Violette-le-duc

I finished Violette a while ago now, and I wasn't sure about how much I liked it.  So it sat in a laundry basket for a long time, until Jeannine sent me a very nice note yesterday asking me if I could share any more pictures.  A little sheepishly I tried it on again, and I discovered that I think I do like the sweater after all.

Pattern: Violette-le-duc from Norah Gaughan Vol. 3
Yarn: Berroco Inca Gold in Rojo, 8 skeins  and Briar Rose Abundance, a small quantity
Needles: US 4 and US 7
Time to Knit: January 4 - February 16
Modifications: None

I think the big ribbed collar is what has me unsure about the fit.  One one hand, big ribbed collars are awesome.  On the other, this collar can sometimes flop around funny.  I also don't really like the way the sweater looks fastened-- there's too much obvious stretching going on. 

I'm not sure why my sweater has short sleeves.  It looks like other finished sweaters have longer sleeves, but I also feel like I followed the directions and the schematics in the pattern.  I also have two more skeins than I needed.... 'tis a mystery.  Fortunately, I think short-sleeved sweaters are great for my work (long sleeved ones are often too hot), so I'm happy.

I do like the silhouette this sweater gives.  I think it's flattering on me.  I adore the yarn. Seriously, I really love it and I think you should try it!  It's soft and springy like a superwash, but it doesn't have some of those annoying qualities of superwash yarn (more on that another day). It's got a vibrarnt color, and the silk gives it just a small amount of sheen. 

I like the substitution I made on the edging yarn as well.  I looked at some of the Berroco Lumina colors, but I am just not a shimmery yarn kind of girl.  Even for edging.

And finally, for those of you who are curious about wearing the sweater like it is pictured in the booklet, I have to say that's a solid no.  I have no idea why they left it styled that way.  It's totally misleading for how the sweater actually looks (which is cute) and I feel certain that the model would have looked silly wearing it upside down if she moved at all.  In fact, you can see a big fold of fabric if you look closely at the pattern picture.

It's a wearable and cute sweater, but just not as advertised.

Comments

[Emily]

I am so in love with that model-- she pulls of all of those Norah designs and makes me want to knit them. But *upside down*? That is a head scratcher. Yours looks wonderful, though!

[grumperina]

Wow, that came out really fantastic! Very flattering silhouette on you. It looks like a great layering piece, especially for an office which gets cold or hot. Also, I can't believe the sweater you knit and the one in the booklet are one and the same!

[Deborah]

I think your finished sweater is gorgeous! Not only does the design, but also the color, is very flattering on you. Very nice.

[Walden]

It looks great on you! I am glad you gave wearing it another shot.

[Clumsy Knitter]

Super cute! It made me look at the pattern in the booklet again, because I originally passed over it as a NOT...but now it's more of a HMMMM... :)

[emma]

It looks beautiful - but I expected no less from you. :)

[stacey]

Very cute! the color looks great on you and I think as a second layer unfastened it is perfect!

[jody]

I'm glad you came around to liking it. It looks really cute on you and I adore the color combo.

BTW this post must have been a good influence on me. I'm wearing my Somewhat Cowl for the first time in at least 2 years and I'm really liking it :)

[Ingrid]

I can't believe that's the same sweater as the one in the booklet! (Well, I guess I can believe it, but they're really different.) Yours looks so much prettier and that colour is great on you.

[Kim]

It looks so different than in the booklet! Much better in my opinion. It's just adorable. I love it in the red too.

[tiennie]

I think it looks great on you! Glad you gave it another chance. :)

[Kelly]

your version is wayyyyyyy nicer than the one on the model! I love the fitted look from the back, very cute~

[Brenda]

Your sweater worn right-side-up looks fabulous! I wonder if the model's sweater was just too huge for her, so they did the crazy styling. It is a flattering fit for you, and it seems that elbow length sleeves are very much coming back in style, so perhaps you are a bellwether in this regard.

[Linda]

This is a cry for help! I am making this sweater, and I am sooo confused. The schematic and the directions don't seem to make sense to me. (It helps to know that it was photographed upside down, although I had to go online to find that out.)
I am on the left front collar, and the instructions say to bind off three stitches at the beginning of every row. I don't see that in the schematic. Can someone who has made this sweater contact me? Thank you!

[whitney]

Yours looks fantastic on you! I totally do not understand the upside-down styling in the pattern...if nothing else, it's terribly misleading as to what the final garment will look like. Plus it just looks unflattering upside-down.