Demi

At long last...

Demi!

Project: Demi
Pattern: Demi from Rowan Vintage Knits
Yarn: Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran in Machair
Yardage: 7 balls or 1302 yards
Started: Sometime in August 2006
Finished: February 10, 2007
Yarn Source: Knit Happens
Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8), 4.5 mm (US 7), and 4 mm (US 6)
Gauge: 4 stitches to the inch in stst
Modifications: I added a selvage stitch the the sides of the sweater for better seaming and I lengthened the body slightly.

This is one of those sweaters I dreamed of making long before it ever hit the needles.  I started with the sleeves, which went smoothly and quickly, but then got hung up on the back of the sweater.  My size 7 needles broke halfway through the ribbing, which when you are very far from the nearest yarn store actually poses a significant problem.  Then, once I had completed the ribbing and actually started the cable patterning, I became convinced that some how I had messed up (I hadn't for the record) and set the entire sweater aside for a prolonged period of time.  Round about Christmas, I decided that I really needed to finish the UFOs that had been hanging over my head and took it out again.  Once I realized that I hadn't messed up and clearly just needed to review the basics of counting, the sweater progressed slowly and steadily. 

Demi, in case it's not clear from the picture, is very much like a traditional Aran sweater.  All of the stitches that are knit on the right side are knit through the back and purled through the back.  While some people have elected to do smaller bobbles or eliminate them completely, I actually liked the bigger (5 stitch) bobbles and kept them.  What really makes this sweater nice, however, is the set in sleeves and the waist shaping.  It has been my (admittedly small) experience that the drop shoulder look of most Aran sweaters is not to my taste.  Demi is surprisingly tailored and fits like a dream. 

Tomorrow, I'll show you where I am with my rather conservative list of WIPs.  I'm going to continue to try to keep the WIP list short (operative word there, "Try").  I've been happier focusing on fewer projects and making steady progress rather than starting all sorts of things.  Lets see how long that lasts. 

A final teaser, that trip to the states that I discussed over Christmas?  Looks like it's really going to happen.  Looking like March, but stay tuned for exact dates!

Comments

[ann]

OMG - looks fabulous!! I stand in awe of your cabling and finishing radiance. Congrats!! (See you soon, I hope!)

[Steph]

Demi is GORGEOUS. To no one's surprise, you've done a fabulous job!

Could your visit possibly be timed to coincide with the 3rd birthday of a certain store we all know and love?

[Elspeth]

I'm hyperventilating over here. Fabulous sweater!

[LauraRN]

So beautiful... Nicely done~

[whitney]

I'm a month late to this post, but I've been trying to see other people's finished Demi sweaters, as I'm working on one of my own right now. Yours is beautiful, I love the color you chose!

Also, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind telling me what size button you used? The pattern is less than helpful on that front!

[Emily]

I'm also a month (and a half) late to this post, but I stumbled upon your great-looking Demi and was startled that we'd chosen to make the same pattern in such similar colors. Anyway, great job! (I guess it's true what they say about great minds thinking alike...)