Thursday, August 02, 2007
I actually have something to "show 'n tell" on F.O. Friday! WHOA!
I am happy to report that Sugar 'N Spice is all seamed up! So I can now officially log it in as FIN! :oD
Some of you recall me being smitten with this pattern since April! During my stalking/lurking blog time, I happened to notice another fellow knitter Sheep in the City (Stacey) knit it up for her niece awhile ago and I knew I just had to do it for my niece too!
I had yet to knit anything for India and her 4th birthday was coming up (August) so I thought this would be a nice gift made by her favorite auntie! :oD
Here is the front of the pullover. Not sure what is up with the wave look...pixel issues?...oh well
The colors, just in case your eyes/monitor is playing tricks on you, are pink and orange. I love this color combo!!
Click Here for Larger View
I knitted up a larger size for India per recommendation of Stacey so she could get more wear out of it. I am sure if I had a "mommy" antenna I would have automatically known to do that too! :op So I know this will be way too big for her right now.
And here is the back of the pullover
Click Here for Larger View
Looks about the same right?? LOL Well you may notice a keyhole opening at the top :o) With the cutest button!!! 
Look at Crimson Purl making button holes! WHOA! Okay granted the easiest kind you could make (a crocheted loop).
And of course I had to put my garment label on the inside of her custom made pullover!
Did someone check out that I actually crocheted! LOL Let me tell ya! The pattern called for SC the entire neckline, which I am glad I did b/c it gave the garment a nice "finished" look and hid some of my loose joins. But lets not talk about how it took me an hour to do that very small circumference!! HA! I am sure I will get better at crocheting soon! Lizard Ridge will break me in real good :op
The sleeves were my biggest challenge of this project since I had never put together a garment before and was dreading to do it. Hence, why this U.F.O. sat on my couch for over 2 months all knitted up and nowhere to go. If it wasn't for the fact that India's birthday is this weekend, it would still be sitting right there!
Setting the cap sleeves in was not that bad but making sure it was all lined up got me. It was a little bit off under one arm sleeve so I had some excessive "pinching" of fabric. But the other one went perfectly! (The one photographed! LOL) and for some reason my seaming wasn't totally seamless on the other side, you could see some of the sleeves borders...but whatever it was 1AM and I needed to get it out in the mail! (Of course I waited until the last minute!)
I did have to package it up all cute for her! I mean really what 4 year old is going to be excited about a knitted pullover! LOL Lets be honest here! This was all for my pleasure! :oD
I was thrilled to find a pink & orange beanie animal and a cute pink & orange gift bag. It was a perfect match! Along with some other goodies.
As we "read" her special birthday package is on the way to Wisconsin (yep that is where I am from - born & raised).
This was not a perfect knit - I am speaking specifically about the seaming (crocheted edging), BUT I am proud of my 1st completed garment! :oD
I told y'all I like to make tiny versions first before branching out to big people clothing!
~Project Details~
Pattern: Sugar ‘n Spice by Minnow Knits
Needles: Denise US5 (should have used a US4 to get a better gauge with the yarn) and ‘E’ hook
Yarn: Unknown! There were no ball bands on them at all (got the yarn from a closeout sale). All I know is that it is 100% cotton/100 yards a ball. Used 2 balls in pink and 1.5 in the orange.
Size: 6 year old (largest size per pattern)
Cost: Yarn $11, button $3
For: My beautiful soon-to-be 4 year old niece for her birthday!
Time: About 10 days - knitting on it here and there (very fast), but I procrastinated with the seaming BIG time!
What I learned: SEAMING was the biggest thing for me. How to do it on a miniature item. Particularly sewing vertical stockinette with horizontal stockinette. Setting in sleeves. What selvage stitches are!! :op Crocheting around an edge as a finishing and making a button hole. What the heck is a hem line in knitting! :op Oh! And how to work both sides separately.
Modifications: Omitted the hem line by adding a ruffle border at bottom. Omitted their decorative shoulder binding and did it seamless.
Verdict: Would definitely knit this up again for a little munchkin! I am glad that I don’t know what kind of yarn I used because it split very badly! The ply was terrible and I would never use it again. I also would change my needle size if I used cotton again by going down one.
Good Job!
Oh, and crocheting is very easy and fun. You will love it!
It looks gorgeous!
And how adorable with the packaging and beanie.
She's a lucky little girl.