Hourglass
Hourglass is finished and I believe this might be my best sweater effort to date. I tried very hard to pay attention to all of the details and make modifications to fit my taste and body, and I think it turned out nicely.
Project Details:
Pattern: Hourglass from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Worsted Merino in Color No. 37
Needles: Addi Turbo US #7 in 24″ and 47″. I used the shorter needle for the body and the longer one to magic loop the sleeves and the neck after it got too small for the 24″.
Gauge: 19 sts/28 rows to 4″
Modifications/Thoughts: I knit the 33″ size and added an inch to the length and 2 1/2 inches to the sleeves. The finished sleeve length is about 22 inches after blocking (I gained an inch with blocking). They’re a little long, but I like a longer sleeve with the bell-shaped sleeve style.
I knit the bottom hem facings (the body and the sleeves) with 10% fewer stitches than called for in the pattern and then increased to the specified number on the row before the purl turning row. For the neck facing I didn’t increase like the pattern specified, but simply knit the facing with the same number of stitches I had when I purled the turning row. I really think this worked well because I don’t notice any flaring at the hems. On the bottom hems I knit the hem facing together with the body of the sweater and on the neck I grafted the facing to the inside of the sweater (I thought that mimiced the look of the facings on the other hems). Grafting the neck hem was a huge pain in the ass, and it took me forever, but I think it was worth it in the end.
I added 5 decrease rounds to the neck shaping for a narrower, less flashdance-esque neckline. I initially tried 2 short-rows for the back of the neck, but I didn’t like how it looked. I’m not entirely sure I did them right, and that could have been the problem, but in the end the slight boatneck works for me.
The negative ease of the sweater makes for a flattering (at least I think it is) yet comfortable sweater. However, taking pictures yesterday when it was 80 degrees points out that I probably won’t be wearing it much this summer, but it still cools off in the evenings, so I may be able to wear it out to dinner before fall.
Category: Sweaters | Tags: Hourglass 57 comments »
June 5th, 2006 at 9:51 am
It looks great and the color is fabulous on you.
June 5th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Your sweater is fantastic. I like the fit for you.
June 5th, 2006 at 9:57 am
very pretty, now I think I get the drawing on your blog
June 5th, 2006 at 10:04 am
wow! it looks absolutely gorgeous. the yarn is beautiful with the slight variegated green. you must be very excited!! i actually went and bought the book just recently for this pattern.
June 5th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Very nice….the green looks great on you!
June 5th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Beautiful! I am so impressed at all the modifications you made. It is super flattering.
June 5th, 2006 at 10:08 am
Looks great! The hems are a nice touch. I’m glad you were able to figure out how to get everything to lay flat. Those details are what really make the sweater nice.
June 5th, 2006 at 10:11 am
wow! what a gorgeous sweater! everytime i see an hourglass i see all the little additions that make it “your” sweater and just how perfect they are. this is a real winner. congrats!
(i’m totally going to have to make one of these)
June 5th, 2006 at 10:12 am
EXCELLENT! What a gorgeous fit! You did a spectacular job. Thanks for sharing.
June 5th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Nice sweater, nice pictures. You have a great figure, and the sweater really flatters you!
June 5th, 2006 at 10:15 am
It looks wonderful on you! Fantastic color and fit!
June 5th, 2006 at 10:16 am
Your Hourglass is super duper beautiful. The yarn, the colour, the shaping, it is spectacular.
June 5th, 2006 at 10:17 am
It’s beautiful! All the mods you made really made it so much better. I love it!
June 5th, 2006 at 10:22 am
Steph, it’s gorgeous and looks fabulous on you! Yippppeeee! You should be proud of yourself for knitting such a beautiful and well-fitting sweater. And I love the artsy photos, too!
June 5th, 2006 at 10:39 am
Beautiful! the fit is great, the hems nonflaring, neckline perfect – all add up to a lovely sweater! super job on Hourglass.
June 5th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Congrats on a fantastic project! I love the color, especially against your beautiful scenery. I think Purly was right – the color is really wearable and looks great!
June 5th, 2006 at 10:56 am
I LOVE the colour and it’s so super flattering…very inspiring!
June 5th, 2006 at 11:16 am
it fits you perfectly! so gorgeous, I may have to knit another one! I especially love the neckline, but all the mods are spot on!
btw, do you realize you look like you’re 20 in those pics? hott!
June 5th, 2006 at 11:19 am
Love it. LOVE. IT. Love it.
June 5th, 2006 at 11:23 am
So beautiful! I love how perfectly it fits you and the color is amazing. Lovely photos too!
June 5th, 2006 at 11:28 am
It looks wonderful on you! I really love the colors.
