Friend Kim and I picked up our state fair entries last Wednesday. The comments were thin, and many said, “Keen competition in this lot.” From what I have read elsewhere, this was a very common comment!!
I also had a chance to take some better pics of my Nightingale sweater. As I stated before, I cannot take credit for the concept, just its execution. Jettshin is the creative inspiration and Vintage Purls’ Nightingale socks the catalyst. This was a saga many years in the making!
I favorited Jettshin’s Nightingale Cardigan almost five years ago (along with over 8,300 others!). I loved everything about it – especially the colors. It percolated in my brain for four years. I kept coming back to it, trying to shape the concept into something that I could knit for myself. I sought out the yarn over many months – and even toyed with the idea of having it specially dyed for me. I finally purchased six very well matched skeins of Malabrigo Sock in Ochre, very close to her gold background color.
The blue was elusive. I bought a gorgeous blue from Sweet Fibers. Too blue. Too dark. No purple in it. (Some of you may recognize this as the yarn I am using for my daughter’s second Hito). Then I bought some Malabrigo Sock in Abril. Too purple. I finally had the brainstorm to try to find the Purple Soldier Fly that Jettshin had used and found some for sale on Ravelry. Yay! Yarn in hand.
Time to start the planning! Jettshin is a tiny person and her interpretation of the sweater very fitted. I knew mine would need to be bigger. Lots bigger. Positioning the repeats and getting them to fit perfectly around was a challenge, and it took a lot of pondering to get it worked out in my mind. I then recharted the Vintage Purls charts into Excel so I could manipulate them, and rework them as needed. I wanted the motifs to end logically, and not have “heads and tails” in awkward places.
I finally cast on in October of last year. I puttered around with it in between other projects, and was very naïve about the amount of work I had taken on!
Broke every rule with my stranding! Some floats are carried over 15 sts or more! There was just too much contrast between the yarn colors – every catch showed. Otherwise the body of the sweater went well, just very slowly!
I added a beaded lattice to the hem (as well as the cuffs and shawl collar).
I finally started on the sleeves and things stopped going smoothly for a variety of reasons, but I persevered. My husband would respond to every barrier/frustration with, “Why don’t you just put it away?” “Are you out of your mind??!!?? If I put it away it will never get done and I would rather cut it up and throw it in the trash than ‘put it away!'”
Am I the only knitter that ever feels that way?? I kept going just so it would not be hanging over my head any more. I had to get this off my plate.
The other difficult search (which we all know is a pain!!) was for buttons. I ultimately landed on Czech glass buttons with a blue glaze and floral motif (Susan Clarke GL-689). I used loops for the buttonholes.
So the saga is complete. Finito. Put to bed. I wonder what will strike next. 😉
OMG! This is even more amazing in close up pictures. I cannot come up with any decent comments to post. All I can say is WOW! I am going to slink to the front porch now and work on super simple socks and scarf.
Comment by Penny — September 7, 2014 @ 11:50 am
This is so, so beautiful. Congratulations on finishing it, and on your well-deserved award! 🙂
Comment by Anya — September 7, 2014 @ 11:55 am
Everything about this is exquisite, the beads are over the top, all elegant and not overstated, the greatest piece of knitting I have ever seen, actually the greatest piece of art I have ever seen.
Comment by Maureen — September 7, 2014 @ 12:13 pm
It’s truly a work of art and love.
Comment by Cheryl S. — September 7, 2014 @ 12:14 pm
Gorgeous!!
Comment by Renee Kaplan — September 7, 2014 @ 12:44 pm
It’s a beautiful design, beautifully executed and finished — a gorgeous sweater! Congratulations on your perseverance and skill!
I’m glad to hear of someone else who uses Excel to chart . . . I’ve been doing that since 1979 (on the original Mac, courtesy of the Apple Coalition, which introduced the Mac to Reed College), and still, when I mention it, I get decidedly funny looks!
As to finishing projects, people always say, “Oh, you are so patient!” and I say, “No, I’m very impatient. I want to see if the idea in my head will match what is coming out of my fingers.”
Have fun wearing your beautiful creation!
Comment by Cam — September 7, 2014 @ 1:23 pm
This is not just a sweater. It is a MASTERPIECE! I can’t believe how beautiful it is and what a wonderful job you did. I love the beaded borders, the bird motifs, the color choices, I could go on and on but I must go knit.
Comment by Mary Lou — September 7, 2014 @ 1:44 pm
Just talked to Penny and she said I HAD to get to the computer and see what Susan just posted. She is right WOW!! Girl that just rocks!! You take it to a whole different level. Color me impressed. Instead of slinking off to work on socks I am going to slink off to work on a yarn tangle that I have already spent 4 hours on. Yes, I do have enough yarn to just cut it off. Yes, I am just that stubborn.
Comment by Linda — September 7, 2014 @ 1:46 pm
It really is a work of art and definitely worth all your struggles with it! I would love to have more posts from you when you are in the process of making things and pondering the choices that make your results so beautiful.
Comment by Mary Jo — September 7, 2014 @ 2:26 pm
It’s simply stunning! I’m just in awe of your attention to detail, creativity and hard work.
Congratulations!
