the blue blog archives: crinkle

I couldn't resist the pink/orange ribbon! Although the pink in the pink/green one matched perfectly, and I absolutely loved the little red picots on the edge of the ribbon, too much of all that was lost when I wove the ribbon through the eyelets. Plus, it gave the cardi a more sedated look and made it, dare I say, even a little boring. Once I strung the pink/orange ribbon through the eyelets, crinkle really became a cardi I wanted to wear. It makes it so fun and bright, which is good since it's another overcast, soon to be wet day here in Boston.

You may recall that I started this sweater back in April (which I've renamed "March Two: The Wrath of March") in the hopes that it would finally bring on the spring. It didn't work (note: May will now be called "March Enough for You Yet?"). All we got was rain. And now we've got rain with an intermittent chance of summer. Conclusion: my knitting either has no effect on the weather or a very, very bad one. But I can't worry about that, not when I've got my super fun scrunchie cardi to play with: up, down, up, down....

I have to say it's been a little strange knitting this cardi here on the blog, since I feel like so many folks out there are following along, waiting to see how it all turns out before starting one themselves. It's sort of like how I feel about being a mom. I don't have any friends with children older than mine and so I feel like my friends with younger kids or no kids are taking the opportunity to watch to see how things go first. It's hard going first, but I try my best. In this case, I think the results are pretty good. I'm ready to give most of the credit for that to the pattern, the yarn, the ribbon, the fates, all of which worked with me this time. I'm sure there are several things that others will want to do differently, but I like the way it came out. (And for the record, I think the boys have come out okay so far too!)

For those of you thinking about making this one, I'll even toss in some specs for ya:

Crinkle
Rowan 39
size small
cotton glace #822 Peony
US2 (edging) and US3 (body) needles
24 sts and 34 rows-ish per 4"/10cm over pattern

(Programming note: As of tomorrow, the blog will be going on vaca for a few days. I'll be here, but my techguy is moving, so the blue blog will be offline while the server is driven to another part of the country and set up in its new home. Be back soon!)

posted by alison at 12:32 pm | in crinkle

Comments

Yay! I was hoping for the orange one, but I didn't want to say so in case you went the other way :) It looks great.

Posted by: Ashley at June 28, 2006 12:37 PM

Wow, it looks great! What a fun sweater, and not that you ever looked "old" but that design could take 5 years off anyone. Very sweet.

Posted by: Jen at June 28, 2006 12:39 PM

Perfect!

Posted by: Rebecca at June 28, 2006 12:42 PM

Dude. That is a super cute sweater! Great job.

Posted by: Manda at June 28, 2006 12:44 PM

Very cute! I love the ribbon!

Posted by: Jenn at June 28, 2006 12:50 PM

I would've voted for the orange too... and I'm not an orange person at all. That ribbon just seems to bring crinkle to life.

Posted by: Hilary at June 28, 2006 12:52 PM

I LOVE how it turned out. Seriously, it's darling.

And, from reading here, I think the boys are turning out pretty good, too. *grin* They are pretty awesome with their legos and whatnot.

Posted by: Marianne at June 28, 2006 12:57 PM

Great, you picked my favourite ;-)

You could always keep the other one in case you want to switch to a "boring" crincle once in a while...

Posted by: Helene at June 28, 2006 1:03 PM

Your crinkle sweater looks so great! I love the pink and orange ribbon...it adds just the right amount of sass to the sweater! Of course pink and orange are my favorite colors:)

Posted by: Stacey at June 28, 2006 1:03 PM

Absolutely awesome!

Posted by: Bee at June 28, 2006 1:06 PM

That is a great sweater! And kudos to the photographers, too!

And I know what you mean about going first... only for me, it was getting married. We felt like all of our friends were watching us to see how it went before they took the plunge (almost 8 years later, it's going fine, thanks). But we traded off - someone else had the kids first :).

Posted by: Sarah W. at June 28, 2006 1:07 PM

Oh I just love it!! It looks wonderful on you. And we were both right about that ribbon, perfect!

Posted by: Vicki at June 28, 2006 1:08 PM

It looks great! I think of you as more traditional, so I expected you to go with the other ribbon (lovely, classic). It's nice to be suprised! This ribbon is fun! Plus, you can always swap them out according to your mood...

Posted by: Julia at June 28, 2006 1:09 PM

Wow, that sweater looks great - I love the ribbon color! As for reading your blog, one reason I tune in is because I love to knit in blue!