June 5th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Stephanie I love it!
I’m glad to hear that you had positive results with the -10% hem facings. I like that method.
and i think i’m just gonna need to splurge and make a sweater with that yarn. seems like it’d be hard to beat. have you washed it yet? (i think you said it was superwash, right?)
Wondeful job. thank you for sharing it with us!
June 5th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Wow, it looks beautiful! Congrats on a lovely sweater! (And great pics too!)
June 5th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Love it! The color, the fit and well everything! I am inspired!
June 5th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
That looks awesome Steph! It fits you so well!
June 5th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Hourglass is beautiful and just the look I had hoped to create. Thank you for sharing your modifications. Now I can knit it without worry. You look fabulous in it!
June 5th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
The sweater, the color, the fit–it all looks fabulous!
June 5th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Just beautiful – the color is great on you! I am going to have to knit this one… every time I see it, I like it that much more.
I do have a question for you about the hem facings… how exactly did you sew those things? With yarn or with thread? Is there a great how to somewhere? I have never finished Rogue (bad – bad!) from not being certain about those darn facings!
June 5th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
That’s a great looking sweater!! All the mods you made worked out so well and the fit is very flattering. Plus the yarn texture and color are gorgeous!
June 5th, 2006 at 1:26 pm
The sweater is beautiful. The fit and color are fabulous.
June 5th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
That is absolutely awesome! It looks to be a perfect fit and gorgeous on you!
June 5th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Umm, gorgeous! You don’t have to worry about if it you think it turned out nicely, it did! Looks great!
June 5th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the colour and it looks HOT on you!
June 5th, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Stephanie is stunning. Your pictures are great too. They remind me very much of that book by Sarah Dallas.
June 5th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
omg! so incredibly beautiful – both the sweater, the pictures and the model!
the fit is perfect and the colour heavenly. well done, my dear!
June 5th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Wow. That is an unbelievably gorgeous sweater you have there. Hope you get to wear it (comfortably) soon!
June 5th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Wow! Beautiful, the fit is wonderful!
June 5th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
That looks amazing! And it fits like a glove. Great job!
June 5th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Damn girl! Your waist is tiny!
LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. You did such a phenomenal job making it fit you perfectly. I’m so glad you had a positive experience with the yarn and I hope you get years of wear out of it.
June 5th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
A Masterpiece for sure, Stephany, congratulations.
June 5th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
That looks positively fantastic! Wear it with pride (when the weather cools down that is)!
June 5th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
so lovely!
June 5th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
That color is to die for!!!!
And va-va-voom woman! You’ve been hiding your ‘endowment’ from us!!!
THe sweater is great. I can’t believe you whipped up a sweater that quickly. Granted it was a teeny-tiny sweater, but still. Oh and I LOVE the long sleeves!
June 5th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
OMG – that’s you? Don’t make me hate you – eat something! Seriously though, the sweater is gorgeous. I’m so jealous – I never knit for myself because all sweaters make me look even boxier than normal. Exercise would help, but it would cut seriously into my knitting time!
June 5th, 2006 at 7:56 pm
Hourglass looks great. I haven’t had the courage to alter patterns too much. You’re inspiring me to be more adventurous.
June 5th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
Wow! Your sweater looks beautiful.
June 5th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
it’s gorgeous! the fit is dead-on. so many people have struggled with the neckline on that pattern but you really made it work beautifully.
i’ll keep my fingers crossed for a few cool evenings so you can wear it sooner
June 5th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
This is so so cool. I love the way you moded it to fit you perfectly!
June 5th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
gorgeous! The color is really beautiful on you.
June 6th, 2006 at 4:20 am
Wow! It looks wonderful! That color is fantastic as well!
June 6th, 2006 at 5:24 am
Simply gorgeous!
June 6th, 2006 at 6:18 am
It looks gorgeous. It’s so nice to see something that fits that well!
June 6th, 2006 at 6:37 am
Steph, it is absolutely stunning – a perfect flattering fit in a gorgeous yarn. I simply have to reknit mine… I hope it turns out half as well as yours. Gorgeous.
June 6th, 2006 at 11:48 am
All your hard work on this really paid off. Your attention to detail created a sweater that fits like a gem!!! You have such a tiny waist and this sweater accentuates it perfectly!! Beautiful!!!
June 6th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
very, very nice. Very impressive. I’m also rather impressed with your shape, btw
June 7th, 2006 at 1:32 am
gosh i am so late reading blogs! it looks fantastic. i hope mine (when i get around to knitting it) turns out half as good!
June 7th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
That looks really lovely on you. Nice design choice, yarn, mods and knitting job!