Projects
Waffle’s End
Thanks to the kind support of all my kind supporters, I got past the hazardous shoals of the second sleeve of my Waffle Pullover. I’m proud to say that it is now a finished object, and I’ve brought it with me to Sewanee for the MDK Knitting Getaway at Shakerag Workshops so that I can soak up all praise and encouragement. (I’m prepared to defend that ever-so-slightly wonky raglan—come at me, Shakeraggers!)
When it first came off the needles, I tried it on. It was a little small, as expected. If it had fit the way I wanted it to before blocking, then it would have been a bit too roomy after blocking. I knew this, yet I was still anxious to get it blocked to make sure I got the fit right.
Here she is pre-blocking. Wearable but not my favorite fit. Sorry about the mop. Spring cleanup!
Post-blocking: just that little bit extra ease, length, and drape.
And yes I made the sleeves that length on purpose, landing an inch or so above the wristbone. Why push up your sleeves when you can just knit them the length you like in the first place?
While I had the Soak out, I channeled my inner Kate Atherley and did a big spring wash of the half dozen sweaters that I wore in rotation throughout the cold autumn/winter season. What a virtuous feeling! And to think that in the fall, I can just pull them off the shelf and start wearing them, without the need to freshen them up first. I’m very much looking forward to being smug in September.
Kate’s trick about using the “drain and spin” cycle on my top-loader to get the excess water out of the sweaters before air-drying—worked like a charm. As much as I love the roll-it-in-a-towel-and-stomp-on-it method of water extraction, six sweaters would have taken too many towels and too much time.
I love the texture and silhouette of my Waffle Pullover so much that I’m ready to cast on another one straight away. For my second one, I may add a few inches in length—and perhaps split the hem?—just to make it a fraternal and not identical twin.
The challenge: picking another combination of Jane colors that I like as well as Shadow and Persimmon. I love that I now have an orange sweater that doesn’t scream “orange sweater”—it whispers. I’m taking suggestions for another great combo.
Thrills! Spills! Triumph! The saga of the Waffle Pullover:
Yay, you finished it! I also prefer my sleeves a bit shorter. Possibly a good reason to finally knit myself a sweater.
Congratulations! Beautiful accomplishment!
Bravo! The sweater looks fabulous on you.
As for colors I chose cameo and juniper, but peony and scarlet were definitely in the running.
Stand tall during the fashion show.
It looks FABULOUS!!
That may be my all time favorite sweater. The texture! The colors! You nailed it!
Just beautiful love the colors
Oh it looks good even before a wash and block
By the way those canvas bags given at nashfest this year have been great, perfect as they don’t dump out things just carried. Mine around London and France.
She is gorgeous! I am about 1/2 way through my first sleeve and love it so much – I just can’t wait to finish and then get the A/C cranked up so I can wear it for 10 minutes before packing it away for a fall cruise into Canada. I did not Jane (maybe the next one) as I wanted Navy with a variegated skein of lighter blues. Enjoys yours – again – gorgeous!
It looks great! I’m thinking of making one for one of my boys. It’s a unisex pattern, right?
GORGEOUS!! You’ve giving me courage to re-take my Waffle sweater where I left it when the raglans made me so nervous!
First of all , Kay, you are a Great! Model! Your liveliness jumps off the page. Second, beautiful job! If I saw you in person with this sweater on, would I even notice what you are talking about? I don’t know. Photographs tend to magnify things. (And I don’t have a horse to gallop by you with.) I love the shorter sleeves. A different color, longer body sounds like a worthwhile alternative. And I do love a split hem! With this stitch pattern it is hard for me to predict what the overall effect would be so I don’t have any suggestions, I’m afraid. …. I find that doing a chore way before it is actually needed-like sweater washing-feels way less burdensome. Plus I like feeling smug! (P.S. Love the footwear.)
Gorgeous!
I love me a split hem, doooo it
How do you make a split hem? I’ve always wanted to try, but have been too chicken.
Oh, congratulations! We all knew you had it! Nice work…and great inspiration. Now if I could just find the letloppi in my stash to finish the second sleeve of my own sweater! Congratulations on a great sweater and thank you so much for the great inspiration.
Beautiful sweater! Congratulations on making it that last mile!
BIG heart to you on the victory of FOP!
