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My final ribby report: my zipper arrived on Friday; I immediately got to work shortening the two-way separating zipper down to size; sewed it in; did a few finishing fixes (see below); and ta-da! I love the color and am really pleased with how the contrasting zipper and bands came out. It's quite big and slouchy (not exactly the most flattering style for me), but as long as I always walk around with my hands on my hips like in the photo, it looks good!

The ribby does have some issues though. I made some mistakes and it always seemed way too late to fix them, so I applied some after-the-fact fixes and am living with the result (it's like therapy for the OCD knitter). My main problems all revolve around the neck. I redid the neck several times. My numbers were never correct, mostly because I noticed that the jacket was getting long and so started the neck early. Well, that left me with a large, low neck. It looked more like the band on the top of a sweater than a jacket collar. And while I was dealing with the number fudging, I apparently missed lining up the ribs with the sleeve on one side. So, in order to help the collar stand up and also minimize the ribbing mistake, I ran some elastic through the neck, cinching it in and up and pulling those ribs together more so the mistake is less obvious. Here's a close up of how the neck looks now: inside, and the off-set ribbing. Not a bad fix. I can live with it.

There you have it. A finished ribby. Did you see Claudia's? Go now! But be kind when you return ('cause hers is absolute ribby perfection). And be sure to keep your eyes peeled in the next few days for some more finished ribbys from Leigh, Greta and Melissa. It's ribby week in knitblogland. Let the fiesta begin, again!

posted by alison at 12:34 am | in ribby cardie

Comments

it looks absolutely marvelous! makes me want one for myself (although, I already have other things I need to be getting to... oh, if only I could knit faster!)

Posted by: kim at September 22, 2003 11:44 PM

Even though Ribby doesn't hug you quite as much as Claudia's does, you'll still get a ton of use out of yours. Just think: Layering! Throw on a hug-your-bibbies ribbed turtleneck sweater, some comfy jeans and your new Ribby. Layer-ific, warm and hip cas(ual).

Posted by: Jenn at September 23, 2003 5:30 AM

That looks spiffy. The contrast band really came out well and a great idea with the 2-way zipper. When I get around to doing a ribby I'm going to go for hooks and eyes or poppers

Posted by: Linda at September 23, 2003 6:34 AM

Wow, the way you went after that zipper with the pliers makes me weak in the knees. I am always amazed at how you wrestle each sweater into submission and make them behave. Great job!

Posted by: michelle at September 23, 2003 6:56 AM

I like that idea: sweater wrestling. Take it to the mat and come up blocked! Looks great Alison!

Posted by: Dava at September 23, 2003 8:20 AM

You're far too hard on yourself and your knitting.It looks fab.I think it's rather flattering,and it's a gorgeous colour.

Posted by: Emma at September 23, 2003 8:27 AM

Oh yes, Jenn, I'll be layering away. I always find that I won't wear my real winter coat before January out of some fear that I'll have wasted the warmest coat on the not-quite-coldest weather. Which means that I'm layering sweaters and jackets through the end of the year.

Michelle, you hit the nail on the head. It does feel like that sometimes when I sit down to finish a project. I'm fighting with the pattern or my own errors to get what I want out of it. Wait 'till you read my ladybug update later this week!

Emma, thanks so much for your comment. You have got to be the sweetest knitblogger out there on the ring and I really appreciate your stopping by and leaving such nice notes. :0)

Posted by: alison at September 23, 2003 8:47 AM

You put a lot of work into that sweater and it shows. I am tempted to knit one myself...um, maybe not, there are tons of sweaters on my list. Now, lets see some bugs :).

Posted by: sharlyn at September 23, 2003 8:53 AM

Looks great on you, Girl! And you were so brave to divulge your little fudges...Both your photo and Claudia's are much nicer looking than the pattern photo on your side bar. I'd be inspired to make one if I didn't already have so much on the go! :-)

Posted by: Marg at September 23, 2003 10:31 AM

looks great!!!!! love the two-way zipper. laughing at the thought of you walking around all the time with your hands on your hips!!! FINALLY received my poncho yarn yesterday, 3 weeks after i bougth it on ebay. so just have to finish my current wip, which should be done tonight, and onto poncholong!!!!

