Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Plum Cabled Sweater

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Modell 509 by Gedifra

  • Yarn: Queensland Collection Uruguay DK, 70% Merino Wool, 20% Alpaca, 10% Silk (124 yards / 50 g per ball), ~8.64 balls, color 05
  • Needle: US 3 (3.25 mm) Knitpicks Circular Needle and bamboo DPNs


I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have been knitting (some, though less than I'd like). I had been wanting to make this sweater ever since late 2007 when I saw Smallbird's lovely silver-gray version. The cables are just plain drool-worthy (in my opinion, at least - I'm a sucker for a good cable!).

Of course, I finished it just in time for the weather to be mostly too warm to wear it (this is always a hazard in northern California - especially when one is using an alpaca blend - toasty!), but I will make it my mission to seek out a few cooler days in the next month or so when I won't be at risk of heat stroke if I wear it :)

The yarn:

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I found the yarn to be very soft and pleasant to work with. The only slightly odd thing about it was the occasional little blebs of white fluff I found intermingled with the plies. If one was particularly large, I gently pulled it out, but otherwise, I generally ignored these. If there were more (many more), it would work well as a tweed, but as it is, there are simply a few random white flecks in my sweater. Luckily this is not something I'm concerned about, but if it would bother you, I'd recommend either inspecting the yarn in person before buying or being consistent about pulling the white bits out as you encounter them.

I used the cable chart from the Gedifra pattern flipped upside-down to knit top-down in the round, but I made up the rest of the sweater as I went along, adding 2x2 rib to the cuffs and bottom. I had some excitement at first because I didn't immediately realize I needed to flip the symbols for the different cable patterns (I had scanned the chart and flipped it upside-down and backwards, which turned out to be a little too much flipping). I was essentially knitting the cables inside out (see below for what that looks like - kind of cool, but not quite what I was going for). After I corrected this situation, the going was much smoother.

Bug tried to help me with blocking:

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(If you were wondering, the T-pins were used here purely as anti-cat devices; they do keep the kitties from laying on my drying sweater, but the little beasts still think it's fun to walk through the forest of pins whenever they pass by.)

Here are some close-ups of the cables:

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The cables look pretty cool inside-out, too:

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And, for good measure, here are a couple more shots:

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25 comments:

Oiyi said...

What a beautiful sweater! It fits you perfectly.

Beverly said...

It's gorgeous! Well worth the wait. The color is so lovely and those cables really pop. Wow! Oh...and don't you know? Cat hair goes with everything!

Alison said...

Really beautiful!

Jeannie said...

Wow, what a beautiful sweater!! I looks great on you. The cables are awesome.

soknitpicky said...

Gorgeous! I did so much to finally hunt this pattern down, and yet I haven't done anything with it yet. Thanks for the inspiration and kick in the rear!

Kristen Rettig said...

Absolutely the most beautiful cabled sweater I have ever seen. Wow.

Kara said...

Gorgeous! It looks stunning on you.

Anonymous said...

The color and the cables are just so luscious!! I love the whole look. Here is to wishing for cooler climates

berlinBat said...

A very beautiful sweater! Love the cables!

sula said...

My mouth is still hanging open. I loved that grey version too, but now you've gone and made it in my favorite color! The fit, the cables! Yes, I'm swooning.

Wow.

Thea said...

Beautiful -- and the color is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

This is gorgeous! And the cables seem somehow organic to me. Very nice.

Sarah said...

I think this may be the most gorgeous sweater I've ever seen! Those cables are indeed drool worthy, and the finished garment fits you just perfectly. Here's hoping you get some slightly cooler weather so you can wear it!

Disentangled said...

Very pretty! The cables are spectacular!!

elizabeth said...

I've loved this sweater ever since I saw it too, and tracked down the pattern booklet in another state so I could make it someday. Yours is beautiful! Great job, and I love the color!

Erin said...

Wow. This is stunning. I love how clean the cables look--they really stand out well with that yarn. Love it.

Alice said...

Wow, this is one amazing sweater. The cables really pop and the whole thing is so well done.

June said...

Beautifully done. It fits you perfectly!

missalicefaye said...

ooh--lovely!

Marlena said...

Gorgeous! Those cables remind me a little of something Giger would create, but in a very pretty way! Ha ha

Linda said...

What a beautiful knit, I love the cable design. The colour is perfect too.

http://leafgreenknits.wordpress.com/

Rima said...

Woow. Woow. Wow.

BabyBeth said...

That sweater looks great! I'm about to board a plane to Sacramento....is that near you?

Knitting Out Loud said...

WOW! Gorgeous sweater, amazing cables.

Laiane said...

Brava! I looks like a perfect fit, too!

(I just finished (or am almost finished) with an alpaca cardigan. While I know it will get worn here in Michigan, it probably won't get the buttons sewn on until October.)