Posted by: Lazuli at June 28, 2006 1:15 PM

Not only is this gorgeous but you look fantastic in it! Perfect choice for ribbon! I now have hope that I will be able to make lovely things for myself some day that don't resemble a scarf.

Posted by: Sachi at June 28, 2006 1:15 PM

Oh boy, is that ever cute. :-)

Posted by: Beth S. at June 28, 2006 1:22 PM

The cardi looks fab -- and the boys ARE fab. You're two for two!

Posted by: shannon at June 28, 2006 1:39 PM

OMG. So super cute. I love everything about it, especially how you can pull it up or down for different looks. Great job, Alison!

Posted by: Gloria at June 28, 2006 1:41 PM

I've been watching and I love the results! It looks great on you, too!

Posted by: Lori at June 28, 2006 1:47 PM

Ooooo! Awww! It looks better than the pattern photos! It has been fun watching it come together.

Posted by: Maggie at June 28, 2006 1:53 PM

I didn't know you were the guinea pig on this but it makes sense since the ruffleiness might not like as great on normal folks as it does on a stick thin Rowan model. You've proven that it can look FABULOUS!

Posted by: Jenna at June 28, 2006 1:57 PM

It looks amazing, love the picot and the orange ribbon.

Posted by: Anncie at June 28, 2006 1:57 PM

Congrats, it looks marvelous! What a wearable sweater! You look beautiful in it.

Posted by: Carrie at June 28, 2006 2:43 PM

That turned out so cute. It wasn't on my to knit list before but maybe now...

Posted by: Erin at June 28, 2006 3:14 PM

Soooooooooo cute!!!! The pink/orange ribbon is perfect!!!

Posted by: JennyRaye at June 28, 2006 3:28 PM

It is so cute. Looks great.

Posted by: Kelly at June 28, 2006 3:34 PM

YEAH! I love it! It's so fun looking and the colors are all FAB on you.

BTW, I think your boys sound like they are pretty OK as well and, WOW, do they take some great pictures!

Posted by: knittingnurse at June 28, 2006 4:12 PM

OMG! It's so frick-fracking cute!

Posted by: Scout at June 28, 2006 4:29 PM

Totally, completely and utterly beautiful. I am so tempted to make one. We have the same eldest kids in our family and circle of friends situation, it can be hard being first sometimes but you do it so well. Knitting and boys that is!

Posted by: kerrie at June 28, 2006 4:45 PM

That is very cute. Thanks so much for going first!

Posted by: claudia at June 28, 2006 5:11 PM

Alison I love this! And I'm glad that you went with the pink/orange combo.

Posted by: Peggy at June 28, 2006 6:12 PM

It is very cute! I think I am going to have to make one myself!

Posted by: silverarrowknits at June 28, 2006 6:35 PM

YAY! The orange ribbon won! I was silently cheering for it.

Posted by: Steph VW at June 28, 2006 6:39 PM

CUTE! It turned out fabulous. As are your boys. Not too bad of a track record. :-)

Posted by: Laurie at June 28, 2006 6:55 PM

Oh wow that's so cute I love the pink/orange combo. Great job!

Posted by: vanessa at June 28, 2006 7:12 PM

Ooh...I like. I would never have been motivated by the picture on the pattern, but now...I might have a go!

Posted by: ruth at June 28, 2006 7:14 PM

that's adorable!!!!! alison, waht an awesome job.

Posted by: lynette at June 28, 2006 7:44 PM

Love the pics. Did the boys take them? We have the oldest children out of any of our friends, so I know what you mean.

Posted by: Mary at June 28, 2006 8:02 PM

I've felt like I've been reading a serial novel, and just got to the BEST ending ever! It looks fantastic!

Posted by: Beverly at June 28, 2006 8:09 PM

It's great! And I SO know what you mean about being the first one with children. I had my first when I was 22. We were trying to figure out what to do about school by the time any of our peers were having their first! Your boys are absolute dolls. They radiate happiness, so you've got to be doing a doggone good job! I'm glad your friends have such a great model to follow.

Posted by: Wendi at June 28, 2006 8:15 PM

Woohoo! I'm so glad you picked the zippin' orange ribbon. It looks great, and great on you. You deserve to ** ENJOY **!!

Posted by: Valerie in San Diego at June 29, 2006 12:30 AM

Wow. It looks way better in your version than on the model in the pattern picture. Your sweater I would actually like to wear! I like it not so scrunched up, I think.

