In the comments yesterday, Dawn asked this question:
You’ve made several sweaters in the last couple of years, which ones do you find yourself reaching for the most? Which are your favorites?
In the last few years I’ve knit a several sweaters, maybe 7 or 8, but only a handful of them have stayed with me. A few were gifts, a few went off to be worn by others when they suited them better (coughRachelHcough) and a few have become good friends that I’ve worn to death. I love the Must Have Cardi and it’s turned out to be one that I wear not quite everyday, but a few times a week. (I’ve learned that if I love them when I finish, that the glow usually lingers for a while.) I wear my Guld Bohus, I wear a bunch of them, but absolutely unequivocally, my all time ultimate favorite sweater is my Top Down Wrap Cardi from Knitting Pure and Simple. I went looking through the blog to try and find it, and it turns out that for reasons that I can’t explain, I only ever took one picture of it, and it was this one: 
I took it in the Seattle airport in June of 2007, which is pretty craptastic for a sweater that I love as much as it turns out that I do. This sweater has been my best buddy for two and a half years. I knit it out of Dream in Color Classy in Strange Harvest, and in the intervening time, not only have I jammed it in suitcases, sat on it in on planes, used it as a pillow on trains, wrapped a cold baby in it (twice, and two different babies) I’ve also washed it by hand at least 20 times, and in the washing machine at least 10 times (gently) on purpose and had it land in the dryer 3 times (not at all on purpose) courtesy of my husband who generally displays good sense and intelligence, but seems to have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to laundry. 
I’ve spilled coffee on it. I’ve slept in it. I’ve yanked it around myself against a chill and worn it for days on end with the sleeves rolled up so that I can wash dishes or type. I hang it over the back of chairs, I leave it in a crumpled heap.
In short, I love it, and it has served me well. This is my go-to, grab and run sweater. If I’m leaving the house and need another layer, I put it on when I get up in the morning when the house is still cold. 
It was the sweater that was handy when I went out the door to the hospital in an emergency, I’ve dried innumerable tears on the sleeve, and it is the sweater that I put over a tee shirt and jeans if I want to "dress up an outfit". (I know. My sense of fashion is devastating.. isn’t it?) 
I believe this sweater fits me fantastically (not that it really has a fit, but you know what I mean) and it’s all the best things about a sweater. It’s cozy, it’s pretty, it’s durable, it matches everything in my wardrobe (though maybe not yours, I do specialize in wearing clothing all the colours of 70’s appliances.) and when I wear it, no matter where or when I wear it, I feel taller and rather thin. 
I think that probably hundreds of you have seen me wear it in person. I wear it that much. 
I’ve used it as an emergency rag when a cup of spilled juice was headed for my laptop, I’ve waved it for emphasis during some rant or other directed at a teenager. I’ve even used it as a potholder once, carrying a hot casserole to the table. (That was a snap decision, and probably disrespectful to the sweater.) As a matter of fact, the only thing I’ve never done with this sweater is tie it shut (not even once) and it still looks… for a sweater that’s been well used and loved for two and a half years.. like a million bucks, I think.
There you have it. The sweater that is my favourite. The sweater I’m wearing now. The sweater that all of a sudden, I’m thinking about knitting again, maybe tomorrow. (Maybe in another colour.)
Thanks for asking Dawn.
Thanks, Stephanie. Now I have an *excellent* excuse for purchasing a sweater’s worth of DIC Classy!
It is truly beautiful.
You know, that sweater does look very nice on you. If I were you, It’d be my favorite too. So, the big question. . . . which appliance color would you use as inspiration this time?
That’s the sweater you wore in Alaska! Has it really been two years. Really you should come back.
I can tell you have been running in the pictures from the last post. Even if it was a while ago. You’ve inspired me to try to get back out jogging.
Oh, thank you again for Pretty Thing!
Those appliance colors suit you, since you obviously have warm coloring. Me, I have to go cool. Thanks for the pattern tip since I’m also short at 5’0″ and have an idea this sweater might be good for me, too. It sure looks great on you, Stephanie!
You inspired me to knit this sweater too. Love mine but maybe not quite as well as you love yours. Thanks Steph!
Wow! I think I want to knit that myself!
This is my favorite post you have made in a long time. It is so nice to hear about your favorite sweater and how much it means to you. That’s the mark of a really good knit, when it sticks around through anything. I just added this pattern to my to do list and I can’t wait to cast on this weekend.
Great sweater. One question though? What happens with the ties when it isn’t tied. Do you have to cinch them up or something? Would you like the sweater as much with buttons?
I think I have that sweater queued somewhere. Though, it looks to me like it’s tied in that Seattle airport picture. (Seattle rocks, thanks for visiting!) I think it’s amazing that the yarn looks so fantastic even after all you’ve put the sweater through. It must love you as much as you love it.
