the blue blog archives: and we're off

I couldn't stop myself. We're off on our trip to Germany in a few hours and I didn't want to leave her unfinished, so I seamed her up in record time and here she is. Now I can leave her. Maybe when we get back we'll start having some weather where I can even wear her. I can't tell you how unpleasant it was doing a photoshoot in 80 degree weather in silk garden. But it's going to be so great to cuddle up in this sweater in the fall!

On to the details... This sweater is really cleverly constructed. It's just so neat that it's four rectangles, no decreasing, no increasing, no caps or curves or anything. Simple, simple, simple to make, the sewing is a breeze and still it ends up looking great. It's brilliant! I love how unique it is too. It doesn't look like any other sweaters that I have or see at the Gap and other stores. For example, I love how the cast off edges of the sleeves form the v-neck and how they're just sewn together a bit in the back.

Such an elegant solution for the neckline, which is usually a complicated detail. The big, bell sleeves are fun to wear and the little droop on the sides actually gives it a nice shape. Amazing. No more tittle-tattle, fiddle-faddle, making fun of Ms Tuttle Hamilton's name for me.

With that, I'm off to "Goimny" (as the boys say), with what seems like half my stash in tow. I'll update in a few days, so "Wiedersehen!" for now.

posted by alison at 8:11 am | in klara

Comments

The sweater is just gorgeous (the yarn compliments the shape of the sweater). Have a fun vacation filled w/lots of knitting (we'll miss your daily posts)!

Posted by: leslie at September 8, 2004 8:29 AM

Wowie. That's not something I should be looking at. Must not break yarn diet.

Posted by: Stephanie at September 8, 2004 8:32 AM

Oh yummy! Where'd you say you got the pattern? Is it cool enough weather in 'Goimny' to take it with? Have a safe trip!

Posted by: Marg at September 8, 2004 8:43 AM

Ack! I can't believe you're finished! Miss Alison, you are a knitting speed demon. Granted it was an easy knit but STILL. It looks fabulous on you. Have a wonderful time in Germany!

Posted by: Karen at September 8, 2004 8:46 AM

Have a wonderful trip. Enjoy those German cakes and the coffee. We looked at your notes from last year. Say hello to Essen for us and our German exchange student.

Posted by: Cyndy at September 8, 2004 8:47 AM

Beautiful work, as always. I've *got* to make a project with bell sleeves. They're so fun!

Wiedersehen, und viel Spaß haben!

Posted by: Kim at September 8, 2004 8:48 AM

have a great time on your trip.

and wow, its gorgeous. love how it fits you. those bell sleeves are great. i now have a better sense of the fit and style of it. great pics!

bravo!

Posted by: froggy at September 8, 2004 9:01 AM

It looks great on you. I didn't really like the design of it on the model in the pattern book but I really like how it fits you.

Posted by: monica at September 8, 2004 9:04 AM

Holy flying hands and needles!!! I love your Klaralund. You're too much. You *really* make me want one of these sweaters.

Posted by: Lynette at September 8, 2004 9:06 AM

Good grief! I can't believe you finished it already. It looks marvelous!!! Have a great trip to Germany...take lots of pictures :)

Posted by: Amy at September 8, 2004 9:48 AM

Fab Karalund! Are the matching strip intervals at the shoulder on purpose? They look great.

Have a great trip to Germany!

Posted by: Theresa at September 8, 2004 10:15 AM

dang.. you knit up a storm.. litterally. Now we know who to blame the hurricans on!

Posted by: pixie at September 8, 2004 10:25 AM

Wow, Alison! What a fabulous sweater! Me like very much! And the sleeves' color match... hum... what a funny coincidence... ;0)

Viel Spaß in Deutschland! Strickt viel auch!

Posted by: Deborah at September 8, 2004 10:32 AM

Great sweater! Love the back of it. Have fun in germany! I am seeing a finished wavy line sweater when you return, which means eeks I better get past my ribbing :)

Posted by: Amy at September 8, 2004 10:36 AM

AAAHH!!! I love it! This is fantastic. Great job! I would be finished too if it wasn't for labor and the new baby. I'm VERY close to finishing the final sleeve... I only have the last garter stitch to do... but time is in short supply. I just saw your pictures and will have to read the blogging later - we're off to take the baby to his first doctor's appt.

Hope you are enjoying vacation!

Lisa

Posted by: Lisa C. at September 8, 2004 10:48 AM

Oh dear...Klaralund looks fab on you...I may just have to join in and knit one up for myself! Have a good time in Goimny!

Posted by: Ara at September 8, 2004 11:17 AM

I am speechless, in awe, and quite excited about knitting this very sweater. This is such an encouragement to me and yours looks TRULY nice!!

Have a great trip!

Posted by: PlanetJanet at September 8, 2004 1:11 PM

Excellent! It looks divine! I love this sweater...Have fun in Deutchland!

Posted by: Heather at September 8, 2004 1:15 PM

Ha - and you managed to nearly match those sleeves, there, didn'tcha, LOL...looks awesome - can't wait to finish mine now!!!

Posted by: Eklectika at September 8, 2004 1:50 PM

That sweater looks awesome! What a speed demon you are with those needles. Have a save and enjoyable trip!

