Monday was a day of sickness in the house. Fortunately only 3 kids actually got sick, and even then, they were fine after a few hours of misery. It didn’t even last a whole 24 hours.
I’ve been doing a lot of Advent preparation this last week, but unfortunately, not working on the Christmas animals for the kids. I’m realizing I have just a few weeks left and sort of hit a panic last night. So this might be the last you see of this sweater in progress until after the New Year. Whew! I have a lot to do!
The front of this pullover is everything I hoped. I loosely based it off of one of the antique baptismal gowns my girls wore that has been in my husband’s family for more than 120 years. It is just so lovely, that I started sketching, and wondering how the design would translate into a sweater. I originally thought of putting garter stitch down the front for the horizontal lines, to mimic the pin tucks in the the gown, but I didn’t like the idea of the different row gauge that would involve and the general pulling and adjusting while wearing.
Not that long ago, I thought of using a Latvian braid technique for the center horizontal panel. It was just perfect, and made the row gauge pretty consistent throughout. I’m currently playing around with some neck shaping, so it’s not totally done. The sleeves, once I get to them after Christmas, will be more lacy, which is also in line with the heirloom gown. The swatch for the lace in this yarn still needs to be done, so I’m a bit away from getting that completed.
As for reading, I went to a conference with a friend of mine last Saturday. It was just a morning and early afternoon thing, but the speaker was Susie Larson. It was so good! I was writing feverishly the whole time, and had pages of notes brought home with me. Since I can’t resist a book table, I got 2 of her books afterwards. I’ve been reading through (be it ever so slowly) Your Beautiful Purpose. So far it’s been really inspiring, and yet grounded and practical.
Linking up with Ginny’s Yarn Along.
harknessangels says
November 26, 2014 at 4:37 pmGlad the sickness is gone! I am going through the same sort of panic. 😉 Love the front panel of your pullover! Just beautiful. Looks like a great read!
Natalie Buehler says
November 26, 2014 at 4:58 pmYour pullover is stunning, and I love the colour too.
x
sustainablemum says
November 26, 2014 at 4:58 pmI love the front of your jumper the stiches look beautiful together. The colour of the yarn is beatuiful too.
Hope the sickness has well and truly gone.
Kendra @ A Sonoma Garden says
November 26, 2014 at 6:03 pmThat’s beautiful knitting! I have realized lately that most of my recent projects have been a plain stockinette stitch…time to change that up!
Kendra @ A Sonoma Garden says
November 26, 2014 at 6:05 pmJust wanted to add I love the name of your blog and your cute header illustration too!
Zauberflink says
November 26, 2014 at 6:46 pmWow, your knitting is stunning and I really enjoy reading the story behind it and how you were inspired by a very different texture and fabric!
elizabeth says
November 26, 2014 at 7:01 pmbeautiful!!! I do hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving tomorrow! that sweater looks lovely! and how special to have that baptismal gown! God bless and keep you! praying that you are all in good health now!
Jayne Marti says
November 26, 2014 at 10:41 pmOh my, that is some beautiful knitting! What a beautiful design. I would love it as a pattern – any ideas for that?! And me too – I love your blog header. It makes me smile whenever I come here.
Mom says
November 28, 2014 at 6:09 pmThat pattern is amazing. Can hardly wait to see the finished product. Also, glad you could have some girlfriend time and be enriched by good teaching at the same time. 🙂
Laura Lane says
November 29, 2014 at 11:03 pmGee, it is time to get ready for Advent, isn’t it?
I’m glad everyone is getting better.
Please drop by for a visit!
Happy Advent,
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Bea at Beas Coffeebreak says
November 30, 2014 at 1:04 amI love the design of the sweater! Those braids look great!
Anonymous says
December 2, 2014 at 6:55 amGretchen, This is a beautiful design, I can see the inspiration of the baptismal gown. Love the color too! Can’t wait to see it completed.
Linda