Is the front band knit together or picked up later? I always have trouble with my cardi fronts still flipping/rolling in even after I do a band. Yours looks great!
I love Knitting Pure and Simple’s patterns! This one is great, I haven’t made it but now I’m planning to!
Yes, Dawn, thanks for asking. And, Stephanie, thanks for answering. This is just the sort of story that you tell so well — a love letter to a sweater. We should all be lucky enough to find “the one”!
Everything about this sweater tells me I would love it as you do. It may be my first top-down project. Thanks! (Actually, that’s a great color…almost a neutral when you figure it works with everything basic…black, brown, navy, olive, etc…)
I knit that one too – it’s awesome, but I always do it up! Now (thanks very much) I’m thinking of knitting another without the tie on it. It would be a great one to just hang elegantly open….
Come to think of it, that was the first sweater I ever knit for myself, and I happened to have it on when I met you in 2008.
Thanks for the memories!
Wow! I’m thinking that Joe must be jealous of this intense bond you have with the sweater! Perhaps that’s why he “accidentally” popped it into the dryer a few times???
Both those sweaters are such a good look on you – they hit at the right spot at the hips, they have an element of being fitted but are also a bit roomy, the colors are classic (in a good way), and both are interesting – either in construction or in pattern stitch.
I gave a DIC Classy knit to a friend (pattern – Colonnade). I’m glad to hear it holds up so well.
Thank you Dawn and Stephanie! I had forgotten that sweater and after 3 cable sweaters in a row – and not one of them for me – it’s time for some endless stockingette. Thanks.
Oh, that was a nice post. Yes, that does seem to be a well-loved sweater, and while the color wouldn’t compliment everyone, I think it fits just fine with your skin and hair!
Definitely motivation to get going on my own garment ideas. Like the Bombshell from Big Girl Knits, I think that could be a fave, if “the girls” don’t pop out of it…
You’ve just convinced me to knit a cardigan that’s been in the queue for a couple years; not that one, but hopefully just as well used and loved!
Now that you’ve shown us more pictures of it, and have proclaimed its many virtues, it’s easy to see that you need at least two more of them.
One in a mix of olive and avocado shades, and one in a mix of burnt orange and rust.
Very ’70s. Yet, with just the right shades, very classic.
a lovely sweater in a lovely color!
Thanks for that post. I just love all the things that sweater has done with you. Now, of course, I’m lusting after more yarn. Like I needed an excuse to buy more Dream in Color!
And there is why we knit. to get just what we want.
And as for your color selection:
I discovered when trying to redecorate that the reason I was still happy living in a house built in the mid 70s is that I also LOVE the colors from then! Go 70s Applicances!!
Love the sweater. I checked out a bunch on Ravelry. I’ve noticed that some fit better than others and it seems to be a shoulder issue. This might sound stupid, but I can’t tell if they are too small or too big. Yours seems to fit you very well. Would you disclose what size you made?
Now I remember when you posted after you finished that sweater and I seem to recall a different picture of it. It inspired me to knit the same sweater but in some cascade 220 I had on hand. Love the sweater! I wear it a couple times a week. Mine is green and I live in it. So comfy. I knit the smallest size.
Based upon your olympic achievement, you could probably knit up the top down wrap cardi overnight!!
I’ve been wanting a wrap sweater for SO LONG and I had never found the right one (I knit all but the ties on one once, but I seamed it and it fit so terribly that I never finished). I just spent 20 minutes searching the internet for this pattern (it was sold out at the site you linked) and I finally found it at Elann. The shipping charge was more than the pattern itself, but I think it will be worth it. I’ve already got a sweater’s worth of Dream In Color Classy in my stash. Thanks for the inspiration! I hope I love my sweater as much as you clearly love yours!
Wait–isn’t it tied in the Seattle airport picture? Nice Ode to a Sweater.
That color does not remind me of 70’s appliances, but instead reminds me of the browns that I am seeing down here: We had a few cold fronts and the leaves are hurrying through autumn. 😉
I also add that it is a good sweater that goes through all that and still looks freakin’ stylish.
I HAVE seen you in that sweater……in SEATTLE (not at the airport, though), and I think I even have a picture of you in it (I’ll look).
And now I have to go buy that pattern and make it for myself. Wrap dresses look great on everyone. I bet wrap sweaters do, too!
As usual, you’ve inspired me to start a new project without having finished any of the rest. But I must say, if anyone can pull off shades of ’70’s appliances it’s you. Oh, and those babies wrapped in that cardi are so lucky.
I recognized that yarn right away! I just made a ripple afghan for my mom in “Craftsman Friendly” colors and Strange Harvest was just the rich gold it needed. I’m glad to hear that the yarn stands up to abuse — that bodes well for the afghan (or at least the Dream in Color Classy stripes). Your sweater looks awesome and not at all Harvest Gold.
