That was fast! I think it took longer to dry than it took me to knit it. I am in the mania about sweater knitting right now, I don't know how else to put it. I am so endlessly interested, and actually I feel a little bit driven to it. I've been trying lately to figure this out, to find out where it comes from and why I am so consumed by sweater knitting, and while I'm not looking for a cure, I'm just wondering. Because it does mean I have a lot of sweaters, and since I have just the one body and can only wear one thing at a time, it starts to seem like I have too many, and I end up giving a lot of them away. I don't have a huge wardrobe of anything else, but the sweater shelf in the closet is burgeoning, with no end in sight. I don't know what to make of this. Anyway, it's something I'm thinking about. Probably there will be more about this later. It seems like this is a conversation a lot of people are having around the interwebs; capsule wardrobes, the
10 x 10 wardrobe challenge,
Project 333,
Sara Berman's Closet, etc. and I'm still trying to figure out where I'm going to land on all that, given that I really want to live with less, but knitting sweaters is my joy, and that with luck I have many more years of life in which to do it, and have no interest in slowing down. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this subject. Meanwhile, here is
North Atlantic, all finished. I've worn it twice already, and it is pretty good.
I used four unrelated yarns from the stash--Wools of New Zealand, Shepherd's Wool, Berrocco, and Patons Classic--and while that was a fun experiment and I love how the colors worked together, the (very slight) differences between them made a little bit of an accordion effect. I worked the color bands on a larger needle, but they still pull in slightly, and the brown solid stripes pouf out a little around them. It hasn't bugged me yet, but there's still time. Anyway, if I were going to make this again--and I totally might--I'd be more careful to use the same base throughout.
There's still a whole lot of winter left, and I'm glad to have this one. It's snowing again. I'm still knitting.
I also knit sweaters. Lots of sweaters. Stacks of sweaters. I have them on shelves, baskets, and drawers. Pare down or just have a better storage system? If you find an answer, please write about it!
ReplyDeleteA fellow sweater collector! Yes, I pare them all the time, but they still accumulate. As they say in science, more studies are required. :)
DeleteI don’t want more of anything but patterns and books, yarn, and hand knit sweaters! Dam the torpedos and full speed ahead!
ReplyDeleteYes! Maybe this will be the one place in life where I just let it pile up?
DeleteCan't help you either, since I'm in that same knitting-sweaters-mode! But well, it's harmless, so just enjoy it!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah! *fist bump*
DeleteI'm very glad you are so obsessed about sweater knitting. You have made some of the most beautiful sweaters lately and I like to know that these are possible and to consider the look and drape of different yarns, even though I am stuck in more simple knitting of cowls and scarves.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Sweaters are out there, waiting for you, whenever. :)
DeleteI too love to knit sweaters. It gives me lots of joy, and joyful people are so important for the world. So just let us be thankful that universe provide us with all that soft and cozy yarn. Thank you for all the inspiration you give by knitting and blogging. I appreciate it so much. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you, this is lovely to hear. xoxo
DeleteI have often wondered in a hot sweat in the middle of the night how many sweaters you have but I am just jealous really. That one would be right at the front of my wardrobe. I am knitting the Ankers sweater and did a whole sleeve while watching Mrs Doubtfire with the kids on Sunday - I love that film. One more sleeve to go.
ReplyDeleteYou're almost there! :)
DeleteIt's gorgeous! I have a lot of sweaters, too, and I feel a bit guilty. I do take excellent care of them and wear them all the time, though. They last, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, it helps that they last--it feels like a worthwhile thing to do, making something that lasts. :)
DeleteFor me it's hats, scarves, and blankets all of which I need like a whole in my head but it makes me happy. I've read about voluntary simplicity and it is about getting rid of things that don't bring you joy, not deprivation. If it brings you joy then you should keep it and keep doing it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think this is it. The trouble comes when the knitting brings me joy, but the piles and piles of unworn (beautiful) things do not.
DeleteI am on a roll with Andi Satterlund patterns right now but my true love is socks. I knit at least 40 pairs in a year, luckily my family and friends love getting their feet into a pair.
