Dear Kay,
Progress on the Alice Starmore Donegal extravaganza continues. This is absolutely the least efficient means of manufacturing a sleeve that I have encountered.
These Rowan Donegal Lambswool yarns continues to amaze and amuse. At night it’s so dim that Bramble and Pickle are indistinguishable. Elderberry and Roseberry might as well be the same color.
But in the light of day, it’s pretty dazzling to see.
One sleeve to go, a neckline to futz around with, and some final weaving. Piece of cake: should have this done by 2016 no problem.
The pattern is 28 stitches wide, 27 rows long. I find it impossible to memorize, in any way, so it has a real paint-by-numbers feel to it. This is one of those projects that really tests our MDK Rule: No project is too ambitious if you crave the result enough.
I crave, I crave! Hurts so good!
Love,
Ann
Looks gorgeous! I’m so impressed–still haven’t tried fair isle, maybe one of these days!
I am finishing up a sweater that sounds simple compared to yours – one color yarn, one big cable up the back and up the sleeves, no seams, BUT the closer to the end I get, the longer it takes because the !@#$% pattern grows vague, then becomes completely WRONG. Thanks, Vogue. I will prevail, though.
Ohhhh swirly curly arabesques, makes me want to twirl around leap in the air and sing.
Epic.
Knit on! Lovely sweater.
GO ANN GO!!! you can do it!!! it looks amazing and is a work of art!!
Do you read Worsted for Wear? They just finished (sort of) up a storyline about finishing a Starmore design, so this feels extra timely and really beautiful.
I remember when you started this one! I love all the colors.
I want to say, too, that I am really happy that you all have started blogging again more regularly. It’s great to hear from you! Shorter blog posts are a good way to go!
I’ve never craved it enough for the work involved, but it is beautiful and you’ll have a wonderful sweater when you’re finished. Congrats on the re-start. If you listen carefully, I’m sure you’ll hear me (and a lot of others) cheering you on to the finish.
GASP. That is utter scrumptrilescence. I bet it smells good too.
GASP! Wow. That is exquisite. I bet it smells good too.
Dazzling indeed!
Ann, you can do it, you can do it; you’re coming down the home stretch now!
I thought about your Donegal sweater a few weeks ago when I passed my bins of Rowan Donegal Lambswool (while looking for something else), and wondered if I had missed a post in the past regarding its completion. I was so glad to learn last week that the sweater is on its way to being a finished object (and a beautiful one at that).
Mary G. in Texas
Wow, that is just gorgeous!!
oh that is so beautiful, I could never do that
oh that is so beautiful, I could never do that
“Ohhh!” My exclamation when opening today’s post. All that was said above, I agree. Your ASD is absolutely beautiful.
Thank you, too, for the blogging blasts from you and Kay.
Just spectacular!! Haven’t seen one so striking since Cosby show went off the air!
No offense but I feel exactly the same way about the Liberty Afghan: paint by numbers. I also pull it out every 2 years or so. Might be time for another round.
You need an Ott Light. I had to turn mine on last night when I was hemming pants for the 3 year old at work. Really makes it clear which thread matches the fabric. Works just as well when holding 2 yarns that appear the same color under the new cf4 spiral bulbs.
Buy one, you won’t regret it!
Your sweater is absolutely beautiful. Just imagine wearing it on some freezing cold day in only 3 more years!
You need an Ott Light. I had to turn mine on last night when I was hemming pants for the 3 year old at work. Really makes it clear which thread matches the fabric. Works just as well when holding 2 yarns that appear the same color under the new cf4 spiral bulbs.
Buy one, you won’t regret it!
Your sweater is absolutely beautiful. Just imagine wearing it on some freezing cold day in only 3 more years!
That is one very nice jersey you’ve got there! Ah, stranded colour knitting is something I haven’t yet attempted – must reserve your 2nd book at the library again…that Liberty afghan was starting to sing a siren song at me last time I read it….and yes, I’ve been there, done that with the “long-term” project. I knit your Josephs Blankie (full scale model) a while back – nine months of knitting involved in that effort (after hours, at night).
I am in total agreement about lightning blogging being a most excellent thing for the new year! Hooray! Also, “Piece of cake: should have this done by 2016 no problem,” made me laugh out loud.
It seems to me that “No project is too ambitious if you crave the result enough, and “Knitting is spozed to be fun,” kind of bump into each other and argue a lot. I guess that mix describes some of knitting’s power, though…
I’m in love with the color choice and amazed by the design. 2016 can’t come soon enough.
This is breathtaking! I love the swirl pattern and how the colors work together!
You need an Ott Light. I had to turn mine on last night when I was hemming pants for the 3 year old at work. Really makes it clear which thread matches the fabric. Works just as well when holding 2 yarns that appear the same color under the new cf4 spiral bulbs.
Buy one, you won’t regret it!
Your sweater is absolutely beautiful. Just imagine wearing it on some freezing cold day in only 3 more years!
holy moly!
That is so gorgeous. I’ve a Starmore girl’s dress that’s been in time out for three years, but I will finish it some day. She’s my hero, and now you are, too.
I love being privy to your friendship. When I read “futz around with” about the neckline on this gorgeous sweater, I had to check to see who was writing; I thought it was Ann, but it sounded like Kay, and sure enough, it was Ann, influenced by Kay. Modern Daily rules!
And I am in awe of your progress on this sweater!
I love being privy to your friendship. When I read “futz around with” about the neckline on this gorgeous sweater, I had to check to see who was writing; I thought it was Ann, but it sounded like Kay, and sure enough, it was Ann, influenced by Kay. Modern Daily rules!
And I am in awe of your progress on this sweater!
Your sweater was the first thing I saw when I opened rav today…wow!
“Dazzling” is the perfect word for it. I think this goes for all of AS’ Fair Isle designs. Or “stunning”. You will have so much fun wearing this sweater!
OMG! I don’t think I have enough years to complete a sweater like this.
WOW! I wish I could do that!
Knit on, indeed!
LoveDiane
Just finished altering a vintage starmore — I don’t really have time to deal with the craving now, but OH, working with that yarn made me want to knit something gorgeous with shetland yarn.
Thanks for letting me enjoy vicariously.
WOW! I wish I could that!
Knit on, indeed!
LoveDiane
WOW! I wishI could do that!
Knit on, indeed!
LoveDiane
(they say that 3 is thecharm…)
It is beautiful. Is it a trick of the light there seems to be a stripe across the sleeve midway between cuff and shoulder?
Ahh, craving is good, craving is beautiful, and pain is good, when the pain leads to beauty of this magnitude.
I will lean back in my chair, dig out my own mindless knitting (k2,p2, you can’t beat it) and enjoy knitting vicariously through you! 🙂
wow. That is the definition of an epic sweater. It’s the Himalayan ascent of knitting. Go!
That. Is. Stunning. Bravo!
Spectacular sweater, in a lovely, quiet, jaw-dropping if you are paying attention, not screaming way. Congrats!
Impressive! Keep it up! I found an intarsia project I’m trying to work up to that is also knotwork. You’re inspiring me to keep at it.
Just beautiful. Congratulations.
Mighty Donegal! That design is just gorgeous. Now I may have to order the kit from Virtual Yarns, ’cause I find Starmore’s Hebridean yarn more compelling than any other twoply.
I realize that Donegal sweater is a monumental project, but with the Iove I feel for that pattern, it’s hard to see how a person could have put it away for all those years!
So lovely & beautiful. I’m sure you’ll wear it proudly.