Steph, thanks for upping your number of blog posts to keep your advertisers happy. I for one, am sure to buy yarn of some sort, needles of some sort and knit something of some sort in the very near future… yes! Savvy advertising works! (tongue very firmly planted in cheek, of course) Those are great and I mean great sweaters.. but would you somehow, perhaps have a suggestion for someone ..ahem.. a bit larger? around the middle? I have yet to knit myself a sweater knowing the difficulties I have with finding something off the rack that I like.. and the thought of knitting something that will end up being buried in the closet and never worn has kept me from even thinking about sweaters for me.
It’s funny how the simplest things can turn out to be the most wonderful. My favorite project this year was my simplest…The Show Your Colors Shawl. Nothing fancy. At all. But I have just worn that thing half to death. It was my pillow on a flight to Paris, a big thick scarf in the dead of winter, a convenient fashion disguise when I spilled something all over my pants… you name it. I love that thing. Simple, basic, but perfect.
Stephanie, thanks so much for posting about your sweater from my pattern! I always hope that my patterns are enjoyed both in knitting and wearing. You made my day!
Diane
What a cool ode to a woollen garment! I had a jumper my mum knitted me when I first started university and I wore it constantly through 3 winters as a totally impoverished student. I would love to make another one (mum has gone to the great knitting circle in the sky) but unfortunately, as with her cooking, my mother never used a pattern and just made up the jumpers as she went along. I was very tempted to have my father buried in a sports jumper my mum had made for him soon after they were married, but I couldn’t do it.
Fabulous sweater! I should check out that pattern, once I get to a point where I can take on new projects. Totally keeping this one filed in the back of my head for now.
I’ve seen you in that sweater and clearly you’re its favorite in return–it does right by you. Gorgeous.
It’s lovely! I own that pattern and frequently think of knitting it (although I haven’t yet). Now I’m even more inspired!
Now I know why people are suddenly queuing it on Ravelry!
Awesome post about an apparently awesome sweater. It looks beautiful on you. I want to knit it in Spring Tickle colorway. I just love Dream in Color names.
Wait, isn’t it tied in the top photo?
……Aaaand everyone queues it!
Well thanks – I’ve just read your whole post, looked longingly at the pictures and decided that it didn’t look too challenging – only to find that i can’t get the pattern 🙁
but on the upside, it is a beautiful cardy and it does look lovely on you.
cheers
l
x
I love it when a piece of clothing becomes a valued friend … how wonderful that it should be something you have knitted yourself. It will happen to me too one day … I have faith … there is love and the perfect sweater for me out there.
x
Not only do you take a great glamour picture in an airport, you are the only person I’ve seen do it in the bathroom. I get it – that’s where the mirrors are – but it’s still cool.
I’m knitting my very first sweater right now, I’ve done about 6 inches of the back so far. I really hope my sweater turns out to be a favourite like your cardie! It should be all the more special as it’s my first ever knitted garment.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Diane Soucy’s sweaters are the best! Congrat’s on finishing the Whistler as well. I am awestruck. I, Edmontonian, am stuck down here in the Florida wasteland and live vicariously through Canadain blogs.
I am looking forward to knitting my first real Norwegian sweater, destined to live in a drawer, the fate of most of my sweater knitting. Thank God for socks and shawls…oh, and gift knitting.
That sweater looks great, but I’m surprised to see that that’s your favorite. It has such a low neck, don’t your neck and the top of your chest get cold? I’m finding I need scarves and layers more every year. I don’t wear my v-neck sweaters much anymore. From what you’ve said in the past, I assumed you don’t keep your house all that warm. Are your v-necks enough. Do you have some secret (as either a Canadian or a knitter) to staying warm without 3 layers, a turtleneck, or a scarf? Is it the coffee? The beer? (I’m 34 and live in MA.)
What a great post! I love Knitting Pure and Simple patterns. I had a really hard time with sock heels until I tried her Light Weight sock pattern. I got it now LOL! Every time a friend asks me what my favorite sock pattern is for beginners I always say that one. I’ve bought at least 5 copies of that pattern to give away. As for the Top Down Wrap Cardi, I have that pattern, and it’s in the long line of patterns that I really want to knit. (I’ve recently realized that if I tried to knit every pattern that I want to knit out of every book and pattern that I have, I’ll have to live to be 150 to finish them!) I also have several skeins of Dream in Color in my stash. I love their color sense. It’s so yummy!!! Thanks for reminding me again about that pattern. I think I’ll have to move it up in the line.
Lovely! I really enjoy hearing about the good ones, like this. Thanks for sharing!
Great Sweater Stephanie, my Olympic sweater was in DIC Classy and I am glad to hear that it wears so well..Its all ready to wear and then I was afraid to put it on in case I wrecked it..LOL How dumb is that?
Love the patterns on this site, will go back here often I think.
