the blue blog archives: finale

After sewing on 13 tiny buttons and weaving in about a bazillion ends, I finished ava, just in time for the Olympic closing ceremonies tonight. My summer olympic finishing marathon is complete. And she gets the gold!

On to ava details. I love the fact that it's a light cardigan with really good waist shaping. Boxy cardigan + me = no way. And I so enjoyed using the Rowan Calmer. It's soft to work with and feels heavenly on. The gauge was a little different from the wool cotton that the pattern called for, but I was able to use the numbers from a different size to adjust. Still the pattern is a little weird. The sleeves as written were incredibly long (Nora mentioned that she had the same problem when working on her ava). I ripped them back and reknit them, leaving out a few increases near the top. That seemed to do the trick.

I really like this cardigan. I think I'll get a lot of wear out of it. I'm always chilly and with some basic, goes-with-everything cardis like this one, I'll be able to bring one with me all the time. I must admit to having cardigan issues - I don't really understand when to wear them and am always feeling like they're just light jackets and I should take them off when I get inside somewhere. But I'm hoping that a lighter, more feminine cardi like ava will change that. I can bring it with me as a light jacket, simply wear it like a sweater, or layer it on even cooler days. With ava, the cardi raye, and my paris loop poncho, I'll be looking forward to sweater weather!

posted by alison at 9:09 am | in ava , olympiad

Comments

That is so beautiful! Wish I was patient enough to knit one for myself! And congratulations on the godl ;)

Elisabeth

Posted by: Elisabeth at August 29, 2004 9:27 AM

Hooray! Ava looks fantastic! Beautiful job.

Posted by: Lynn at August 29, 2004 9:44 AM

It's beautiful! It's a classic sweater, you're going to get a lot of wear out of it.

Posted by: sharlyn at August 29, 2004 10:16 AM

The sweater fits perfectly!!! Looks great!
Can't believe that you were able to knit a small guage sweater in such a short time -- how do you do it w/2 boys (I need to take notes).

Leslie

Posted by: leslie at August 29, 2004 10:17 AM

U-S-A!!!!!! :) That is gold medal worthy, Alison! Great job! I love the way it fits you perfectly! Too bad it's so danged hot or you could wear it now.
Another great finish by the blue knitter!

Posted by: sandy at August 29, 2004 11:28 AM

Oh Ava is just lovely. Sometimes a little cardi is just the thing. I cheated yesterday and bought myself a new one for the fall...

Just wanted to let you know that my Fiesta Teaset is complete.

Posted by: Georgia at August 29, 2004 11:37 AM

Ava looks amazing. The buttons would've driven me crazy. Are you going to use the cardi raye ribbon backing idea on other cardis?

Posted by: Lauren at August 29, 2004 12:02 PM

It's beautiful and looks great on you!

Posted by: monica at August 29, 2004 1:00 PM

Very nice, Alison. Very classy. You have such good taste. Isn't the Calmer a dream?

Posted by: Karen Heinig at August 29, 2004 1:01 PM

Wow! What a flattering and lovely cardigan. It really suits you...bravo...a laurel wreath for Alison!

Posted by: Sarah C. at August 29, 2004 2:56 PM

You and the sweater look great. You definitly get the gold!

Posted by: Cindy at August 29, 2004 6:01 PM

Another wonderful knit by the gold medal winner! (Are you a Gold Medal baker as well?) I'm digging the soft lighting pics. Very flattering.

Posted by: Kerstin at August 29, 2004 8:05 PM

Ava's beautiful! I was wondering when she would make a debut :o) Another terrific knit!

Posted by: lyn at August 29, 2004 9:23 PM

Ava is beautiful and looks just so lovely on you! Congratulations on a wonderful FO!

Posted by: Rossan at August 29, 2004 9:51 PM

Gorgeous! How fast you knit! Gold medal indeed, for speed and artistic interpretation!!

Posted by: Jenny at August 30, 2004 12:56 AM

The perfect fit! You look very feminine and classy in that cardigan. Indeed I guess it's a very practical garment. And in Calmer, yum...

Posted by: laetitia at August 30, 2004 2:53 AM

ava looks wonderful! beautiful job. i really like that style cardi. i have some wc too, hmmm. love all those buttons. bravo!

Posted by: froggy at August 30, 2004 6:15 AM

Very, very classy!

Posted by: Becky at August 30, 2004 6:24 AM

Can you spell m-a-s-t-e-r Knitter? You just crank out one flawless design after another!

Posted by: Pubah at August 30, 2004 7:22 AM

What an elegant little cardigan! The colour really suits you - looks great.

Posted by: Anita at August 30, 2004 7:32 AM

What a gorgeous little cardigan!! It looks absolutely perfect on you . . .

Posted by: chris at August 30, 2004 9:38 AM

(Sob) That cardigan is simply moving. I can hear your national anthem playing....
I love the Olympics.

Posted by: Stephanie at August 30, 2004 9:52 AM

Beautiful job. She looks fantastic. You really do crank out those projects! And do a great job at them also. :-)

Posted by: Eilene at August 30, 2004 10:10 AM

Do you believe in omens? Last night I blocked Click-Clack and decided to block five pieces of Ava before I frog & reknit. Since it is September, I am thinking I want a new cardie.

Now that I have seen your lovely Ava (and blocked my Ava), I am taking it as a sign to plunge back in! You look sooo lovely in your cardie and the color is perfect. Congrats.

Posted by: Nora at August 30, 2004 12:20 PM

Alison! Both you and Ava are STUNNING!! Ditto for the Habu tank!

Posted by: Elisabeth NYC at August 30, 2004 3:44 PM

just lovely, I am a hue fan of the cardigan myself, and no you don't need to take it off the second you get in doors :-)

Posted by: jo at August 30, 2004 6:54 PM

Ooh, looks great! I want one!

Posted by: Kat at August 30, 2004 7:17 PM