ReplyDeleteSocks are so wonderful! Especially when your family loves to get them and wear them. :)
DeleteI must admit, I have at least 4 sweaters in my UFO's box. I love the process of knitting but do not enjoy a) the sewing of pieces together and b) once i sew them together realizing they don't fit...which has happened a lot lately. I guess on the positive, i do get to rip them out and re-knit. I especially enjoy knitting with Aran/worsted weight yarns as the fingerling hurts my hands to knit with so i knit a lot of sweaters. I have come to the realization that i have to finish all these UFO's and secondly, I must choose harder projects so I don't knit them up so fast. This might help you. I do recall you mentioning in a previous post that you choose fairly easy projects and therefore you can produce a lot of products. Enjoy your blog. Love cat dog.
ReplyDeleteYes, maybe that's the way to go--more complicated patterns. My style of dress is quite simple, so I've always chosen simple patterns to knit, but maybe that can change? xoxo
DeleteYou knit so beautifully you could start a little business and knit for others. Maybe take orders for specialty designs. It is just a thought.
ReplyDeleteIt would cost SO MUCH in materials alone, I can't imagine anyone would pay it. I'm reminded of that adage about teaching a man to fish...
DeleteBeautiful sweater!
ReplyDeleteSince I live in the arctic, I think one can never have enough sweaters (or other wool garments) ;) I started to knit myself sweaters and cardigans last year and I love wrapping myself in one on cold days. Right now I have two on the needles and at least three more I want to cast one.
The arctic! Bless you forever. I think I would bury myself in wool and never, ever emerge. The persistent cold where I live is a big contributor for me, too. Stay warm, dear. xoxo
DeleteThe colours in my wardrobe are all dark jewel colours, deep blue/green/purple, a lot of black because I like the colours, not because of any trends or anything. If I buy something I like, that fits (not easy with my shape/height) then I tend to buy at least two, in different colours. I wear clothes now I bought thirty years ago - elasticated waists, bought out of necessity of having scarring which wouldn't take anything stiff, are so forgiving. I know what suits me, I take no notice of trends, all these 'wear less' ideas. I have very few clothes in my wardrobe, and no social life to need more!!
ReplyDeleteAhh, this is the goal! I hope at least a few of my handknits are around in thirty years, and that I haven't had to part with all of it in order to make room for other things. It sounds like you really know yourself, which is 90% of the battle, right there, isn't it? :)
DeleteMaybe work out a rotation? Take the number of sweaters, divide by some even number (or, you know, odd, if that's the way you roll) sort the sweaters into groups, then pack each group in a safe way (to keep moths and such at bay) then this year use group 1, next year group 2, etc...that way, each year will feel like you have a whole new sweater wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteI did this with my entire wardrobe (very loosely based on the Project 333 method) and I rotate by meteorological season. Just when I am beginning to feel like I've worn the same things a time too many, an entire new wardrobe comes out and I don't see the one getting put away for 9 months. This has worked brilliantly for me, maybe some adaptation can work for you?
Since you have been known to completely unravel a project you no longer like or wear, I am all but certain every sweater on your self does get worn a time or three in your very long winter season.
They are all so beautiful, I would think the trick would be choosing which to wear each day.
What a good idea! I may give that a try. :)
DeleteIs it possible you're knitting sweaters at a great rate, in part--in PART--to somehow try to make Winter a bit okay for yourself? "Look! Winter means sweaters! Yay!" Maybe?
ReplyDeleteThe sweaters are gorgeous. Love seeing them, your beautiful homeplace (I grew up on the other side of the lake), and of course Catdog. There can never be too much Catdog, even if all the pics are of her curled up on the sofa!
I'm currently getting back into quilting, and love your quilts--both the look and the philosophy. You've inspired me to try utility-stitch quilting. I prefer hand sewing, as machines hate me...and the feeling is often mutual.
Oh my goodness, YES! I think that's it. Maybe knowing this will help me slow it up a little bit? xoxo
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