I am not getting cocky though

I’m sitting in a hotel in Northampton, so close to WEBS that it hurts (I’ll be there in just a few hours) and I am seaming  a sweater. 

I have long imagined that Afterlight would be my Rhinebeck Sweater.  I’ll be seeing Amy, and she was a big part of knitting this one. Well, I take that back. She didn’t knit any parts of it – but she still helped a lot.  Afterlight is exactly the sort of sweater that I love.  Seemingly plain and understated, but with a lot of classy details that make it exquisite. Tubular cast-ons, beautifully designed decreases, and because it is Amy Herzog, absolutely fabulous shaping.  I even splurged for some fabulous yarn. ( Ultra MCN from Indigodragonfly, in "Where’s the Regenerate Switch on This Convertible")

This sweater represents the first sincere effort I have made to knit a sweater that fits me the way that other people think clothes should fit me.  Personally, I have a real tendency to knit (and wear) things that are sort of oversized. I don’t like clingy clothes or tight clothes, and it means that sometimes (most of the time) my clothes aren’t as flattering as they could be. So, enter Amy.  She’s got this thing about knits that fit , and she knows how things should go, and so I’m trusting her. When I knit this, I totally put myself in her hands, and she told me what to do, and I did it without adding or changing anything.

I’ve been so anxious about it that I haven’t really tried it on.  I got gauge. Amy is smarter than me. I’m trusting her.  Simple sweaters need really beautiful finishing though, so I’m moving slowly, making my seams so pretty, and there’s only the neckband to go.

I’m almost afraid to say it, but I might not have to rush a Rhinebeck sweater – for once.

83 thoughts on “I am not getting cocky though

  1. Now see?….you just have to go do that, don’t you? Like I don’t have five projects half done on the needles already? And that’s just counting the yarn stuff….I’m not even mentioning the fabric stuff in mid-assembly.
    You write that and provide links and you KNOW I’m going to click on them and start getting ideas like I have time for one more stinking project before Christmas…

  2. Lovely sweater; I will have to spend some more time with Amy’s book. I too tend toward the voluminous when it comes to clothes, and it would do me good to have something classy and flattering.
    Glad your in my neighborhood! We’re lucky around here to be able to call WEBS our LYS. Have a great time! (And check out the vegan “No-Moo” ice cream at Herrell’s after you have dinner; it’s fabtabulous.)

  3. Only you would say no need to rush with the neckband not yet done and Rhinebeck two days away! How will you block it properly? Needless to say, everyone will be on the lookout for someone in bright green and a flawlessly shaped and fitted sweater. My own Rhinebeck sweater’s done and I can’t wait for a fab weekend at the Beekman Arms.

  4. Fingers crossed for your first fitting! I have every confidence that your sweater will be a fantastic fit. In the event that it doesn’t work out… Let’s not even go there. 😀

  5. Lovely colour and I’m knitting my first cardi for my dear little sister to Amy’s instructions, who has similar fitting preferences but desires a “grown-up” wardrobe a staple now that she’s at university. I’m knitting carefully but quickly, as I want to wrap her in my love (and curses, heh) as she tackles this next challenge.
    As always you’re my inspiration and have a glorious time at WEBS!

  6. Well…do you have enough yarn? Are all the sides equal lengths? No cables in the wrong direction? Is there an oven in the near vicinity? This could be a first!

  7. I can’t wait to see the difference in how it fits. Once in a while, when I let a neutral third party pick out something for me and it actually fits (and feels like it is too tight) the difference is remarkable. Suddenly, I look 20 lbs smaller, I have a good figure, and I’m astounded at how comfortable it is to wear all day. I don’t know why I don’t try that for everything.
    Gorgeous color too!

  8. Wow the blanket eclipsed so much of your life, I hardly even had the idea you might have some other projects to do and even on the needles. :D:D It looks beautimus and, of course, we want pictures. Enjoy the lack of drama on this project. :D:D

  9. Amy’s Lilium is the first sweater I’ve knitted that fit me properly. Like you, I simply trusted her (even though I was certain throughout the entire knitting process that it would be far too small) and it is perfect. I love it very much and wear it often. I’m wearing it right now, as a matter of fact. I fully expect you will love your Afterlight! Your color choice is gorgeous.

  10. I was wondering what happened to this sweater. Can’t wait to see it on you. It’s in my queue with another of her designs and I’ve been eager to have your comments about it.

  11. I was wondering what happened to this sweater. Can’t wait to see it on you. It’s in my queue with another of her designs and I’ve been eager to have your comments about it.

  12. I’ve never yet knit a sweater, despite nearly a decade of knitting. But I worry that it will end up being as you describe – voluminous and ill-fitting. Perhaps this pattern is the sweater for me, or at least Amy’s book. Since measuring is something of a challenge for me (the way languages, or math, or quantum physics might be for another), I may have to enlist help.

  13. I’m knitting Afterlight as part of an Amy Herzog KAL at my LYS. I look forward to seeing how yours turns out (mine isn’t in nearly as posh a yarn as yours).

  14. Beautiful color—I hope that you will have someone take a picture of you in it so we can see the great fit! Then again I will keep an eye out at Rhinebeck!

  15. I can’t make it to Rhinebeck this year, so I hope you post a picture of you wearing it.
    Also, a friend announced that her daughter was thinking about getting pregnant so I have decided to start knitting the baby blanket now. Don’t ever think that you aren’t a good influence on us.