Posted by: Kristi at September 8, 2004 1:57 PM

Klaralund is great! Have a wonderful time!

Posted by: Julia at September 8, 2004 2:42 PM

I can't believe your done already. She looks great on you. Have a great trip!

Posted by: Eilene at September 8, 2004 4:38 PM

Okay, I just bought 9 balls of Silk Garden and the Klaralund pattern...and it's all your fault! So much cuter in your pictures than in the book's photo.

Have a wonderful trip!

Posted by: Tamar at September 8, 2004 4:41 PM

GORGEOUS! And you are amazingly fast. I liked seeing the back, too. That's the only picture of the back I've seen, and it is beautiful.

Posted by: LauraA at September 8, 2004 5:37 PM

You know, it seems like everyone has been talking about Klaralund lately, and I really didn't see what the big deal was. I thought it was a cute design in the photo I saw, but I couldn't help wondering if it would still look good on an actual adult woman with boobs. Well, turns out I like it BETTER on someone who looks like they're over 12. Yours looks great, assymetrical striping and all, and it looks great on you. Now I'm reconsidering Klaralund as a project.

Posted by: susan at September 8, 2004 5:56 PM

wow!!! that looks fabulous on you.
you are amazing!!
either you knit really fast, or you must hire a nanny to get all of that knitting done.
come on, tell us your secret.

Posted by: joy at September 8, 2004 8:45 PM

Oooooohhhhhhhhh. Looks great!

Posted by: Kat at September 8, 2004 10:54 PM

It's gorgeous, and thanks so much for the back view! Now I want this pattern, but where do I get it? And how do you work so fast?

Posted by: Janet at September 8, 2004 11:01 PM

I must admit that I am always a bit intimidated when I see you have 28 comments already. But since you already know my home address (grin) - I guess I can say, "Bon Voyage!"

Klaralund is stunning!

Take care, your former secret pal recepient.

Posted by: Marie at September 9, 2004 2:26 AM

looks great alison!!! bon voyage!!

Posted by: carolyn at September 9, 2004 8:25 AM

Gorgeous!! I love it. I'm not putting mine down until it's finished now.

Have a great trip, I'll work on that Klaralund-wearing-Weather for you!

Posted by: Steph at September 9, 2004 10:25 AM

Thanks for the compliments and the bon voyage wishes, everyone! We've landed safe and sound and I'll have pictures in a couple of days. :)

For anyone who doesn't know the Klarlund details, the pattern is from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton's Book Two. The knitting garden has a great online site where you can see the book and patterns, but you should be able to find it at your LYS or elsewhere online. (PS - Pattern and yarn info are always posted in my project archives and on the finished projects page, if you're ever searching for details here on my site.)

Posted by: alison at September 9, 2004 11:15 AM

Oh yeah, about those sleeves. Recall that I swore I was going to go with the flow on this one. I sorted out skeins that seemed to start in similar places to keep striping consistent over one piece (for example, one sleeve), but for the next piece, I just grabbed a skein from another batch and started knitting. The two sleeves ended up being just about an inch away from matching up, which is the tiniest bit bothersome. It's too close for random and too off for matching. I love the final result, I just have this nagging desire to tip the picture a little so that one arm is lower and it looks like everything lines up! ;0)

Posted by: alison at September 9, 2004 11:27 AM

Your Karalund looks great! I was thinking of making it but wasn't convinced until I saw yours :)

Posted by: Bdot at September 9, 2004 1:02 PM

One word: WOWZA!

Posted by: Becky at September 9, 2004 2:16 PM

Wow! The Klaralund is GORGEOUS! It's easy, you say? Well, that's according to you, who are clearly an order of magnitude more talented and prolific than I can ever hope to be. But still, I wonder... how many skeins did you end up using?

Posted by: Ann at September 9, 2004 7:37 PM

ooh! I love when patterns show off self-striping yarns so beautifully. The little details really make the sweater, and it looks nice and warm. And it's unlike any other Karalund ever! Have fun in Germany :)

Posted by: jessie at September 9, 2004 9:02 PM

Beautiful!

Posted by: Brynne at September 10, 2004 12:11 AM

I love the back. I also love the look of bell sleeves, I just can't wear them. (I'm a roll-up-your-sleeve kind of gal.) Have fun in Goimany! I'm knitting up some German yarn while you're away. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at September 10, 2004 7:30 AM

LOVE this! I've been eyeing this sweater as my first garment to knit. From your description, it almost sounds doable! I'll have to check out the details and get crackin'. Hope you're having a great trip!

Posted by: liz at September 10, 2004 8:47 AM

Alison, that is so gorgeous! It looks way better in your pictures than the pattern book and you have inspired me to use the silk garden in my stash to knit it up! Yay for Klaralund! :)

Posted by: Stella at September 11, 2004 11:53 AM

Oh, Klaralund looks SO much better on you than in the pattern picture. Germany, huh? Do you mind stocking up on all that great sock yarn for the rest of us while you're there? :) :) :)

Posted by: iris at September 13, 2004 12:45 AM

Ann, I ended up using 9 skeins for the small size. That's about 1 1/2 for front and back each and 3 each for those giant sleeves.

Posted by: alison at September 13, 2004 5:26 AM