Monday, February 2, 2009

A yearlong project finished...

I fell in love with Moda Dea Fashionista yarn as soon as I saw it. With its amazing sheen and glorious colour selection I knew I had to make something with it.. but what?

I finally decided that this yarn would be absolutely perfect for a fisherman's sweater. It was a medium weight, was wonderfully soft, and the colours were vibrant. So, in January of 2008 the yarn was ordered.

Fisherman sweaters are a labour of love. I don't use a pattern for them, rather I look at the many varieties of cables and bauble stitches and design the sweater around how I feel. Before the yarn had arrived, I knew basically what my sweater was going to look like. The only decision left was the neckline. Usually I do a standard round neck on a 'winter' sweater, but because our climate really doesn't get that cold I figured that a V-style neckline might be more appropriate.

The yarn arrived in late January and I immediately dove into the project. Unfortunately because work for others must come first in my life (yes, I need to eat), the sweater didn't get as much attention as I really wanted it to. By the end of February I had the front and back completed. But, before I could even think about starting the sleeves, the Arizona weather turned warm on me.. and warm it was. The daytime temps were in the high 70s with nights in the 40s. Even if I did finish the sweater, when was I to wear it? So, the completed front, back and the rest of the yarn were packed into a tote. I would work on it during the summer..

Fast forward to January 2009.. I ran across the tote with this beautiful, partially completed sweater in it and just had to finish it! I pulled out my notebook to tackle the sleeves. But alas! There were no notes for the sleeves... just for the body. And no notes or even ideas written down about the neckline... Time to do some 'creative' designing... By the end of January, the sweater was completed! It fits perfectly and I absolutely love it. Now if only the temperatures would cooperate...

More photos are here

8 comments:

Valerie said...

Great Job! Looks all soft and warm. How satisifying to complete this project!

Mountainside Crochet said...

Truly a lovely sweater, Crochetgal. You are very creative to make a sweater without a pattern. It's never too late to complete a yarn project. Now your pretty sweater can be enjoyed for many winters to come.

Welcome said...

Very pretty !

Doris Sturm said...

I think that is a very beautiful sweater, Val, and I know it was a lot of work. I can really appreciate that. You best hurry up and wear it often bfore it gets too hot again. Nice job!

Anonymous said...

First let me say the sweater nice job on the sweater; I wish I could only be that talented. I am not that advance that can crochet a sweater. I actually just got brave enough to buy a pattern for a baby sweater. Any who I was reading your blog and I had to laugh when you wrote "now if only the weather would cooperate" I am wishing the cold away and your hoping for some cool enough weather to wear your sweater...! I live up north in MA on the NH border and can't wait until hubby retires so I can get out of this cold in the winter.
Again beautiful job on the sweater.

Gina - RoseThistleArtworks said...

This is gorgeous! I love that yarn color, too. It's such a beautiful color. I can't imagine making all those cables without any patterns and having them all match. I can't imagine doing it WITH the patterns! Beautiful work! I hope you get to enjoy wearing it soon.

Beadin By The Sea said...

What a beautiful sweater. I'm so impressed that you don't use patterns. I'm a knitter, and I'll change patterns because of fit mostly, but I'm not sure I'd want to tackle it completely from scratch. Great job!

PussDaddy said...

That's nice. I'd wear that.

PussDaddy