At long last, my Owls cardigan! I've had it finished for several days, but I couldn't stand the thought of wearing it during the recent heat wave. Fortunately, today was a breezy, beautiful day that is ideal for blog photographs.
Pattern: Owls by Kate Davies
Yarn: Green Mountain Spinnery's Green Mountain Green, 5 skeins exactly (funny that: I thought I was going to run out, not realizing that I had a whole 'nother skein left)
Needles: US 10
Time to Knit: April 3 - April 10
Time to Put on 56 Buttons: An entire sick day's worth of chair sitting, after two weeks of procrastination
Modifications: Modified for gauge, cardiganized, short-sleeved
I think this sweater is so cute! I decided to play up the cuteness factor by adding some mismatched buttons to the mix. I love the look of mismatched (but similar) buttons, and I plan on doing it again sometime soon! I think the purple and blue are such a nice contrast to the yellow.
I think that, perhaps, this is the last time I knit a sweater with this yarn. I do love it, but it is rather thick, and sweaters knit with thinner yarn tend to work better for me. The short sleeves do alleviate some of the thick (and warm!) yarn problems on this particular piece.
Out in the non-knitting world, I needed to explain that the motifs on the sweater were owls. But it is a rather attractive decoration even without having that bit of information!
This sweater puts all of the waist shaping in the back of the sweater. I knit it as specified because I was curious about how this would turn out. I probably won't choose to do this placement of shaping again. The sweater seems to have extra fabric in the back, especially after the increases for the bust. It could be that I needed a little less ease in general!
I think that this will be a very wearable sweater next fall. It will add warmth (but not too much), and the yellow and the cuteness will be a guarantee to cheer up my day!
OMG, this is the perfect incarnation of this pattern! I love the bright colors, and the contrast buttons, and the fact that you made it short-sleeved and a cardigan! I'm definitely taking notes on this one :)
Posted by: grumperina | April 29, 2009 at 10:38 PM
That is so darling! It's the first time I've seen this sweater in a bright color, and with mis-matched buttons and I think it looks great! :)
Posted by: Clumsy Knitter | April 29, 2009 at 10:41 PM
I love the different colored eyes on the owls, and the mismatched closure buttons. Very cute! That is a different way to do shaping. I've seen on Rav where some women knit the back a size smaller than the front, and I've been considering that as sweaters tend to be too large on me more in the back than all around. Have you ever done that? I'm worried about where side seams being out of whack.
Posted by: Brenda | April 30, 2009 at 12:19 AM
So cute! I love the multicolored buttons.
Posted by: Emilee | April 30, 2009 at 07:16 AM
What a happy looking sweater! You picked the right colors for the buttons - they really play off the pretty yellow!
Posted by: stacey | April 30, 2009 at 07:51 AM
SO cute! How could anyone fail to see they're owls?!
Posted by: Amy | April 30, 2009 at 08:59 AM
Amazing & fun & wonderful! The mismatched (yet coordinating) buttons make this sweater extra special. I am crazy for it! To me, it is obvious that these are owls. Baffling that anyone (knitter or not) doesn't recognize an owl.
Posted by: Kim | April 30, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Oh my, you look gorgeous in yellow! So cute, both you and the owls. :-)
Posted by: terhi | April 30, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Such a cute cardigan! Love all the different eyes!
Posted by: tiennie | May 01, 2009 at 02:15 AM
You have the happiest, most interesting owls sweater that I have seen thus far! I just had to say that I love your hairstyle, too.
Posted by: K. Purl | May 01, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Way cool!
Posted by: Milly | May 02, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Loving your version of the owls. Way cute mods :)
Posted by: Sheeryl | May 02, 2009 at 11:22 PM
So that WAS you at Maryland Sheep & Wool! I complimented you on your fab sweater, then, I will admit I snapped a phone picture so that I could try to do one just like yours! I bought some organic cotton at the festival that I plan to knit my Owl cardi with - and will do the same eye treatment. I just love your sweater!!!
Posted by: Marybeth Kress | May 03, 2009 at 12:38 PM
What a sweet version! Nice work, as always:)
Posted by: stacey | May 03, 2009 at 07:19 PM
can you please tell me how you modified this sweater for a cardigan - i really want to knit a cardigan vs a pull-over. I have been thinking about this sweater for almost a year but i am not a good enough knitter to adapt the pattern myself thanks a million- your sweater looks great
Posted by: marnie | January 02, 2010 at 09:50 PM