the blue blog archives: rescue revoked

Last week I was so upbeat about having saved my poor "tea for two" sweater from abandonment. I knitted the entire second piece, all proud of myself, feeling good to be finishing it and giving it away to a deserving little person. Then I noticed in the picture that I posted that the ribbing was shorter on the second piece and suddenly every tiny thing that I never liked about this sweater just came rushing up and I decided it was a goner after all. I'm done with that sweater. (Love the pattern still, love that jo sharp classic wool still, but together I guess I never really fell in love with it. Hrrmpff.)

But tiny newborn baby Clara still deserves a sweet little sweater. So I dug through my stash and pattern books and within 15 minutes I'd chosen the cutie patootie Tide cardigan from Miss Bea's Seaside and cast on for it with the rest of my cherry red Knitpicks Shine Sport.

posted by alison at 11:20 am | in hugs and kisses

Comments

Wow! I wish I could knit that fast! It's beautiful!

Posted by: Minneapolismama at March 31, 2008 11:32 AM

Cute sweater - I love the Miss Bea books - wish the patterns were sized up to a size 10 or 12. All the patterns, in that book especially, would look great on older children - they aren't "cutesie" (which is one reason I like them). They look like sweaters that kids would really like to wear. Maybe I'll get the book anyway & upsize them myself.

Posted by: Donna at March 31, 2008 12:43 PM

Oh yeah, Donna, I totally agree, it would be so great if some of the patterns were upsized for older kids. You're absolutely right that they're just cute enough on a little one, but classy enough that they'd still look good on a big kid. I think it wouldn't be too terribly hard to upsize some of them , especially the ones like the Tide cardigan that can be simply lengthened and widened. Great idea!

Posted by: ALISON at March 31, 2008 12:49 PM

I really like the pattern and color...I think you made an awesome decision.

Posted by: Deborah Bourque at March 31, 2008 2:56 PM

Adorable. Definitely better.

Posted by: Kristin at March 31, 2008 5:23 PM

Dang. You're right; some things just aren't worth saving (although you could cut off the ribbing on one piece and pick up and knit down to make it the same length as the other). But I do love the new one!

Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at March 31, 2008 6:08 PM

Just wanted to say that I've had great success upsizing sweaters from the Miss Bea books just by using a heavier-weight yarn. After knitting a swatch, I do the math to see which cast-on number to use for the width I want, then just basically follow the instructions for that size. Since the lengths are all given in rows, it works great!

Posted by: Tarasine at March 31, 2008 7:22 PM

I am knitting another Tea for Two sweater (which will be about my 4th). I love the Tide cardigan too. I finished one for my daughter last year and she loved wearing it. Yours looks wonderful in that red (cant go past red for girls). All Miss Bea patterns are great and I am sure I have knit quite a few different ones now. Just think of all the great ones you can knit for Wee one now that she is bigger too.

Posted by: sue at March 31, 2008 7:35 PM

Adorable!

Posted by: toni in florida at April 1, 2008 3:54 AM

It's lovely and reminds me of something on Knitty a good few years ago.
I have to admit, I'm done with the Debbie Bliss books...Or indeed Miss B...I have Rainy Days and I just can't deal with the small needles and also the patterns themselves, seemlesly look easy, yet I managed to get them screwed up. I don't know if it's me...or the authur.

Posted by: Orli at April 1, 2008 4:28 AM

Beautiful!!! I love the color too!!!

Posted by: lucylaine at April 3, 2008 7:46 AM