Posted by: monica at September 23, 2003 10:32 AM

Ribbie looks great, I like how you added a 2nd color for the part closest to the zipper! :)

Posted by: ~Jo~ at September 23, 2003 10:32 AM

Hey! What is this, International Let's Make Rabbit Want a Ribby Cardi Day? Look who looks adorable in her zippy ribby cardi! You all are giving me ribby cardi envy, big time. Despite those little mishaps you describe, I see a great jacket. I personally like that slouchy look; you'll be able to easily layer the jacket over other things. And what a cool idea to the zipper facings in another color! Chic Alison touch, there. I'm glad you went with the separating zipper, too.

Fiesta, fiesta! Yo quiero un ribby cardi, tambien!

Posted by: Becky at September 23, 2003 11:53 AM

I think it looks great. The zipper turned out nice. I like the contrast it is cool. I love how everyone's finished project is a little different. Thanks for posting the knit along on your site. I am getting a crazy number of hits from your side bar.

Posted by: Lisa at September 23, 2003 11:55 AM

Alison,
Your cardi looks awesome! I'm always very impressed with the outcome of each project. Keep up the great work!

Posted by: Lynette at September 23, 2003 12:46 PM

It's beautiful, Alison. No I don't expect to see you walking around with your hands on your hips. It's NOT your style. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at September 23, 2003 12:47 PM

Love the contrasting color! It's like that fun piping. I think your ribby looks great, and it will be super functional. Claudia's would go with, you know, leather pants, but yours will go with jeans!

Posted by: Mariko at September 23, 2003 1:00 PM

Wow! You did a great job on your ribby cardie!

So, are you up for another one? (hee hee) I am thinking I might follow Claudia's lead and make one that gets 4 stitches to the inch...and in a cotton blend to make it slightly smaller and less warm.

I'm renaming my current one Ribby Jacki for Autumn.

Posted by: Leigh at September 23, 2003 1:38 PM

Just got back from the store with PLIERS..so I'll be sending you the finished ribby pics soon.
Yours is GORGEOUS! Wow...love the contrasting bands. You look like a true Avenger with your hands on your hips....it's a good look, dontcha think? :)

Posted by: greta at September 23, 2003 2:02 PM

Bravo Alison. I love the contrasting band. And I am very impressed with what you did with the zipper (maybe you were a dentist in a former life!). Even though I am not done with ribby yet (so close yet so far... haven't even ordered a zipper yet), I already know I would do some things differently. I am feeling motivated now to wrap this baby up.

Posted by: Melissa at September 23, 2003 4:03 PM

The ribby cardie looks awesome. I love the contrast on the zipper.

Posted by: Uli at September 23, 2003 4:10 PM

your ribby looks great!! i love the split zip!

Can you add me to the poncho-along? i just inherited some cool blue boucle and i'm yearning to do the poncho in this issue of knitty.

Thanks!

Posted by: Stella at September 23, 2003 7:22 PM

Wowwee! You really did have a major wrestling match with this one! I'd be down for the count. It really is one of those cardies the looks better on people than on the hanger (or flat pic). I'm having second thoughts and maybe down the line.... I'm hoping that a zipper will appear on one of my sweater/cardie/vest one day.

Posted by: Shirley at September 24, 2003 4:16 AM

Bravo Oh Mistress of Blueness! Your Ribby Rules!

I especially like the contrasting edging.

And now that you've joined the Executive Board of *Boss Your Knitting Around*, that's right, closing devices count too, you can put a zipper in anywhere, anytime, anyway...

How Powerful You Are!!!

Posted by: Bonne Marie at September 24, 2003 7:35 AM

That Ribby came out snuggle sized...the perfect thing for wrapping around yourself on a cold night. I have a giant Lopi cardi that I use for that purpose. You'll be wearing it long after my orange one has been put away for the season. And you rock for woman-handling your own zipper! I wimped and made the hubby do it.

Posted by: claudia at September 24, 2003 8:26 AM

Phew! When you set your mind to frenzying, you mean BUSINESS! It looks fabulous on you! What a nice sweater to bring along on your trip!
What's next???

Posted by: Sandy at September 24, 2003 3:43 PM

You make me want to knit a ribby, Alison! Great job!

Posted by: Teresa at September 25, 2003 9:10 PM