Sunday, November 25, 2007

Deep-V Sweater

When I first flipped through Erica Knight's Classic Knits I was more impressed by the beautiful styling and photos than the actual projects, they seemed almost too simple. But over the next few months I kept coming back to that book and started to fall in love with the projects in it, especially the Deep-V sweater. I've had a bag of Debbie Bliss' Cathay in my stash, which is the suggested yarn. All that stockinette didn't put me off, I wanted some mindless knitting for a change. Well, that pattern turned out be an absolute joy to knit. Cathay, despite being a bit splitty at first try, is wonderfully soft; it reminded me of melting vanilla ice cream. After a nice steam, any uneven knitting transformed into an even, drapey fabric.
Deep-V Sweater1
Deep-V Sweater2
and check out the lovely decreases:
Deep-V Sweater detail
Pattern: Deep-V Sweater, from Classic Knits by Erica Knight, second size
Yarn: 11 balls of Debbie Bliss Cathay
Needles: US 5 (3.75mm)
Mods: I used a tubular cast-on and knit in the round instead of separate pieces. If I were to knit this sweater again however, I'd knit it in pieces and seam it up (yes, me, the I-wanna-turning-everything into-seamless knitter). Why? Because you end up weaving in lose ends within the knitted fabric, and no matter how careful I was, you can see a slight indentation on the other side. When you have such a smooth fabric, seams provide a place to weave in your ends and keep the rest of the fabric looking perfect. Lesson learned. Sometimes, seams are good (argh).
The only thing I would change is to make the sweater a size bigger. It fits great, it's just that when I started, I wanted something more fitted, something I could wear to the office and look professional. Now that I'm freelancing from home, I crave the casual lounge-around look that enticed me to the sweater in the first place. I guess I could always frog it....;-) Yeah, no way!
I see more Classic knits projects in my future, the kelly cardi and maybe the slouchy socks, but right now, there is more stockinette going on, and a little bit of cabling. I'm making the Jana Tunic from Rowan Studio 3. There are no sleeves so this should be a quick knit.

I've added some more details of my mods to Flicca, you can find them here.

40 comments:

Jennie said...

It looks great on you. Fantastic work! :)

knitties said...

It's absolutely gorgeous!!! I love how it looks on you :) Now I think I should go out and get this book too!

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful! So simple but so chic. I love it with the jeans, and you took some lovely photos yourself!

margaux said...

beautiful!! i bought that Classic Knits book just for that sweater and have yet to cast on. Yours is the first I've seen and I love it! Beautiful job :-)

Anonymous said...

love it! looks great. i absolutely love my deep v-neck... i wear it a lot. this pattern is great.

drew
www.drew-o-rama.com

Anonymous said...

I love it! It's definitely a classic. You look amazing in it!

Anonymous said...

It looks stunning on you. Beautiful work.

Anonymous said...

this is the most beautifully knitted sweater i've seen! so professionally done. i don't have that book but now i'm going to check it out.

i love your jeans, as always!!

Anonymous said...

You always make well made, well styled sweaters! This one turned out so nice - it has that wonderful twist on a classic style! I'm another one who has the book and is going to pull it out to take another look-see! Inspiring :) Terry

Linda said...

It does look good and I too like the decreases. They make the neckline.

mollylouhoo said...

I had the same reaction when I looked through the book. But your sweater has really inspired me to go back and revisit some of those patterns.

maritza said...

That's a great book with some lovely patterns.Your sweater came out beautifully. The fit is fantastic, and those decreases are truly gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

such beautiful work. this piece is so comfy and timeless.

Connie said...

I love Erika Knight's work - very classic and pretty. And you did such a good job of knitting and photographing it! :)

By the way, I saw a copy of Sensual Knits and your intarsia kimono :) Lovely!

Anonymous said...

Lovely job! It looks wonderful on you!

maryse said...

nicely done. your knitting is so regular and smooth.