Love it! The look & fit are just perfect! I’m hoping to make mine in Shadow & Heather by Rhinebeck.
Love the sweater but what I like best is showing the difference blocking can make.
It’s pretty subtle with this one but truly makes a difference.
Congrats, Kay! What a feeling of accomplishment you must have. It looks great on you and love the colors. Am just about to start mine as soon as I can find a needle for the neckline, it’s somewhere.
Always loved your color combo for this sweater. Congrats on your FO!
I love everything about this sweater and Kay, you look phenomenal.
It looks great! I’m with you on the sleeves. I can’t stand anything that drags I once made a beautiful cabled cardigan with bell sleeves from Vogue Knitting. I mistakenly followed the directions. The sleeves drag, even though I have long arms. I never wear her.
I made two sweaters recently with fashionably long sleeves and I do love the look but they also get in my way!
Oh wow! Love the colors and texture of this sweater and it looks fabulous on you.
I love the color you made. I think that gray is just the ticket to combine with any color. This sweater is definitely in my to knit list.
Next sweater color combo suggestions:
For subtle go with Bluebell and Cameo
For a little more pizzazz, Yorkshire and Aubergine
I love how this one turned out! It’s in my queue 🙂
Yea Kay! I’m still plugging along. Too much craziness going on. You look adorable in your new sweater.
bluebird and aubergine
Well done you, Kay! The end result is lovely and won’t you feel “virtuous” being able to pull it out of that IKEA bag and wear it straightaway rather than having to finish the second sleeve. I do love the subtlety of the “orangeness”. Can’t wait to see your next combo. Enjoy the shower of praise at the Sewanee fashion show!
Scarlet and marigold would be a fun combination for high contrast, or peony and bluebell for lower contrast.
The pre-blocking fit is more flattering and slimming.
For the second Waffle, you could try Aubergine and Marigold if you want to go really wild. Too wild? Then try Yorkshire and Heather for something much subtler.
Thanks for posting the final product. It gives me inspiration to try one of my own. It looks great on you!
I love it! Gosh the knit is beautiful but I thought it wash just another long sleeve t. Boy on you it is awesome. I like the the length of it all including the sleeves! I want one! Congrats. It’s beautiful!
Congratulations, Kay! The sweater looks fabulous on you!
For a wild combination, how about Persimmon and Aubergine? 😉
Actually love that!
Oooh!!! Aaaahhhh! Love it, what a perfect fit. And a ‘bracelet length’ sleeve is my personal fav!
I need to trust enough to knit to the blocked size (said the girl with a sweater or two that is a little bigger than she’d like)
What a beautiful sweater. I have not ventured into making a sweater yet, shame on me. But I believe it is time.
Looks beautiful! And congrats on doing a big spring wash! Very nice.
Hear me out – a cotton/wool blend for a lighter summer sweater in butter yellow and tangerine.
Congrats on finishing…the sweater looks great on you!
Great sweater. If you make another, Aubergine and Marigold would be amazing.
Looks wonderful! Love the colors.
Well done, you! Like you I always make my sleeves shorter than normal in order to avoid the dreadful bunching up of sweaters just to get chores done. I do the same for length. When I sit I don’t want to sit on my sweater so I choose a cropped look.
Congratulations Kay! There was no question you would finish once you reached out for all us knitting spirits to encourage you. Thousands of knitters silently yelling “you go girl!” is a very powerful force. It looks wonderful on you!
Fabulous! Awesome! Eternally proud of you and your accomplishments! You are a shining beacon for FO’s! Are we blushing yet?!? I am serious though; and little envious that I can’t seem to find the time to knit more. Something to aspire to….
Yay! It looks sensational! The colors are lovely.
This is a beautiful sweater. Thanks for sharing the journey.
It looks great! I think a second one would be beautiful with Aubergine and Peony, or Aubergine and Cameo!
I love this sweater but I’m having a hard with shaping the back. I’m an experienced knitter. Somehow I ended up with too many stitches when I finished that section and I ended up with one section of a solid color. I’ve frogged the stitches that shape the back neck and I’m going to try one more time and hopefully I’ll get it right this time!
Brava Kay, its just lovely!
i am jelly jelly jelly that yours is done and looks so fabulous on you post-block.
I need to put my waffle back on my plate.