I’m knitting that very same sweater as we speak! Too funny, it was included in my sock kit by my swap partner. So far it’s fast and (relatively) simple and I have a feeling it’s destined for sweater greatness. As long as the yarn holds out, and since I can’t seem to find any more of my dye lot may be iffy. Anyway, congrats on finishing your olympic sweater, it’s amazing.
My sister took a picture of you and me at Rhinebeck ’08 and you are wearing THAT sweater!(Yes,small things amuse the heck out of me.)So I had photographic evidence of its existence.I like that style of sweater,too-I may have to get the book and add something else to my line-up…
What a beautiful and moving testimony to a well-loved garment. I love to hear what happens to knitted items once they have been loved a bit, once the ‘looky, looky, LOOK!’ shine has worn off. And a very good recommendation for the yarn.
Thank you so much Stephanie for sharing your cardi patterns ~ now I must knit one!
That’s a lot of sweater love. I’m not surprised to read DIC Classy has held up so well. I knit my first pair of toe-up socks in Smooshy and the yarn still looked new after innumerable start overs.
Lol, I hope you know that there are probably a million knitters on Ravelry right now eying up that sweater pattern and considering knitting it. And I will admit that I can’t help it, I’m heading over there to check it out too! 🙂 Such is your power of suggestion… I love the color of the sweater too. I’m also a huge fan of seventies appliance colors, especially the orange, red, gold ones.
Thanks! Great blog and, yes, I immediately went to Ravelry and checked it out. I have found that the Pure and Simple patterns are all that they are supposed to be: pure and simple and turn out to be my favorites as well.
It’s wonderful to have a go-to sweater! I have one too, although I bought it in my pre-knitter days. It’s about to fall apart, so it’ll need a suitable replacement. Being a little on the short side myself (you’re taller than I am), I love any stitch of clothing that makes me feel taller. I’m definitely going to check out that pattern.
P.S. Loved the comment about the appliance colors.
I love the Strange Harvest colorway! Excellent choice! That’s a very shiney sweater. Love it.
I love this sweater. It’s lovely and looks great on you. No wonder it’s your favorite!
I’ve had that sweater in my head since I started knitting a little over 4 years ago, and it’s been in my Rav queue pretty much since Rav started. That’s it, you’ve convinced me what to do with my share of the fun money from our tax return!
I have that pattern. I love that pattern. I have never knit that pattern. Now I feel I must knit it. I probably shouldn’t because as of this moment, 7,344,886 other knitters are about to knit that pattern.
But when you find a go-to sweater, that kind of thing doesn’t matter…
It does look like it’s held up well after all that. Must be a good yarn.
I enjoyed this post so much, thankyou! I have a couple of sweaters I wear over and over too.
Ummm….Stephanie? Correct me if I’m wrong—istn’t the sweater tied in the picture you took in the Seattle airport? Or does it only look tied?
Just wondering..
By the way, I think it’s a great sweater.
I should make such fabulous sweaters.
WendyBee
It’s a lovely sweater, but what you really did right there is make me want to go out and buy some DIC Classy. I’ve been tempted before, and am now even more so.
I hear you on the potholder thing. It is one of the many reasons I love wool. I am sure all of my sweaters have played that role at some point, too.
love that sweater! It’s the one you wore when speaking in Kansas City, I looked all over to see what pattern it was. The pattern and the yarn are now on my list.
And sudddenly, Knitting Pure and Simple is sold out of stores worldwide! 8o)
I knit that sweater in DIC in Butterpeeps. It’s a great sweater and a quick knit if I remember correctly. I love the color of yours.
So this got me wondering – what happened to the Peace Fleece sweater with the garter lace (or maybe it was vine lace) that you knit a long time ago? It looked like a sweater with lots of potential, and then we never saw a picture of it.
I’ve got sweaters that I love like that but I’ve been wanting a good cardi. Maybe this is it… But I guess it’s only partially in glory of the pattern but I would say to the very great glory of the yarn itself. Nice.
Your fashion sense and mine are almost identical. 🙂 Maybe we could start a trend? 🙂 Love the sweater. It fits like a hug.It has served you well! May it live a very long life with you.
So if you’ve never tied it shut, what’s holding it closed in the photo you took of it in the Airport?
How do you make me get choked up over a sweater? I mean, really? I’m off to wipe my eyes on my own handknit sweater.
Now I’m sure the pattern is sold out everywhere and I. Must. Have. It.
When my husband and I moved in together and merged our laundry, I set up a rule that anything that doesn’t go in the dryer gets washed in a mesh bag. That way neither one of us has to remember which things we need to set aside when we’re loading the dryer. 3 years without a laundry disaster yet.
I’m moved–emotionally, first, (there’s nothing like a faithful home-knitted sweater) and second, to get a pattern for the top down wrapped cardi. I’m off to do so RIGHT NOW!!!
yep. pattern is sold out…but i’ve added it to my queue! Thanks, Stephanie for a wonderful “ode to a sweater”. That’s how I feel about the quilts I make – none of them should be too precious to wipe tears, wrap babies and sleep on/under.
