The Vivian Sweater Post

At last I have photos of Hannah’s finished Vivian Sweater. The knitting was finished back in November but I didn’t get the zipper put in until 2 weeks ago and then it took another week or so to coordinate me+Hannah+daylight+favorable weather. What a long fezzle! I think it was worth the wait, though, and I hope you all will think so, too.

I told Hannah when I finished it that this was the hardest thing I’ve ever knit and it’s true.

I’ve knit sweaters before and I’ve knit cables before but the combination of multiple charts, directions, decreases, increases, left cables, right cables, large cables, left large cables, right large cables, seed stitch and shaping all in ONE pattern made this a challenge. Let’s just say there was a lot of flipping paper around while following those directions and charts.

Just because it was hard doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, though. It’s an extremely detailed and well written pattern and Hannah and I are both thrilled with the finished sweater. It fits her perfectly and the style is really flattering on her slim figure.

The sleeves are ridiculously long but they are also tight so they stay put and the effect seems to work well.

I bought the yarn, Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky, on my first trip to WEBS and it was a pleasure to use. It was reasonably priced, I got gauge, and the color was just what Hannah envisioned for this project – a classic, natural colored cabled sweater. It’s got a bit of a halo to it and it’s very warm, perfect for walking to and from class.

The zipper could have been a tricky business but I chickened out and had Lois do it for me. She made it look so easy! She simply pinned it in place and stitched it on the machine. The bulky yarn worked perfectly to hide the machine stitches and I think it took her about 15 minutes to get it done. I would have fussed and fumed over it and really didn’t want to risk ruining the sweater at that stage in the process. The bonus is that Lois got to participate in the project for Hannah and that made her happy.

Hannah and I had hoped to coordinate our photo shoot for the beach but her work schedule and our busy weekends just didn’t allow for that to happen. Instead we wandered into the backyard last Thursday afternoon and captured these photos. The light was a little flat and it was very cold but Hannah was toasty in her new sweater.

Our trees and my father-in-law’s shed aren’t as picturesque as the beach would have been but you know, done is better than perfect and I’m so happy that this whole thing is now officially done!

Wear it well, my dear Hannah, wear it well.

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This Post Has 53 Comments

  5. Carole you are one talented lady – it is beautiful! Hannah you are one lucky girl! You look wonderful wearing that beautiful sweater.

  6. Carole, this sweater is just wonderful! Perfect fit, perfect yarn, perfect knitter! Isn’t it so rewarding to know that your accomplished all that chart work and it fits to perfection?

  8. What a beautiful sweater on a beautiful girl! For someone who was afraid of cables for so long, I say you have come a long way!!

  9. Wow, Carole! The sweater looks perfect on and for Hannah! The photos really capture her delight. Job superbly done, Miss Carole!

  14. The sweater is knock out gorgeous, but even more so on
    Hannah! It is the perfect sweater for her figure, and you
    did a beautiful job knitting it. I love it! Hannah’s theatre
    talents come in to play while modeling for you!! Haha! She is a natural. You should be proud of yourself for knitting a very interesting but time consuming sweater. Great photos!!

  15. Oh, it’s just lovely! So beautiful, Carole. . . both the sweater AND the daughter. What a perfect knit — challenging, gorgeous, and satisfying to boot. Love it.

  16. Wonderful! And Hannah is as beautiful as the sweater. I love all the cables but the seed stitch is really spectacular too!

  23. That sweater is gorgeous! To be honest I didn’t even notice the background. Good for you tackling all the variables; I love knitting cables but I do agree that the lefts and rights plus shaping is a lot to keep track of. Clearly you rock! Hannah looks wonderful in it.

  24. Both subjects are beautiful! Wonderful sweater! Wow-did I ver tell you I sat behind Ysolda on a flight back to Boston last year? I recognized her but was too shy to say hello. What a dork!

  25. It looks gorgeous. Well worth all the work. I find it nice to stretch myself with a really challenging knit every once in a while. Afterward I feel so accomplished.

  27. The sweater looks beautiful on Hannah. I love Valley Yarns. So affordable, yet it wears well and is usually nice and soft. That was quite an accomplishment! I would never have contemplated the zipper. Hell, I don’t think I would have attempted the sweater.

  28. Breathtaking…both the sweater and the model! Looks like a photo shoot from Vogue Knitting. Hannah will love this sweater her entire life and know it was knitted with love

  29. Wow. Just.Wow. That pattern would be the one to send a knitter right over the edge. I’m so glad — both for you AND Hannah — that it was so well-written. The sweater is lovely and wonderful and complex and astonishing. Great job! (And Hannah is sooo slim. Not many could wear that sweater and look as good as she does.)

  31. Wow, fantastic sweater. I have allways been put off knits with zippers, seeing some hand sewed, or put in by making holes in the zipper and threading the yarn through….but sewing in with the machine is something I could do!
    Beautiful pictures.

  34. A true labour of love and a gorgeous result. IMO the backyard, shed, winter light, etc. was a better backdrop than the beach would have been. The natural color and detail really pops in these photos. Great job!

  35. “Done is better than perfect.” Oh my, yes! I believe I just found another quote to live by.

    Beautiful sweater on your beautiful girl.

  36. FABULOUS! More beautiful than the sweater, though, is the happy expression on Hannah’s face. She knows exactly how much love and care went into her sweater!

  38. Hannah, the sweater, and your knitting–incredibly beautiful…and inspiring. It warmed by heart to hear you had the zipper put in by someone else. I am a great believer in avoiding the brain damage of doing something we don’t like and/or will do infrequently enough that the learning curve won’t be worth it.

  45. What a beautiful sweater—and it looks great on Hannah! I can’t even imagine knitting something like that—kudos!!

  48. What a beautiful sweater! You did a fantastic job knitting it, and Hanna looks fabulous wearing it.

    Congratulations on a beautiful FO!

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