Thank you to everyone who entered the Coastal Knits contest. We had 501 entries! I think that might be a record number of comments for a single post on Through the Loops. I used a random number generator to select our winner, Carol P! Carol has been notified and Hannah will send the book to her shortly.
In other news I decided to do a modification to a sweater I knit three years ago. I made the sweater below for Izzy for Christmas of '08, but she never wore it much.
It seems my girls are more of the cardigan wearing sort. Luckily we knitters have in our arsenal a wonderful little technique. The steek. Steeking is not nearly as scary as those who have never tied it think. There are many excellent tutorials to be found online. Eunny's is a classic.
All it took was a quick crochet reenforcement:
Then a pair of scissors to give it the snip, snip:
Front bands were added, a trip to M&J trimming yielded just the right buttons, and we've got a newly revised sweater. One that they will hopefully wear.
I like it! I think I need to try some steeking.
Posted by: Kristina | December 07, 2011 at 12:40 PM
Oooh... I just love the look of a super neat steek!
Posted by: Tanis | December 07, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Nice sweater! Steeking, another technique I must try.
Posted by: Bobbie in AK | December 07, 2011 at 01:02 PM
I've had this sweater as a fav on Ravelry for the longest time! Hope the girls start wearing it. :-)
Posted by: Michelle | December 07, 2011 at 02:09 PM
Be still my heart. I have M&J in my contacts from when I lived in New York. I've been gone now 8 years and can't bear to remove them. Just the name evokes warm memories of the button Mecca. I bet it was hard to narrow down your selection but you found a winner!
Posted by: Suzanne | December 07, 2011 at 02:26 PM
oh that is a fabulous sweater! I love the ring-yoke. I hope the newly steeked version is more wearable for her.
Posted by: lauren | December 07, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Wow... great adjustment; looks super!
Posted by: Jess | December 07, 2011 at 02:39 PM
You made that sound so easy. I am terrified of steeks but determined to try it in 2012. Resolutions! Thanks for instilling me with a bit more bravery.
Posted by: Bonnie | December 07, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Good thing you had some of the yarn left!
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport | December 07, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Tidy, tidy steek! Definitely something I want to try in 2012.
Posted by: pdxknitterati/MicheleLB | December 07, 2011 at 08:41 PM
It's amazing what steeking can do. Love the new look.
Posted by: Rocky | December 07, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Oh, beautiful. If they still don't like it, I'll send my address. I'll probably end up wearing it will considerably more negative ease (guessing) but with a cardigan, i can always wear it open. I'm (half) kidding.
Posted by: Kathy | December 08, 2011 at 04:59 PM
Looks like magic to me. I am a confirmed cardigan- wearer. I like to be able to regulate my temperature and level of skin coverage. Thanks for the inspiration. I've not yet tried a steek. Perhaps I'll make my first attempt on a thrift store find.
Posted by: Meredith MC | December 09, 2011 at 12:31 PM
I don't think I would ever have the courage to do that.
Shudder.
Posted by: Monica | December 10, 2011 at 12:22 PM
I love both versions! Great job, Kirsten!
Posted by: Vicki | December 13, 2011 at 09:55 AM
beautiful sweate!! i love it.
Posted by: lipoescultura precios | December 14, 2011 at 02:02 PM