or, it isn't over, 2006, until it's over...
(click to enlarge; cables may look wonky in photo, but are OK in real life. I hope. I did check it a million times...).
In what seems to have become a 2nd annual tradition of finishing New Year's resolutions & projects under the wire (last year I finished the final assignment of my interior decorating course on the same day), I spent last night seaming up the Central Park Hoodie. I am so happy to be done with this!!!
Central Park Hoodie
Pattern: Knitscene Fall 2006. Started early Sept. 2006. Finished Dec. 30, 2006. Mods: none
Needles: Mom's aluminum 6 & 8 straight needles, and an Addi Natura bamboo circular for ribbing. This was the only 32" size 6 circular I could find, but it turned out to be the perfect needle, as it is lightweight and snag-free. Very easy on wrists for heavier projects like this.
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Plymouth Tweed 100% lambswool color #5321. 12 skeins needed, but I have 2 1/2 left over. I chose this primarily because I love the color. The yarn knit up fine, but it broke (ripped?) numerous times while seaming, and it's not as soft as I would like. The "attracts-cat-hair" quotient is off the charts. So if you're considering this yarn for a project, proceed with caution.
Additional helps: The knitklips I mentioned yesterday worked out so well! And Nancie Wiseman's "Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques" helped me seam this better than any sweater I've ever made.
Closures: originally I wanted to use buttons, but I didn't find any I liked for this yarn. So, in the end, I left the ribbing plain.
Final thoughts: This sweater still needs to be blocked, but everyone in the KAL who said that you should make one size up is absolutely right. While the arms fit, I can't wear another layer underneath them...not good since I can no longer wear wool against bare skin. I'm hoping this will block out to a larger size and take care of that problem.
I hope everyone is having a good weekend! Now that the sweater is finished, I want to catch up on posts and comments and see what you've been working on over the holiday vacation. In the meantime, my best wishes to you and your families for a very happy and healthy 2007!!!
Congratulations!!!! It looks fabulous! Way to go!
Posted by: Beth | December 31, 2006 at 05:11 PM
Congratulations! The sweater looks great. I just bought those knitklips, and it's good to know they work well. Have a wonderful New Year and a fabulous 2007.
Posted by: Jane | December 31, 2006 at 05:13 PM
Great finish to 2006! Happy new year to you!
Posted by: hege | December 31, 2006 at 05:15 PM
Your old year is going out with a bang with the CPH! Good luck with the blocking, and am looking forward to the modeled shot. Here's to happy knitting by the seashore in 2007!
Posted by: Kristen | December 31, 2006 at 05:22 PM
Well done!!! It doesn't matter when it gets done...you finished it under the wire and that is what counts.
Happiest of New Years and smooth knitting for the next 365!
Posted by: Sheepish Annie | December 31, 2006 at 05:41 PM
The sweater looks great!
Posted by: --Deb | December 31, 2006 at 06:29 PM
Congratulations, I am very envious as I still have mine in pieces!! Well done, it looks great, Happy New Year!!!
Posted by: 2paw | December 31, 2006 at 09:46 PM
Woo hoo Debby!!! Standing up and cheering for you - it looks fabulous and you're right, blocking it will definitely help the fit. I had 2 1/2 skeins leftover too so now you'll have to find easy one skein projects - like hats to do. Happy New Year!!!
Posted by: tiennie | January 01, 2007 at 02:08 AM
CPH looks great and well done for finishing in 2006! Please can we see some more photos when it is blocked?
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Kendra | January 01, 2007 at 08:27 AM
Yea! what a way to end the year ;) It looks great!!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Lolly | January 01, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Yay! Now you can cast on for something new! :) Looks great - I'm on sleeve 2 and hoping to be done sometime in January.
Posted by: jenn | January 01, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Very, very nice!!!! A great project to mark the end of a year! Now what will you start on next?
Posted by: Jenny Raye | January 01, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Congrats on finishing it! I know I need to buckle down on mine and finish those darned sleeves. That might be my New Year's resolution for the week. ;) Yours looks fantastic!
Posted by: Sarah | January 01, 2007 at 01:27 PM
Congrats on getting it done in '06! May 2007 bring you lots more fun knitting projects!
Posted by: sprite | January 01, 2007 at 07:59 PM
Congrats on a great FO just under the wire! I'm sure that if you block the arms wider it will fit perfectly. The cables look great, not at all wonky!
Posted by: Rachel | January 01, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Way to GO! Looks great too! I can't wait to finish mine. I'm about an inch and a half into the hood, with a daughter already buying a shirt to match. . . I'm thinking I'm might go with a zipper, if the one at the fabric store matches as well in real life as it does in my head.
Posted by: Pam | January 02, 2007 at 01:07 AM
If you are looking for the elusive French Girl patterns, go to www.dreamweaveryarns.com. They carry the whole line.
Posted by: Ashley | January 02, 2007 at 01:21 AM
Awesome sweater! Congratulations on finishing it! And Happy New Year!
Posted by: Karen | January 02, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Hooray! (clap-clap-clap-clap-clap)
Posted by: Nancy | January 02, 2007 at 05:30 PM
you finished it! Congratulations, Debby...it looks wonderful! you did that very quickly!
Posted by: Lynne | January 02, 2007 at 08:40 PM
Very nice! I love hooded sweater and a hooded sweater with CABLES is the best kind. Enjoy wearing it.
I thought all yarn attracts cat hair. Some yarns (such as dark yarns in homes with light colored cats or light yarns in homes with dark colored cats) only seem to attract more cat hair.
I also love the Wiseman book. Usually the first book I turn to (and then I check all the others because I'm obsessive).
Posted by: Laura | January 03, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Great work! I am always nervous about the seaming...have to control my impulse to rush through it in order to finish already!
Posted by: Juls | January 06, 2007 at 10:56 PM
It's beautiful!! I've been wanting to knit one of these for awhile. Now that I've done a few cables I am brave enough to seriously consider knitting it.
Posted by: Tiffany | January 07, 2007 at 05:26 PM