Essential Cardigan

I finished the Essential Cardigan yesterday, just in time for 80 degree weather, humidity, and thunderstorms here in Northeast Ohio. Despite the heat, I did wear it for an hour yesterday because I felt like it (and I was in the house making minimal movements so as not to induce sweating). It fits awesome.

I convinced Adam to snap a few photos for me during his lunch hour since today is my birthday (I know, right?). I said I needed a least six pictures because he normally wants to do one and then go inside. He took six and I've finally realized how he sees me:

from up high.

I may have mentioned before that he's 6'4" (even though Amy swears up and down he's not tall) and I'm about 5'2". I had to explain to him that he needs to put the camera at my level so it doesn't look like he's taking pictures from a mountain top. This is what I get:

sigh. As my dad says, beggars can't be choosers. 

Anyway, this is a really great sweater. You may recall (or not, as it was last summer!) that I bought this yarn from a store going out of business. I purchased nine skeins for $26! Since I ended up using only about six and a half skeins (even though the pattern calls for eight for the size I made) that's less that $19 for this sweater. The yarns is Naturally Harmony 8 ply and it has this great fluffy texture that makes for a very soft fabric.

I decided on plain, brown, wooden buttons to match the color of the cardigan. This is just a simple cardigan, nothing fancy shmancy. I picked these up at JoAnn's for $3 total.  I think this cardigan is really quite a steal considering it's handmade. 

I'm also pretty pumped about how the shoulders look. The second came out a lot better than the first and I really didn't think the first was too bad. I generally don't mind seaming, I kind of like the way two pieces pull together when you tighten the mattress stitch. It can be time consuming though, as I spent the better part of an afternoon putting this bad boy together (taking a break to go see Thor. It is my birthday week after all).  The button band was also really time consuming. It's four inches of broken rib on size 4 needles. It reminded me a lot of working on the Spring Ribbed Cardigan. For some reason though, this seemed to take longer. 

I'm pretty much in love with this sweater. I think it's going to make a great casual addition to my wardrobe and I also think this means I made my goal of knitting two sweaters for myself in 2011! That is if we count the Dorflinger Tee.

Pattern: Essential Cardigan by Laura Grutzeck

Yarn: Naturally Harmony 8ply in #703 (~6.5 skeins)

Needles: #4 for ribbing, #5 for stockinette

Began: August 30, 2010

Completed: May 12

Ravelry Link