modifications…..beautiful color, great photos, you look wonderful.
Hope everything is ok for Sally.
Ps…really love that you modelled this….thank you.
Comment by Anne — July 2, 2012 @ 6:12 am
Absolutely amazing … beautiful …
KR
Nadja from Germany
Comment by Nadja — July 2, 2012 @ 6:40 am
Beautiful! Where did you get the buttons? (SR Harris has a lot of buttons — at full price — by Dill; probably the biggest selection of buttons I’ve seen recently in the Cities)
Comment by Susan — July 2, 2012 @ 7:43 am
Oh My! What a beautiful sweater! That’s also a great picture of you and your neck 😉
Comment by rebecca — July 2, 2012 @ 9:45 am
Gorgeous. It looks fantastic on you. I like the length too. I give it all an A+++
Comment by Ruth — July 2, 2012 @ 10:50 am
I have power!!!!! Let’s hope it holds,
And I agree with everyone that Sue’s sweater looks great.
Comment by surly — July 2, 2012 @ 11:53 am
The sweater does indeed look wonderful on you. I am knitting the very same one right now, and was very happy to read about your experience with it. I have made the same modification re. needle size on the body, and like your idea of decreasing the needle size as the sleeves approach the wrist. I made the ribbed neckline because I couldn’t think of an alternative, but much prefer yours with the rolled neckline.
Comment by Carol — July 2, 2012 @ 12:54 pm
this is quite simply – STUNNING!!! It is a beautiful color, a beautiful pattern and you look absolutely beautiful!
I stand in complete awe of your talent! thank you for sharing these photos with us and all of the knitting details – just fascinating to me what an accomplished knitter can do.
I was happy to also read that Sally has power. Whoo! Hoo!
Comment by Barb — July 2, 2012 @ 4:12 pm
It plumb took my breath away.
Comment by Needles — July 2, 2012 @ 8:01 pm
I adore the postings thank you for the time you spend for our enjoyment and learning, you are both very clever. I am wishing Sally a thought to stay calm and carry-on. I had a F-3 or 4 tornado in 2011 that was 5 homes away . (small lots 1 acre or less} we were both home and did not have but 5 min. to get down stairs. We have lived here since 1986 and the area is called East Forrest Park section for its huge over grown white oaks with ponds and rivers near by . This is a hard time to get through but you will.
Comment by dianne c. — July 2, 2012 @ 9:01 pm
Just gorgeous. It fits you to perfection!
Comment by pam — July 2, 2012 @ 11:30 pm
Very lovely. Looks wonderful on you too!
Comment by Evie — July 3, 2012 @ 12:40 am
Absolutely exquisite. The sweater is almost as beautiful as you! I sooo love your blog – thank you for all your sharing.
Comment by Pamela — July 3, 2012 @ 8:09 am
This sweater is absolutely gorgeous. I am searching now for yarn to start one after seeing yours. I think I will knit it for my step-son’s wedding next January. Deciding the color will be the hardest thing! I think I want something a bit shiny, silky, dressy and elegant. Hmmm, need to really look for the perfect yarn. Thank you for modeling this – you look beautiful in this. My advice is to wear it EVERYWHERE. Very exquisite work.
Comment by p — July 3, 2012 @ 11:55 am
Spectacular!
Comment by Valeria Garcia — July 3, 2012 @ 2:20 pm
Absolutely stunning on you!!! I’ve been cyber stalking you for years and have to say that this piece fits and looks perfect on you 🙂
Comment by Deb Douglas — July 4, 2012 @ 7:36 pm
oops~ meant to say that i’ve never commented before but this knitted jewel begs a few words.
Comment by Deb Douglas — July 4, 2012 @ 7:38 pm
Susan, you look positively lovely in that beautiful blue! And the cardigan is perfect on you!
Comment by Christine — July 5, 2012 @ 11:01 am
Very nice! Great call on the neckline. You look wonderful in it.
Comment by Cheryl S. — July 5, 2012 @ 6:29 pm
Susan, how would you suggest I go about increasing the size of the Daydream in Lace patter to a 2X or 3X. The pattern’s largest size is 1X and I would love to make it bigger. Any help you can givem me would be appreciated.
Comment by Sharon — July 6, 2012 @ 8:58 pm
You inspired me to start this project, and then I set it aside for a while. Now I’m at row 63 of chart B, and I am absolutely stumped about why the pattern isn’t lining up right. Row 61 looks right, but something is going wrong on 63. The errata was related to Chart A, which went fine for me. I would really appreciate any help you can offer. I have knit this row over and over and still can’t figure it out :(. BTW, I have one skein of MT Chunky in that colorway. Totally agree that it is stunning (as is your project!).
Comment by Jocelyn — July 11, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
So beautiful. I love the color. Thank you for posting. I plan to try it sometime in the future.
Julie in San Diego.
Comment by Julie in San Diego — July 14, 2012 @ 12:01 am
Your sweater turned out beautiful!! I am currently working on this sweater and have come across a problem that perhaps you can help me with.
I’m making size small, i’m on row 71.
I have the correct number of stiches however,I’m having difficulty understanding the pattern row:
[yo2,k4,yo1 (2), ssk, k2, k2tog, yo2, k3,yo,ssk, k2, yo2, ssk, k3, yo1(2), ssk, k3 yo2, k1]
I don’t understand the (2). I’ve never seen a repeat written this way. so, I’m not sure if I repeat everything preceeding (2) or just the Yo1 2 times. If i do the latter, that would mean it should read [yo2, k4, yo2, ssk……
any advice is appreciated
Best regards
Comment by geraldine — November 2, 2017 @ 1:09 am