I love this pattern! I’ve got it in my queue while I currently work on my Neck Down Shaped Cardigan (another Diane Soucy pattern). I pretty much love all Diane Soucy and am glad to see her getting some blog love 🙂 Great, fun post!
That sweater has life to it….
Now I want that sweater and I don’t even like the colour (you are right, I don’t dress in 70’s appliance colours). My address is…
I actually just knit a sweater for the knitting olympics that I feel that way about. It is a rather simple cardigan. It is machine wash and dryable and just plain awesome in all ways. It is the V-Neck Cardigan from this book http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Modern-Classics/Louisa-Harding/e/9781564776440. I expect it will serve me as well as your favorite sweater has served you.
You know there is going to be a run on this pattern now…and looking at the comments now I think it already happened. Totally love the sweater. It’s gorgeous on you, 70s appliances must have some redeeming qualities after all!
you make me nostalgic for ugly cream sweater, didn’t go with anything, didn’t really fit, love love loved it.
It’s a lovely sweater.
I’m working on making that kind of sweater for myself. Haven’t hit it yet, but I sure am having fun trying.
You make me believe I can do anything in knitting if I set my mind to it.
Thanks Stephanie for brightening up my world.
I usually do not pay much attention to Olympics but you have inspired me to have a peak at them. Must say I liked the knit olympics much more than the other athletic adventure. I came across a lovely sweater pattern that may inspire. In Australian Home Journal May 2, 1949 is Be Ready for the Snow page 8. it can be seen at http://www.archive.org/details/australhomejour49homerich
I feel this way about the wrap cardigan on the cover of IK about four years ago (don’t know what it is called; maybe Ballet Wrap?) At one time I wore it so much that at the end of the winter my husband asked me if I was ever going to wear anything else.
It is a beautiful sweater, and I can see why you like it so much. I have a shawl that is like that – one of those Lion Brand Homespun prayer shawls that I made about five years ago. It’s huge, soft and warm. It’s a shawl, it’s a blanket, rolled up it’s a pillow…I just love it.
I started that same sweater a couple of years ago myself; picked up the yarn at the Frolic, from the Lettuce Knit booth…I’m thinkin’ that you might have too. I think this because I saw you there. 🙂 The difference?
You’re wearing yours and I walk by mine now and then and think that, yea, I started that a couple of years ago. I should get on that… then I keep walking.
So much knitting opportunity; so little time. Sigh.
I think I see that pattern in my future…. I have several of their patterns and I love them all. they truly are plain and simple!
Hey, I recognize that sweater! You wore that sweater on my honeymoon. (Which I’ve no doubt is how YOU remember that sweater, you just forgot to include that in the list.) It’s in my pictures from your talk in Victoria in 2007, which we attended on our honeymoon (why yes I do have an awesome husband.)
Speaking of said honeymoon, which also included a stop in Whistler and therefore means I MUST KNIT the stunning Whistler sweater you did for the Olympics (pause: holy crap and congratulations on making that happen)…do you not feel it is your responsibility as a popular blogger to only knit sweaters for which the patterns are still readily available? Shame! Shaaaaame!!! (I kid, of course, knit what you bloody well please. But the challenge of finding that pattern is killing me. I love a challenge. I laugh at thee, challenge!! Which I should not do, as mocking the challenge only angers the challenge and makes it more…challenging.)
Love the wrap sweater on you! Thanks for the post about it and thank you to the person who said she ordered the pattern from Elann. I just ordered it and no mention was made of it being out of stock. I’ve been looking for that pattern for several months – no luck at my LYShops – so this was truly a blessing.
I just finished knitting that same sweater and it’s drying on my table right now! Woohoo! Now I really can’t wait to wear it!
Nice work, Stephanie: just the sweater I (and the rest of the knitting world) will be making next!!
Beautiful sweaters! Your fashion sense is still ahead of mine. I don’t see the need to “dress up” jeans and a t-shirt.
Do you remember the yarn?! Your sweater appears to have minimal pilling. Is this coincidence?
Ah, you already told us the yarn. I was so enamored with the sweater that I just looked at photos and kinda ignored the text.
Lovely sweater!!
Dream in Colour Classy aaaah…… One of my favourite yarns. I have a small stash destined for a BSJ, in 3 toning blends, and I have knitted a toddler vest in it. It was so comfortable to knit with. I’m glad to hear it’s a durable forgiving yarn when worn. Thankyou for sharing a favoutite cardie!
What a great question – and what a wonderful sweater. Thanks for sharing!
Yay Dawn for asking such a great question, and yAy for the thoughtful answer. Off to complete the Knitting Pure and Simple sweater I have on the needles.