Anonymous said...

hm, you make me gonna buy cathay to knit this sweater.
i am lurking at it since i bought this book!
wonderful!!
lg eva

Elizabeth said...

Wow, I thought at first those must be the pattern photos - but they're you! They look professional, as does the sweater. Lovely job.

spajonas said...

it looks PERFECT! i love those neckline decreases. they look so professional. what a great FO!

Anonymous said...

That is one simply superb sweater, a real work of craft and art. I don't know about making it again one size larger... this one looks perfectly sized. Any bigger, the sweater might seem to be wearing you!

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful and perfect on you!

seedless grape said...

Wow! The sweater looks beautiful! Your finishing skills always leave me astounded--everything you make looks so professional, like gleek said. I am agog!

Stacey said...

that one is on my to do list also. love the classic style of it....

Kara said...

This is one of those sweaters that is so classically beautiful. It looks just lovely on you.

Kirsten said...

Beautiful job! The fit looks perfect.

yaiAnn said...

It looks store bought!! I must make my own now. I'm in need of a new v-neck! Love the winter, white, too. Droooool!

Anonymous said...

I came from Stacey's blog to take a peek - your sweater is beautiful in it's simplicity - the neckline is gorgeous
!!!

Angelika said...

I love that sweater. The beauty is in the simplicity of the pattern. It almost looks store bought, but in our case, that would almost be an insult. I think it fits you perfect and goes with everything. 100 Points on my scale.

Stef said...

It's really elegant, and I adore the neck decreases. Excellent choices. If I'd made that sweater, I'd probably live in it.

Anonymous said...

That sweater is simple, but elegant. Very nice work. Congrats:)

Ang

Philigry said...

beautiful! you do such a great job.

Anonymous said...

I love the simple beauty of this sweater - elegant, timeless. I imagine you'll wear it often.

Krawuggl said...

Mußte natürlich auch gleich mal auf den Blog schauen gehen und was soll ich sagen - ich bin absolut sprachlos! Der Pulli sieht so wunderschön aus, so schlicht und edel, genau der richtige Pulli für alle Gelegenheiten, zum Rauf- und Runter-Kombinieren. Mir geht es mit dem Buch genauso wie dir anfangs, und erst jetzt seh ich wie schön und tragbar die Designs doch sind. Das liegt aber natürlich auch an deiner Strickkunst, die Maschen sind ja unglaublich perfekt und gleichmäßig.
Bin so begeistert, daß ich am liebsten auch gleich einen anfangen möchte, supersuperschön!

Sanditerese said...

Your sweater is gorgeous! This sweater is my next big project and I hope mine turns out as great as yours.

Octopus Knits said...

Oh, my! That is gorgeous. The neckline is really lovely, and the whole sweater is, as you say, beautiful in its simplicity. I'm tempted to make one for myself : )

queen said...

That is one piece of amazing knitting. Great job. Excellent craftsmanship.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!!
I love the designs in her book--
I made the shrug from Glamour Knits and have really enjoyed

Rene'

Erin said...

This is gorgeous. I have this book too and felt similarly about it. The art direction is amazing but the patterns I'm still up in the air about. You've re-energized me!

Cristina said...

Thanks for the caveat about transforming this pattern for knitting in the round. I've already knit it flat in Jo Sharp DK Tweed as a gift, but was tempted to knit it in the round in Cathay for myself. Now I won't! It looks wonderful!

VenusSpecimen said...

hi. i've been trying this v sweater for months. i'm on ravelry as venusspecimen. do you use ravelry? what is it? its the world of knitting, crochet, how to's, patterns, everything really. you may already know.
anyhow, i'm wondering if you had any problems with the v part, from your finished item i'd guess not, its just i've struggled so many times to fathom what it means at the v neck part. its seems to me to be written so unnecessarily difficult. hohum. i've been long since meaning to frog mine and make something else but seeing yours has re inspired me that it is indeed possible to make. thanks. x