Comment by Trudy — September 7, 2014 @ 4:07 pm
Just Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Bonnie Vavra — September 7, 2014 @ 4:19 pm
I’ve been listening to her talk about this sweater for years, so I am happy it’s finished too! ;-}
I can’t wait to see it in person when we go to Rhinebeck.
Comment by surly — September 7, 2014 @ 5:32 pm
Absolutely fabulous! Appreciate all the work and dedication!
Comment by Verna — September 7, 2014 @ 5:54 pm
What an exquisite sweater! So wonderful, so beautiful!
It’s hard to explain when we want to knit something that isn’t actually any fun to make, but sometimes, there are those projects. I hope you find lots of good reasons to wear it too.
Comment by Pam — September 7, 2014 @ 6:38 pm
The sweater is magnificent. And those buttons…! Wherever did you find them? They’re perfect. Getting decent buttons is damn near impossible any more and ones as exquisite as these are a real find.
Comment by Suzan — September 7, 2014 @ 7:18 pm
I don’t usually comment, but this is absolutely stunning. Beautiful on the inside too, and the buttons are perfect! A real work of art!
Thank you so much for sharing – your work is an inspiration.
Comment by Karen — September 7, 2014 @ 7:51 pm
I read every Comment and I could have said all of those and more. This is easily, hands down the most beautiful, most amazingly incredible piece of art. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe it. Seriously it is perfection! I wish I could see it in person.
Congratulations to you on your perseverance – you deserve every accolade to come your way.
Comment by Barb — September 7, 2014 @ 8:52 pm
Stunning, absolutely stunning. You should be soooo proud.
Comment by Diane — September 7, 2014 @ 10:26 pm
Absolutely stunning, it is truly a work of art! I never seen such beautiful knitting!
Comment by Chris — September 7, 2014 @ 10:37 pm
This really is a masterpiece! It is, for me, the most beautiful knitted object I have ever seen. It should be in an art museum someday. But not now – you deserve to wear it proudly! Also, what perseverance you have displayed. I, too, use Excel to chart out patterns – not all the time but when something is a bit complicated. It’s a wonderful tool and actually fun to add in color. You do get to know your pattern quite well before even starting to knit! A job VERY WELL DONE!
Comment by Kathy W. — September 7, 2014 @ 11:42 pm
Worth every second you’ve invested in it. An absolute triumph (and is that some particularly beautiful grafting on the shoulders? Perfect!)
Comment by Naomi — September 8, 2014 @ 4:03 am
That is so stunning, just a beautiful job!
Comment by Lyn — September 8, 2014 @ 7:56 am
Stunning!!
Comment by sue — September 8, 2014 @ 10:05 am
Oh, I love it so much. I can only imagine how much effort that charting took as I am in the midst of doing one myself with an alteration of a pattern. Your work boggles the mind and inspires my little hands to keep going! Someday I’ll get there! Your creation shows a love of the art of knitting that I share. Congratulations!
Comment by pkett — September 8, 2014 @ 12:02 pm
My gosh! Truly a work of art!
Comment by Janene — September 8, 2014 @ 3:21 pm
Coutoure! Bravo, Susan.
Comment by Susan — September 8, 2014 @ 4:16 pm
I’ve read every comment and can only echo what has already been said. Masterpiece, stunning, work of art …… Congrats and thanks for the inspiration.
Comment by Ruth — September 8, 2014 @ 5:04 pm
Oh, my! Exquisite in every detail, a work of art. Thank you for always raising the bar. Sincerely.
~~now, pardon me while I spit on my current project, so unlady-like~~
Comment by CreeksideKnitter — September 8, 2014 @ 7:28 pm
Still trying to catch my breath. This isn’t clothing; it’s Art. Simply amazing. Congratulations.
Comment by PurrlGurrl — September 8, 2014 @ 11:54 pm
Absolutely brilliant. Such gorgeous colors, stitchwork, beading – it has it all. Enjoy the wearing!
Comment by Joan — September 9, 2014 @ 10:50 am
You are in masterpiece mode!
Comment by Ann McCauley — September 9, 2014 @ 11:49 am
W O W ! ! !
You are an amazing and inspirational knitter. Thank you for the great, detailed pictures and sharing some of your thoughts, and design process. I love being able to see up close the inside stranding, the beaded details and the button loops.
T H A N K Y O U
Comment by bjschmidt — September 9, 2014 @ 12:38 pm
Just stunning. Absolutely stunning!
Comment by Sandy — September 10, 2014 @ 12:38 am
So beautiful, amazing art in yarn. I love it.
Comment by Julie in San Diego — September 10, 2014 @ 7:24 am
Absolutely breath-taking! Perfect in EVERY detail.
Comment by Sue — September 10, 2014 @ 11:34 am
There are no words to describe this adequately. Beautiful work.
Comment by Needles — September 11, 2014 @ 8:34 am
To me this looks like needlepoint with knitting. Just exquisite. Do you think you have it in you to ever tackle another one, Susan?
Comment by Chloe — September 13, 2014 @ 2:58 pm
An heirloom for sure! Breathtakingly beautiful!
Comment by ruth — September 18, 2014 @ 10:39 pm
A veritable masterpiece!
Comment by Pamela — September 22, 2014 @ 3:48 pm
Many congratulations! The quality of the finishing on this is wonderful.
Comment by Shandy — September 25, 2014 @ 3:16 pm