I think you’re right about a new one. That one and that yarn is holding up very well, style and “loved within an inch of it’s life” wise. But perhaps a nice BLUE…step out of your comfort color zone, Steph. 🙂
Wow, it looks amazing for being through all that. Is it normal for a wool handknit to wear that well? Or is it a particularly fabulous yarn?
Great post!!
That was such a sweet sweater story!
I’m impressed with how well the sweater has worn for all the love it’s recieved.
In most of the photos, the color looks less 70s appliance than “spice brown” which I must like–first finished knitting project, a long scarf, was that color (1970, when I was an infant of 16), and reprised in the 80s for a dress to wear at my sister’s wedding. The yarn itself–I’m impressed by its survival skills (dryer! EEK!)–and such loyalty! such versatility! It deserves its own name, and perhaps a special episode of “Upstairs Downstairs.” A Perfect Storm of a sweater:).
See, what I love about you is that you aren’t afraid of miles and miles of stockinette. Knitting for people who love to knit. That’s what I call it.
And–P.S.–though I didn’t comment at the time–I loved all the Olympics (knitting and otherwise) posts, particularly the “color commentary” on The Sweater. To keep a semblance of a sense of humor with a sweater still on the needles…am awed!
Though the NBC commentary seemed a hair less chauvinistic than usual, I still cringed many times at the focus on a few selected, charismatic (American) athletes. At least no one seemed to believe that the fate of the free world was hanging on who won the gold medal for this or that, unlike the days of US (West) vs THEM (East). And bravissimo to both Canadian hockey teams!
Lovely. It feels like such a win when I make something and love it enough to wear it repeatedly afterwards, and for that cardigans are always the best. It’s nice to just throw something on when I’m cold!
The Top Down Wrap Cardi pattern is also available at Jimmy Beans Wool at http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/
if you can’t find it elsewhere.
(I don’t work there; I just like them a lot. And they had them a while ago when I ordered mine!)
You know, before we allow Stephanie to rave about any pattern someone ought to make a Harlot-Early-Warning-System phone call to the publisher….
It happened years ago with the felted clogs and now this pattern is all sold out too!
Lovely sweater! and, if you had spent a fortune on it, you would never wear it. So, knit yourself in another favorite color, in the same yarn, and you’ll maybe have two, if you like the second one as much. And Whistler is lovely, too!
What an eloquent tribute to a sweater. Love this post. And I love the sweater, though mine would be aqua – the colour of the stove at my mother’s cottage :o)
That says a lot about not only the yarn but also the knitting. Nice work.
Says a lot of very good about the yarn.
I’m really happy to see how well it holds up. I knit a gorgeous baby blanket with it – should still be looking great! Hope they use it as much as you wear your sweater.
I’m a beginning knitter and I happened to discover Stephanie’s books….and then finally this blog, and I’ve gotta say…I think the Yarn Harlot is wonderful! Thanks for the awesome blog.
Hey YARD HARLOT!!!!! that was too funny on Twitter.
I too love your favorite sweater.
This sweater is really lovely on you no wonder you wear it so much. I have not knit even one sweater that fits me and I’m thinking if I tried a top down I would at last have one to wear. where oh where do I get this pattern?
Look out, yarn stores! There’s going to be a run on Knitting Pure and Simple patterns and Dream in Color yarn.
Hi Stephanie — thanks for inspiring me to NOT make this sweater in my go-to shade-GRAY-just because it ‘goes with everything’. You really rocked it in the Strange Harvest colorway. This sweater deserves real COLOR. I’ll have to check out good shades for me and think either ’70s avocado (with more depth) and/or rust orange would be great on you. It’ll be interesting to see what you pick!
Chloe
What a wonderful post: I love clothes that reach the state of affectionate abuse that your sweater has achieved, and it’s even better when it’s something you’ve made yourself!
OK, now I’m going to have to go to my LYS tomorrow and see if the pattern is available. The sweater looks altogether too comfortable!
I like that sweater. I even like the color! LOL!
I am now filled with even more determination to finish my Great Expectations sweater. I know I’ll be 10 feet tall and bulletproof in it.
Love your sweater, and love those Knitting Pure and Simple Patterns. They deserve a gold medal!!
I’m so glad Dawn asked you this question. As a blog reader,I enjoy the creation stories and pictures but when I’m choosing a sweater to make, I want to know how it will wear day-to-day. This could be the cozy, go-to sweater I’ve been wishing for this winter.
This was an extremely useful post. I have one or two sweaters I have made that I “kind of like”, but you make me want to try this one. Thanks for the inspiration!
That is a most awesome sweater…we should all be so lucky to have something that fits so many needs in our wardrobe…I have some close, but will keep knitting to find the perfect one…:)
You have me almost wanting to try a sweater again.
Thanks for the inspiration! I have that pattern- and a $50 gift certificate for the NeedleNook. I think I have my next project.