Fabuloso job. Isn't finishing a project great? So what's next on the needles, hmm? Hmm?

Posted by: Talena at June 29, 2006 2:17 AM

Have a safe trip, Ms. Server!!

I love, love, love this sweater. Now I want one for myself.

Posted by: colleen at June 29, 2006 7:01 AM

I have been one of those watching you to see the finished product! I have my yarn all set to go! And by the looks of yours I am going to start today! It looks great!

Posted by: Jane at June 29, 2006 7:06 AM

Once again, as I've followed along on one of your projects and get to finally see the post where you're modeling the finished object, my first words are, "YAY!"

Looks fantastic, and great choice of ribbon. And the nice thing is - you can change out the ribbon as it suits you - way cool!

I so love that stitch pattern. It looks lovely on you and fits perfectly. Again, (for the hundredth time, it seems), kudos on a job superbly done.

Posted by: Mary at June 29, 2006 8:33 AM

Wow. That is so so so so perfect! It looks so feminine and it suits you to a t!

Posted by: Megann at June 29, 2006 9:02 AM

Alison, that looks great! I have to admit I had my doubts about the whole gathering thing, but it looks fantastic on you! :)

Posted by: Amber at June 29, 2006 9:09 AM

Seriously amazing!!!

Posted by: Adelle at June 29, 2006 9:51 AM

Too cute! I doubted the highly cinched up version, but I think a little bit of a cinch like you have going on is just great. A lovely sweater.

Posted by: Julia at June 29, 2006 10:10 AM

Oh my! That is one darling sweater.

You are a doll!

Donna

Posted by: Miz Booshay at June 29, 2006 11:49 AM

Wow! It turned out perfectly. What a fun summer sweater. I wish I had time for knitting sweaters...

Posted by: Deb at June 29, 2006 1:24 PM

So cute! And I agree with whoever said that you don't look old anyway, but that sweater is very youth-ifying. Maybe I want one too...

Posted by: mia at June 29, 2006 1:32 PM

Wow! That is an amazing sweater... out of my league, but I've enjoyed watching you make it! :)

Posted by: bfmomma at June 29, 2006 1:48 PM

I know what you mean. My friends have no kids either and I feel like I have no clue with what i'm doing and i'm just stumbling along.
Love your crinkle.

Posted by: Orli at June 29, 2006 3:00 PM

definitely the best choice - i was really leaning toward the black ... but this one really gives it that extra something :D

Posted by: rebecca at June 29, 2006 7:02 PM

Alison, oh wow oh wow wow wow! Absolutely love the cardi!! Excellent choice with the ribbon!Would love to make it but I think I'll wait till I'm a bit confident with my knitting.

Posted by: Mel Baker at June 29, 2006 7:16 PM

OHHH Alison, that is C-U-T-E! Even better than the one in the mag! Orange ribbon is great choice.

Posted by: Leigh at June 29, 2006 9:18 PM

BEAUTIFUL. You are not only a PRETTY momma, but a GOOD one too.

Orange ribbon is a great touch, but you might have suspected that I would say that!!

Posted by: elisabeth at June 29, 2006 11:24 PM

i love how it turned out! the orange ribbon makes it.

Posted by: reese at June 29, 2006 11:34 PM

So cute...and you used my favorite color, orange.
Great job!

Posted by: wendy at June 29, 2006 11:55 PM

That's lovely - I have been watching to see how it turns out myself b4 I commit to making one myself. Good job, it's beautiful.

Posted by: Lyn at June 30, 2006 2:15 AM

It's just great - I love the ribbon you chose, it really makes the colors pop. The fit is perfect on you, too. Lovely work all around.

Posted by: Elizabeth at July 1, 2006 10:06 AM

Joli !

Posted by: CÃ©cile at July 2, 2006 1:17 AM

Great wimbledon design, by the way!

Posted by: abi at July 2, 2006 7:46 AM

Love Crinkle. Must have one. Love Wimbledon too. Nice tribute to your grandfather.

Posted by: lorinda at July 3, 2006 8:00 AM

Crinkle looks so adorable, but ultimately wearable. I think the ribbon is perfect!

Posted by: Gina at July 5, 2006 9:37 AM

Lovely! It looks wonderful on you and I love the ribbon! Great choice.

Posted by: Sue at July 5, 2006 10:48 PM