Last Projects of 2008

I found myself wanting to finish up a major project before the year finished and I reached my goal at about 3:00 PM Wednesday, surrounded by knitter friends, cheering me on. I started 'my version' of the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in November. I wanted to knit this as part of National Knit a Sweater Month (NaNoSweMo) and on that part I failed. I knit the sweater for my sister and it took her until Thanksgiving to get me her measurements and then I just ignored the sweater for a while. When I did get back into it the sweater went a lot faster than I thought it would!

Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (Rav Link) and I added the XO cable up the sleeve from Cables Untangled (I don't remember which cable) so I wouldn't get bored with all that stockinette.

Yarn: Solana from Brooks Farm Yarn (I used almost 4 full skeins = 1200 yards) This is a super was wool and it was delicious! It didn't stand up to frogging very well but it is SO soft and soaking it for a bit made it even softer.

Thoughts: This was a great pattern, easy to follow and easy to modify. I shortened the sleeves as my sister is vertically challenged and added 16 additional rows to the yoke to close up the neck. I already think that she'll be returning the sweater so I can add 16 more rows to the yoke - it is really wide! But I'd rather fix it and have her wear it. The hems at the waist, neck and sleeves were a pain, but the finish is so lovely that it was well worth it.

I also got in a quick hat for my sister to send with the sweater - she is a lucky one! I bought some handspun from the Farmer's Market and made the Hurricane Hat. It was a quick knit and I'm happy with the results.

I'm lucky to have a sister who appreciates my hand knitted items - she's provided me with a list of what she wants!