  16. That green is soooooooo perfect, I love it. I wish I could be going to the Webs event! I live about 2 hours away, though, and I just can’t make it happen on a weekday. Hope it’s great!

  17. Maybe the hyperdrama of the baby blanket is equalizing out on the sweater.
    Or not.
    Remember, you once said that your projects require a certain amount of drama or they get boring.
    (Guess I’ll go grab some popcorn…)

  18. Yikes! That’s a load to put on Amy. I hope you took all the correct measurements and followed the intent of the instructions, Amy doesn’t need any bad stuff coming her way with ‘the Yarn Harlot knitting and wearing Amy’s design’.
    I had to smile – my librarian sister had Amy’s book float through her hands and knew I would be interested, put in a request for me for it. I have had a peruse this last week and really enjoyed it.

  19. Awesome! I can hardly wait to see it! I did a sweater in two weeks…as fast as I could… pull over in circs with some Icelandic colorwork! It fits! I love it! I’ll get pictures! Rheinbeck…aaahhhhh I thought I would be there this year but not! Next year for sure!

  20. I just finished up an Aislinn last night, and can concur that Amy is an evil knitting genius. The end result is always simple, yet elegant and special at the same time.

  21. I was just thinking, as I am also finishing up a Rhinebeck sweater, should I wet block it? And then I remembered your over incident. No, I think instead I will give it a light spray with water and a not too hot iron.
    I hope you do the same or less!

  22. Yeah, I thought I was ahead too — and then the cat sat on it while it was blocking and snagged it. Grrr. Still, better than sewing it on the bus, as I was last year.

  23. Now that sweater colour is what I would call Stephanie Green. It’s a perfect colour for you and I can’t wait, being a member of the oversized clothing club, to see it on you!

  24. Ooh, that looks gorgeous! I have been wanting to knit Amy’s Aislinn pattern, but been a little afraid of the shaping. Can’t wait to see pics of your sweater on you!

  25. Hi, Stephanie,
    Actually, you have a lovely, little, curvy figure. I’m glad you are going to show it off. Great pattern, great yarn, great color, great workmanship; it should be lovely on you. You go!
    Julie

  26. Beautiful! I love that shade of green. I have a sweater that is almost finished and I have been practicing seaming. My seaming always looks terrible! Do you have any helpful resources to suggest?

  27. I adore Amy! I took her fit class at Fibre Space in Alexandria, VA, and it changed my knitting life forever. CustomFit is the best thing to happen to knitting.

  28. Love the color and the pattern. In awe that you knit this on size 2 needles, and the blanket, and the socks, and the mitts, and and and…you are human knitting machine!

  29. That green is so you, I would think the yarn company had you in mind when they developed it.
    And your knitting (at least what we can see) is so even that the sweater looks like a machine-knit from a very high-end label. My stuff doesn’t look like that until after I’ve either blocked and re-blocked and re-re-blocked it, or run it through a tumble dryer.
    Can’t wait to see pics showing how svelte you look in this! I think even the sheep at Rhinebeck will be jealous!
    (PS to Joe: Reinforce the idea of well-fitted clothes by paying your lady some compliments when you see her in this!)

  30. That shade of green is my most favorite color ever. I’ve been toying with the idea of an Afterlight for some time, but the idea of knitting a sweater out of sock yarn on size 2 needles is a little daunting. I love yours, though!!!

  31. OMG, I usually am able to stay away from pretty yarny things that you make, but this sweater has sucked me in. I’m powerless.. I’ll be getting the pattern and the yarn and casting on within the month, I’m sure. and I usually don’t like making sweaters.. OMG. B E A U tiful!
    have fun at webs.. like you have a choice!

  32. OMG, I usually am able to stay away from pretty yarny things that you make, but this sweater has sucked me in. I’m powerless.. I’ll be getting the pattern and the yarn and casting on within the month, I’m sure. and I usually don’t like making sweaters.. OMG. B E A U tiful!
    have fun at webs.. like you have a choice!

  33. I’m mking Afterlight also, in a gorgeous blue. Can’t wait to see how it fits since i rarely love the sweaters I knit for myself!

  34. I just went to her retreat in Maine a few weeks ago. The woman is a GENIUS! All I want to knit now are sweaters, and not just sweaters but sweaters that fit 🙂 I’m looking forward to your finished sweater. Maybe you can even be her Fashion Friday success model!

  35. @Debra 9:55; Steph is wearing the claddagh correctly. Heart is point in (toward her).I have them on my wedding band and an individual one my husband gave me years ago.
    She’s been wearing one for years as well. Just go back throught the archive.

  36. So that really was you who was also wearing an Afterlight at Rhinebeck and I awkwardly said “nice sweater” to as I passed wearing mine. I was running to meet my group to drive back to Brooklyn, but was so excited to spot the sweater.

  37. I saw you and the sweater looked great on you. I happened to be sitting with my Mom and sister and said, “Oh, look, it’s the Yarn Harlot.” After a strange discussion about yarn celebrities, my mother started referring to you (and with a lot of love, not a lot of snark) as the Knitting Whore. She was telling random people as we waited in line that we saw the Knitting Whore. I wonder who or what people thought that she saw?

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