The weather has been so gorgeous here the last couple of weeks, it’s all I can do to sit inside and work. It’s like a proper northeast autumn – blue skies, crisp air, turning leaves. It’s usually grey by now here in the Pacific Northwest, which makes outside even more irresistible.

And to top it off, I finished the first sweater I’ve made for Owen, and he wore it to the park yesterday. (The park was deserted in the middle of a gorgeous Sunday. What on earth were people doing?)

I followed the Willie pattern by Pamela Wynne, sans intarsia wiener dog (best pattern name ever, hey?). It’s a very simple round-yoke project, though next time I’ll set aside more underarm stitches so joining the sleeves and body for the yoke won’t be so painful. (If that’s Greek to you, speak up. I’d never made a round-yoke project before, and had I known the effect of the set-aside underarm stitches, I’d have done things differently. Mad props to my pal Alexa for helping me fight through the beginning of the yoke.)

This project was an adventure in frugality for me. I’d bought the drab-coloured yarn when we were first applying to adopt, having in mind to make a wee baby sweater. But then Owen arrived suddenly, and by the time I had my knitting wits about me again I needed to make a bigger size than my yarn would accommodate. So I dug around my stash till I found the cream yarn in the same weight, and used that for the edgings. And, as you can see, I switched to it when I ran out of drab yarn at the top of the yoke. I think the sweater looks better this way, actually, so I’m glad I was forced to make that decision.

I found the buttons while cleaning out my crafts stuff, so that was further stash-busting serendipity.

As a crafter, I now feel like I’m properly providing for my kid. This is a hard thing to explain, but perhaps you crafty parents know what I mean. Sure, I make his food, but this is different. This is the warmth and comfort of a handmade sweater.

ETA: Project details are all on Ravelry.

10 responses to “Fall is the best season, especially in a handmade sweater.”

  1. Rebecca Avatar
    Rebecca

    The sweater is awesome. It almost makes me want to pick up knitting.

    1. Kim Werker Avatar

      Do it! Everybody’s doing it.

  2. Knittingworkshop Avatar
    Knittingworkshop

    That sweater looks great, and Owen looks so happy and healthy.

  3.  Avatar

    I didn’t realize the sweater was designed as one colour – it looks very right that it’s two!  Also, Owen is looking like a person suddenly which is freaking me out (where’d the baby go?)

    1. Kim Werker Avatar

      It’s designed to have the trim (cuffs, hem, collar) in a contrast colour, but I had to switch to the CC a few rows from the collar. It makes the CC beefier up there, you know? I think it looks better than it would with just the collar in the CC.

  4. Tara Swiger Avatar

    Oh! That last picture with the little pointed toe!
    Such cuteness!

    (uh, was there a sweater? You’ll need to show it without the ADORABLE BABY inside it, for me to see it properly)

  5. lclarke522 Avatar

    THAT is adorable, as is the little guy wearing it :-)

    And as a parent, I do know what you mean. My only regret is that I didn’t know how to knit, crochet, or sew when my boys were babies. At 8 and 11 now, they wear much bigger sizes – the sweater I am knitting for my older son is going to take me forever to finish! It still feels great to wrap him in something handmade,even if I have to spend a month and a half getting there :-D

    1. Kim Werker Avatar

      Oh, I started this sweater for Owen in March… :)

  6. Csundquist Avatar
    Csundquist

    Great job on the sweater and on raising such a happy looking baby!

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