and knitting: Cue "Fanfare for the Common Man", because project #33 is finished!

Cue "Fanfare for the Common Man"...

So, is there a prize for what surely must be last place in the Knitting Olympics? Yes, the so-called performance enhancing sweater is FINALLY FINISHED!!!

Despite the lengthy delay, I'm quite pleased with myself for taking this project on. It was a lot of fun to come up with a design and then execute it with the expert guidance of Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top.

Next time I do a top-down sweater, I'll go a little easier on the raglan increases. I was nervous about making it too small, so I ended up with a bit too much bulk under the arms. Despite this minor issue, the sweater is still cute (if I do say so myself), comfortable and very warm.

I'm not sure what else to say, other than WOO HOO!

The Project: Performance Enhancing Sweater for Team First Sweater - My own "design", using instructions in Knitting from the Top
The Yarn: Rowan Classic Cashsoft DK in black purchased from Cucumberpatch UK
The Needles: 2.75 and 3.75mm
Started: February 12 2006
Finished: November 2 2006

...and knitting

Comments

It looks great! Congratulations on finishing the sweater. : )

Posted by: limedragon :-: Harriet | November 04, 2006 at 14:25

Thank you! I'm so happy to be done with it.

Posted by: Amy | November 04, 2006 at 14:27

maybe you finished first....for the next Olympics!

looks awesome and I bet it's really soft!

Posted by: yahaira | November 04, 2006 at 15:53

yeah! congrats! it's supercute! i love the eyelet details.

Posted by: kris | November 04, 2006 at 16:58

congrats! looks great!

Posted by: cori w | November 04, 2006 at 18:45

Hurrah! Love it! Wow, I think maybe you've set a record. =) (Wait -- there's one more straggler -- my blogging partner Sarah is still not done with her Picovoli...not sure if it just went on the UFO pile of doom though, in which case we'll never see it...)

Posted by: Faith | November 05, 2006 at 03:04

I think it was well worth the wait to finish! It looks great on you. I have yet to do a sweater, so I am always impressed with people who can design their own sweaters. I will have to check out that Knitting from the Top book because I want to make a sweater in the round without all that nasty seaming.

Posted by: reese | November 05, 2006 at 07:41

wow, it may have taken you a long time, but it looks wonderful and it's the perfect time of year to have a new sweater! congrats!

Posted by: gleek | November 05, 2006 at 08:24

Thanks! It was a really fun project. It got hijacked when I was waiting for new needles for the bottom ribbing section (needed to switch to bamboo to avoided the dreaded claw hand). I'm really glad I finished it off. It will be a nice addition to my winter wardrobe.

Posted by: Amy | November 05, 2006 at 12:51

Wonderful job! (Love the necklace too!)

I've picked up the Barbara Walker book and looked at it several times only to put it back on the shelf. I'm beginning to think I need to buy it after all. ;-)

Posted by: Janet | November 06, 2006 at 05:51

Thank you so much! Buy the Walker book! You won't be disappointed.

Posted by: Amy | November 06, 2006 at 07:19

definitely worth the wait. i love the shape of the sweater, particularly the ribbed waist. (and where did you get that necklace? so darling!)

Posted by: carrie m | November 06, 2006 at 08:29

yay! way to go for sticking with it - who cares if it's late. It looks great and I'm glad it fits you well.

Posted by: melissa | November 06, 2006 at 13:29

It looks great. I love the heavy ribbing on the bottom of the sweater. Really cute!

Posted by: Erin | November 06, 2006 at 17:56

wow! that sweater looks WAY cute! great job!

Posted by: chris | November 06, 2006 at 18:32

Congrats! It's your first sweater? It's great!

My OlyCardi is incomplete as yet--and I'm afraid to pick it up because my gauge has been a lot tighter lately. I don't feel like doing another gauge swatch: What to do, what to do...

Posted by: Daphne | November 06, 2006 at 19:51