Aha! That’s why I saw that pattern being goggled at publicly during today’s Portland Yarn Crawl.
What an interesting question! I’m trying to decide which sweater would be my favourite. I like my Michelangelo sweater (David’s head from the book “Knitting Masterpieces”) mostly because it was a gorgeous wool that I got as a new knitter and didn’t realize how lucky I was, and it fits really well. I love how I will wear it for much of a day and people think it is a random colour pattern, until – suddenly – they and I are at just the right distance and their eyes finally focus and ” Hey! That’s a face.”. I love seeing who laughs when I say I’m not knitting the matching socks. Just wish I have been better at colour work when I knit it. Needs a little ‘repairing’ every so often due to beginner skills.
What a lovely tribute to a sweater. 🙂
That one has been in my mental queue for years and years. I did sort of promise myself to not cast on any more sweaters until I lose some weight (read: a lot of weight) but I dunno… it’s sort of size adjustable….
Seeing that sweater on you has given me inspiration to learn to knit sweaters. The sweater looks awesome on you!!!
Ha, I now have a name for my color palette – growing up, the dishwasher was avocado, stove brown and yes, there were orange accents in the kitchen.
I have the pattern in the collection, might need to destash some of that avocado-ish yarn.
I think you have helped me decide what to knit for my second sweater.
It seems that no matter how we swoon over beautifully complex patterns, it’s the simple, well-designed ones that that become our well-loved everyday friends. I made the cousin to this pattern (the neck-down V-neck cardigan)as my first sweater a couple years ago, and wore it often until the “machine-washable” yarn decided to felt. Sad to see it go.
This is just too stinking funny, and I mean this comment in the nicest of ironic knitterly ways. I bought this pattern after your first post about it, way back when. My mom ended up knitting one for herself, but was never happy with the fit and edging. After fussing with it for an age, she just gave up and gifted it to me last week. Except it doesn’t fit me either — gapes at the bust, unflattering with the tie. Maybe too small? Poor yarn choice? We were just discussing what might be wrong with it. And here you go posting an ode to your beautiful well-loved sweater! Funny how things intersect like this. Guess I will have to take another look at that pattern.
I hate to tell you, and someone else probably already has…but in the last picture, it looks like a hole?
I love your color palette…the same as mine.
Did you find out if anyone knows the knitter on the news, the one that you took a picture of sitting by the women’s silver medal curling team?
The sweater is without doubt a ______ (can’t find quite the right superlative). I suspect that in five years time it will still be up there on your list.
But Alyson’s commment not withstanding, not everyone can wear surplice well. I couldn’t as a size 8, I can’t as a size large. (Hope, however, springs eternal and about every five years I would come across a dress pattern I really liked and try again, as though maybe my boobs had changed and finally the darn thing wouldn’t gap. I gave up about ten years when I finally decided the discrepancy between my double D’s wasn’t ever going to diminish.) This also is 85% stockinette, what I call idiot knitting, the kind where you don’t have to think. It’s become my favorite. I can read knitting blogs while I do it. [PLEASE SEE ADVISORY BELOW] I just wish that after I’ve knitted a large stretch it would turn into lace with a little incense and incantation!
ADVISORY: Do not try to knit seed stitch while reading the Yarn Harlot’s blog. The same applies to shaping
(e.g. necks),lace, cabling and any stranded color work. Disaster can only ensue. Followed by frogging!
Stephanie,
Have to say again, WOW to your Olympic sweater, and as always an inspiration. Also, was quite impressed with Natalie’s resourcefulness, loved the headlamp light! Do any of the other patrons at the bar say anything about the knitters, or do they assume you are armed and dangerous?
Thanks for the chuckle!
Rebecca
I’m glad to know you like your wrap cardi so well, since I am knitting one for myself right now (not the same pattern, but similar style). It certainly looks great on you! 🙂
I got the pattern, even though it says they are out of stock. I put the pattern in my shopping cart, paid with paypal, thinking they’d send me the pattern when they restocked. Imagine my surprise to find out that my pattern has already been shipped. The shipping equalled the price of the pattern, but… Cheers and red wine, Hazel.
Great sweater, and great question. And it confirms me in my decision to make something similar in pint-size for a baby shower.
This is completely unrelated to this particular post, but I just got back to reading your blog regularly and felt that I needed to make something abundantly clear; You rock. I don’t remember if I’ve already told you this but in case I have you will just have to live with hearing it again; Yours is the only blog that actually manages to make me lol. Laugh out loud. I mean really loud. As in, all out, snorting, chocking, unstoppable laughter. And, knowing how good laughter is for you I estimate that you alone have probably lengthened my life with approximately 6 1/2 hours. I shall spend them knitting.
This sweater pattern is on backorder! You gave it the Yarn Harlot bump!
Apropos of I don’t know what, but whatever happened to Joe’s gansey?
