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August 12, 2008

Finally Wicked

So I finished and blocked WIcked a month ago.

And by then, I was so sick of the sight of it that I tossed it into the wardrobe and didn't even try it on. It took me until this weekend to actually get it out again.

But I'm glad I did.

I think this one is a winner! Although I seriously doubted it up until now!

There are still some dyelot issues, but they're not nearly as obvious as they were before the re-knit. The most obvious place is in the pocket.

I didn't re-knit the pocket, and it's knit entirely in the darker skein. I can see it, but I guess I'm looking for it. Anyway, here's the specs.

Specs:
Pattern: Wicked by Zephyr Style.
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Ruby River, purchased at The Loopy Ewe, as part of the Classy Knitalong. But I knit too late for the KAL! I used 3 skeins, with only a tiny bit of the third skein leftover.
Needles: 4.5mm Knitpicks Options

Modifications: The only modifications I made to the pattern were quite small, really. I changed all the ribbing to the twisted cable rib. And I made the body longer. I can't remember exactly how much longer, but I think it was around 7-8cm. (3")
The whole knitting of this so-called "easy" knit was a drama.
I really love this yarn. It's a worsted weight, and at 18sts = 10cm, it knits up into a lovely fabric. However, if you're going to use it, and are using more than one skein, alternate. Just in case you didn't get that, let me say it again. Alternate!
In the skein the colours didn't look very different. Knitted up, there was a very obvious line where I'd changed skeins, which resulted in me frogging the entire sweater and starting over. At that point, I had the whole body and pocket done, and only the sleeves remained.
I knit this stupid sweater twice. No wonder I didn't want to look at it for a month!
The pattern itself is great, though! Knit top down in the round, it's easy to try on as you go, and to make adjustments as you knit. I did the waist shaping, and I'm very pleased with it. Being able to try it on helped with the placement. And with lengthening it.
I think that every single person who has knit this sweater has lengthened the body. I'm not particularly tall, but if I'd knit it to the pattern, my navel would be showing.
And we don't want that.

Overall though, I'm very happy with it!

So happy that I started something new.

Any guesses?

And just because we haven't seen her here for a while, here's Twinkie.

It's been pretty cold here the past couple of weeks, so she's been a little quiet, hiding under the furniture and puffing herself up. It took her a while (and a few treats) to forgive us for going on holiday and leaving her, but she's coming around again now.

Posted by Donna at August 12, 2008 11:41 PM

Comments

Even with you telling me the pocket color is different, I still can't see it. I'd call it a success. Congrats!

Posted by: sprite at August 13, 2008 01:04 AM

I love that neckline! The color suits you, too.

Posted by: Marlena at August 13, 2008 02:44 AM

I'm going to guess... a sweater!! (*ducks*)

Awww, yay for Twinkie pictures! I'm going to borrow this one as my screen wallpaper for a few days. I'm having one of those "I need more Bunny" weeks.

Posted by: CraftyGryphon at August 13, 2008 05:23 AM

I absolutely love that sweater! I am guessing the new project is something for your hubby.

Posted by: Amy at August 13, 2008 07:34 AM

It looks fab on you! That color looks great on you. Poor Twikie...

Posted by: monica at August 13, 2008 09:03 AM

The sweater looks great!

Posted by: Suzanne at August 13, 2008 10:13 AM

Wicked is just, well wicked! It looks fab on you and I can't see that the pocket is darker. If you hadn't told us we wouldn't know.

It is nice to see a Twinkie picture.

Posted by: KSee at August 13, 2008 10:23 AM

You can't tell any difference in the dye lots - you worry far too much! Wicked is wicked :)

Posted by: Andrea at August 13, 2008 01:53 PM

Wicked looks fantastic and it suits you too. You should wear that color more often. Are you knitting the FLS by any chance.

Posted by: sue at August 13, 2008 01:59 PM

Why dyelot issue? It looks awesome! I'm sure you can use a warm sweater right about now. My hubby is in Sydney right now and it's such a huge weather difference for him. Unfortunately, he won't be able to do any sightseeing with a busy meeting schedule.

Posted by: Evelyn at August 13, 2008 02:06 PM

seriously....i cant see the difference in the dyelot. the colour of the pocket looks the same as the sweater. hehe. and your sweater looks great!!!! going to queue this sweater in ravelry now :)

Posted by: Michelle at August 13, 2008 02:35 PM

Its awesome! I"m so glad you pulled it out again - was wondering what had happened to your Wicked after its wicked ways...

Posted by: Shelley at August 13, 2008 02:59 PM

This is one of those times that, if I were a rude person, I'd say I told you so. But since I'm so nice, I won't say it. Ha!

Posted by: Restless Knitter at August 13, 2008 03:26 PM

Huh We can tell who is the larger version here can't we - I used 5 skeins of Malabrigo for a short sleeved version not as short as theirs - but elbow length! (and I lengthened mine too!)

Posted by: ceri at August 13, 2008 03:27 PM

The finished Wicked looks great and I wouldn't have noticed the pocket dyelot issue if you hadn't pointed it out. :) Glad you persevered with it as it looks so nice on you.

Posted by: Terri at August 13, 2008 03:49 PM

That's wicked cool! Very pretty indeed!

Posted by: Lynne at August 13, 2008 04:40 PM

That top it may have been a PIA but it looks gorgeous on you! What a great color and lovely knitting (plus you can't see the dye lot issues)
Great Job Donna!

Posted by: Debi at August 13, 2008 05:40 PM

I think it looks so great on you Donna. I can see the dyelot difference in the pocket but probably only because I saw it in real life! And anyway, you can totally get away with it because it's a pocket, so it's a feature anyway!

Great job!

Now for the second thing - I'd say FLS? Hard to tell!!

Posted by: Rose Red at August 13, 2008 07:49 PM

Oh no! I think I want to knit a long sleeve version now. But I will do a solid colour to avoid the dyelot issues I think.

Yours looks absolutely lovely and I think it was worth all the drama! A beautiful bright jumper for these cold horrible days!

Posted by: amandaj at August 13, 2008 09:00 PM

Wicked looks wicked!! I think any dyelot issue with the pocket is ameliorated by the fact that it is patterned. It looks fabulous. Nice to see Twinkie: she looks especially luch and furry!!

Posted by: 2paw at August 14, 2008 12:19 AM

None of the dyelot issues show in the pictures--none. And it fits perfectly too. I hope you can forget all the trouble you had with it and enjoy wearing it.

Posted by: Wool Winder at August 14, 2008 12:30 AM

I love it & you look so good in it. The darker colored pocket does not bother me as handpainted yarn has so much variation. I used 3 skeins of Classy for my Feb Lady Sweater & did not think of alternating the yarn. Thank goodness it turned out right.

Posted by: Ann at August 14, 2008 10:56 AM

it looks lovely on you! great colour!

Posted by: marti at August 14, 2008 11:54 AM

Wicked looks wonderful!!! I'm wanting to make it using some Brooks Farm that might be aquired in Rhinebeck........LOL!

Posted by: chris at August 14, 2008 10:38 PM

It's really lovely! I don't think anyone will notice the pocket at all, besides you. I'm not fond of knitting sweaters twice either!

Posted by: Karen at August 15, 2008 02:20 AM

that is so wickedly beautiful - i love the cable accents and the neckline! and you're right - i was beginning to miss twinkie....

Posted by: debbie at August 15, 2008 10:34 AM

It looks fantastic Donna!

Posted by: Pru at August 16, 2008 04:29 PM

Wicked looks great, it really suits you.

Posted by: Leeanne Johnson at August 18, 2008 01:51 PM