the blue blog archives: isn't she lovely...

She is done! Thanks so much for all the encouragement yesterday. I don't know how I could have completed this project without all of you you supporting me! I was completely frustrated, but then I got worried that if I took a break, elizabeth would end up stuffed in a project bag for another six months, so I just ripped and redid the neck right away. I reknit the neck using smaller needles (size 1's!) and adding another twenty(!) decreases. It holds perfectly well now (it's a full two inches smaller), but if any more stretching occurs like the other night after washing, I'm off to the fabric store to get some seam tape and little snaps to try out the great suggestions Larry and Cindy made the other day. But for now she fits. Check out the difference: elizabeth II and elizabeth III!

Luckily the front and the back of this sweater are the same, so I'll be choosing to wear the stains on the back, where I won't see them and may even forget about them. Perhaps if I grow my hair really long.... I do plan on knitting up a little swatch with the remaining yarn to test how this stuff would react to dye should I decide that I just can't handle the stains or, for that matter, the white.

What an experience! I'm glad I made it through this project and really do like the sweater I've made. It's clear to me now that this was just the absolute wrong yarn to have used for this sweater, but I do love the yarn itself and it was what was recommended to me, so I stuck with it and made it work in the end. I think she's just lovely.

posted by alison at 7:17 am | in elizabeth III

Comments

Yeah, EIII is finished and looking good. A gold star for not giving up on it. Enjoy wearing it.

Posted by: Linda at February 19, 2003 7:37 AM

The sweater is beautiful and looks great on you! Congrats for working through the rough spots. I pulled out my Tudor Roses book last night and am giving this sweater a hard look as a next project. Do you think 100% wool yarn would have been a better choice? I'm thinking of making it in black or red, but don't have a yarn in mind....

Posted by: claudia at February 19, 2003 8:06 AM

Alison your Elizabeth III is simply fantastic! I really like it without the pattern too. You've totally inspired me! Elizabeth is definitely going to go on my list of sweaters to do.

Posted by: Leigh at February 19, 2003 9:13 AM

Bravo! I think Elizabeth III is worth all the time you spent on it. It is beautiful.

Posted by: barbara at February 19, 2003 9:14 AM

i think she is lovely as well!! so impressed that you picked her right back up and finished her off!! and did such a great job! congrats.

Posted by: carolyn at February 19, 2003 9:22 AM

I think that is absolutely gorgeous Alison. I'm sure you will be really proud every time you weare it.

Posted by: kerrie at February 19, 2003 10:11 AM

Beautiful! Now you can learn to sew a beautiful skirt or pair of pants (velvet?) to go with it!

Posted by: dava at February 19, 2003 10:15 AM

*Congratulations *. Elizabeth III looks absolutely gorgeous on you .An extremely good fit. Well worth all the hassle - and think of all the things you've learnt. I admire your tenacity.

Posted by: Emma at February 19, 2003 10:31 AM

Fabulous! You really did a wonderful job and congratulations on sticking with it. The before and after photos really show the difference! I tend to oversize things a bit too much to stay on the safe side, but you've proven that a good fit really makes the garment.

Posted by: michelle at February 19, 2003 11:08 AM

Alison, it looks really great. It has a very flattering neckline, so I'm glad that you kept at it to get it to fit you comfortably. Tres Elegant! I think you'll find a set of snaps that will work. They come in small sizes, and even have thin plastic ones that probably won't show thru your fabric.
(hmmm, think it's just a coincidence that Elvis Costello's "Alison" started playing while writing this?)

Posted by: Cindy at February 19, 2003 11:15 AM

I feel like I've just finished a long, maybe Victorian, novel. Congratulations on the the final chapter. Beautiful job etc.

Posted by: Larry at February 19, 2003 12:19 PM

CONGRATULATIONS! You did a great job with the resizing of E III and I admire your perseverance.

Posted by: Melissa at February 19, 2003 3:00 PM

Yeah!!!! Out of the bag and on the lady! I think a tiara on your happy head would top it all off. Now finish off those boys' sweaters and knit yourself something pink for spring. :)

Posted by: kerstin at February 19, 2003 4:14 PM

She is lovely and *you* are a true Fiber Warrior!

Posted by: Teresa at February 19, 2003 4:40 PM

Great job on the Ex3! You knew you could do it and you did. Great perserverance! And it looks great on that headless person.

Posted by: Chris at February 20, 2003 9:19 AM

Thanks everyone! I'm so excited that a few of you are thinking about knitting Elizabeth I now. All I can say is: it's not so bad, really! But I would definitely look for yarn that is more similar to the Dunedin called for in the pattern, 100% wool at least. As you can see though, you can do it with something else!

I loved your analogy, Larry. It was all a bit like a Jane Austen novel, where in the middle you just don't see how things could ever work out and then somehow everything is resolved and girl gets guy, or sweater as the case may be!

Posted by: alison at February 20, 2003 5:17 PM