March 4, 2009
Engagement Sweater
The boyfriend sweater curse is no longer a threat in these parts.. I am making an engagement sweater. Yes, sometime this August I will be a married person!
The great thing about this (other than wedding crafting) is that I can knit finally him a sweater.. yes! We went to Brooklyn General, and while I browsed fabrics, Brian checked out the men's sweater patterns. We decided on Beck, from Jane Ellison's Queensland Collection.
The awesome part of this sweater is how the center cable splits for a zipper at the neck. I also like the overall cabling. However, these same elements make it tricky to alter the pattern. I needed a finished sweater in between the 37-inch and 43-inch sizes, something more like 40 inches. The cable repeat is 19 stitches and one cable should be centered in the front. plus the front and back should be symmetrical with the sides ending in a decent place in the repeat for the sleeves. Swatching and math are in order.
The yarn is recycled from a jcrew sweater I unraveled many moons ago. Its been in my stash for 3 years now! Its worsted-weight and seems like wool. There should be enough yardage since it was a size extra large, but cables do eat up yarn.
Brian says the reason he proposed is so he can finally get a sweater. He's kidding, I think.
Comments (22)
Congratulations! I look forward to seeing your engagement sweater progress!
Posted by Jillian | March 4, 2009 11:20 AM
Posted on March 4, 2009 11:20
Congratulations!!! That engagement sweater is going to be gorgeous!
Although he may have been kidding about finally getting the sweater, I definitely think it was a win-win situation as you both get something lovely :O)
Posted by Peacock Chic | March 4, 2009 11:26 AM
Posted on March 4, 2009 11:26
OMG! Congraaaaats! Your fiance and my husband sound like they have the same sense of humor.
Posted by yaiAnn | March 4, 2009 12:03 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 12:03
Congratulations again. I love the sweater you picked out and can't wait to see how it knits up.
Posted by Stephanie | March 4, 2009 12:16 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 12:16
How exciting! Both the sweater and the engagement ;)
Posted by Veronique | March 4, 2009 1:11 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 13:11
congrats, diana!! what a great news! the sweater is going to look great.
Posted by blossom | March 4, 2009 1:47 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 13:47
HOORAY!!! congratulations!! that sweater is beautiful. can't wait to see more of it!
Posted by mai | March 4, 2009 2:11 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 14:11
Congrats!!! Can't wait to hear more about the wedding and the progress on the boy's sweater. Awesome pattern!
Posted by yahaira | March 4, 2009 2:19 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 14:19
congratulations! i am so happy for the both of you! and getting engaged just so you can make him a sweater? nice! (tee hee!)
Posted by mari | March 4, 2009 3:17 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 15:17
Congratulations! That is such wonderful, wonderful news! Also, that model is hott!
Posted by grumperina | March 4, 2009 7:17 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 19:17
Congratulations! I am absolutely thrilled for you!
Posted by jacqueline | March 4, 2009 7:52 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 19:52
Yay!!! Congrats to the two of you!
The sweater pattern is perfect - and, yeah, that model is smoking hawt.
Posted by Sharon | March 4, 2009 10:44 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 22:44
Congratulations, Diana! I am thrilled for you!
Posted by caitlyn | March 4, 2009 11:03 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 23:03
Congratulations.
I just saw this book for the first time today and loved this sweater. I think I need to make one for me.
Posted by Jessica | March 5, 2009 12:06 AM
Posted on March 5, 2009 00:06
Hey, Congrats! And I love your sweater choice. Looking forward to seeing all the wedding crafts.
Posted by Kelly | March 5, 2009 1:50 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 13:50
Congrats on the engagement! Great sweater pattern too
Posted by Wanda | March 6, 2009 12:05 AM
Posted on March 6, 2009 00:05
Oh, Diana! I am sooo very happy for the two of you. Congratulations!!!
Posted by MJ | March 6, 2009 7:22 AM
Posted on March 6, 2009 07:22
What wonderful news!
Might I suggest you modify the pattern and knit it in one piece from the top down or bottom up? This way you can ensure a good fit. That yarn looks yummy!
Posted by Trish | March 7, 2009 8:54 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 20:54
Congrats!
The sweater curse is not real. I've knitted for my boyfriend more than 15 years ago & he's now my hb for close to 10 years!
Posted by emy | March 18, 2009 9:37 AM
Posted on March 18, 2009 09:37
Hi there! Thanks for the comment. Just wanted to let you know there is a Lutz and Patmos inspired cardi vest in the Fall/Winter 2008 knit 1 magazine. One clever knitter modified the pattern to be just like the jacket I mention in the blog:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aileenjo/19-cropped-cardi. Check it out!
Posted by Trish | March 18, 2009 1:55 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 13:55
Congrats!!! That's so exciting!
Posted by Nell | March 29, 2009 9:36 PM
Posted on March 29, 2009 21:36
I am late to offer up my congratulations! This is great! :)
...and I bought that oooklet last year for that very sweater. it is so awesome.
Posted by lolly | April 9, 2009 1:47 PM
Posted on April 9, 2009 13:47