The stories you tell about this sweater remind me so of the song “This Shirt” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, in which she weaves a tale of a good portion of her life wearing “this shirt” and all her loves and travels and tears in it. It is a beautiful sweater and a beautiful song.
Nothing to do with the sweater, just Sunday’s comics.
Did everybody see Bizarro? Snort.
And if anybody wondered whether Lynn Johnston was a mother in real life, today’s strip shows the answer is clearly YES! Beautiful.
Thank you for telling us…Nobody else can talk such a poetic way about a sweater like you…Great sweater, BTW…wrap cardies are my favourites!
Has it only been 2 years? I bought the pattern and a million meters of Berroco Alpaca to make this sweater, saw that you were knitting the same thing, decided to wait to see if I liked how it looked on you, put it into the “hold status” and forgot about it for…apparently two years now. Just last week I looked at the Berroco and thought that it would make a nice hat and scarf for my son…glad that won’t happen. I’ll happily put it into the “soon to be knit” status.
Funny, I wanted to make this one when you posted about it a couple years ago. I loved the look on the link, but was worried about tying it and some “trouble areas” it might not exactly enhance, if you know what I mean. Then you posted a pic that didn’t really show much, so I forgot about it. I’m so glad you took these new pics, especially how it is after being well-loved for a while–it’s good to know.
Anyway, I remember how much I’d loved it. I was reassured by your new pics, and find it very interesting that you never wear it tied. Hmmm…hadn’t even thought about that option. Needless to say I have been thinking about it ever since this post. Then I started dreaming about it…about buying the yarn, about winding the yarn, about knitting on it, and even about showing people how it was coming along. Yeah, even though it doesn’t actually “exist” yet. Weird, huh? Well, I guess my mind is trying to tell me something. I REALLY want this sweater. Now if I can only remedy how much I don’t want to be a copycat…
Aside from this one and Guld, I wasn’t sure you had other sweaters.
Mine are Grey Mist, Anhinga, Vino and my super duper fav is Roam. I wear that one the most. I’m trying to figure out how to dress it up enough to wear it to work.
Now, THAT’S a sweater.
You didn’t give away Juno, did you? It looked so classy on you, and your pictures inspired me to put it in my own queue.
I think I know what that sweater’s worth of DIC Classy that’s been languishing as a partially finished February Lady Sweater is instead becoming!
Thanks for the info!
Great question.
Great answer.
Re: latest twitter about your near autofill email identity swap of “Meg” … that’s got to be good for a chapter in your next book.
Also – am trying to figure out what neutral I will do my Top Down Wrap Cardi in as 70’s appliance colors and my skin tone don’t mesh.
I love the photo of you the dock photograghing the other sweater…
I was waiting for the perfect project for my Classy “Cloud Jungle”(gorgeous)yarn and never would have chosen that wrap pattern – it just didn’t seem that alluring – until I read your blog – and the “taller and rather thin” comment! Thank you – I’m thoroughly enjoying knitting it.
Just curious…when you made your Top Down Wrap Cardi from DIC Classy, did you alternate skeins? After reading all the yarn love for Classy, I finally got some for myself but am uncertain if it can be used one skein at a time or if it’s best to alternate skeins. From what I’ve gathered, some people report pooling of colors (when using one skein at a time), while others had no problem.
And, on another note, Whistler is FABULOUS! I am awestruck not only by it’s beauty but mostly that you finished it during the Olympics!!
Wow,beautiful!I have some fashion scarves and shawls which would make a wonderful addition to your collection.High-quality pashmina or cashmere plus personalized design is still leading the fashion. It will make you stand out of the crowd.
Wow,beautiful!I have some fashion scarves and shawls which would make a wonderful addition to your collection.High-quality pashmina or cashmere plus personalized design is still leading the fashion. It will make you stand out of the crowd.Please see http://www.cashmere-shopping.com
wow-I just linked off to your webpage from another regular read and find that I am knitting your favorite sweater right now. I have been afraid I won’t like it but yours looks great. You just gave me the momentum to get back on work on those sleeves 🙂
Tina
Poor girl–her pattern is out of stock, just like the French Press knits lady before. It reminds me of the “Oprah effect”–her shopping recommendations sometimes catches retailers unawares when they suddenly receive a bajillion orders. Can we say our girl at Knitting Pure and Simple has been “Harlotted?”
Hey, you sass that hoopy Stephanie Pearl-McPhee? There’s a frood who really knows where her sweater is.
The story of a sweater. I love it. I would absolutely read a book with that title and topic.
Good question. Brilliant answer. Beloved sweater.
This is my very first comment on a blog, and I hope I’m doing it right. I find Yarn Harlot fascinating, but I’m getting a bit of a complex, because you’re all such fabulous knitters. I’ve been kniting for years, but want to learn how to master fair isle, like that glorious yoke in the February pictures.