Sunday, January 24, 2016

Sheep in a meadow


Sometimes I would like to meet my terrible needlework teacher from fourth grade again, just to be my eight year old self again and sticking out my tongue at her, showing her that all her humiliating behavior didn't stop me in the end (although it took many many years until I picked up those knitting needles again). She probably would have never thought that I was actually able to knit a sweater! Well, she's long gone I assume, sitting on a cloud knitting slippers for the angels (or "horn warmers" for the devil?).


Two weeks ago I finished this baby cardigan - the very first cardigan I ever knit. It is far from perfect, but I'm immensely proud of it.

I first saw it in my favorite yarn store and immediately thought that this would be perfect for a very special girl whose first birthday is at the end of this month. She lives in the Chicago area and can definitely use a warm sweater. The owner of the store gave me the link to the pattern on Ravelry, and a few days later I cast on the stitches. If you look at the pictures of the original pattern you see that it is a bit different than the cardigan I made, which was inspired by the yarn store.


Instead of two there is only one line of sheep, happily hopping along the "meadow". I think two lines are just too busy for such a small piece of clothing. My sheep are purled with two strings to give them a more fluffy look - they're sheep after all! While we were in Colorado over winter break I found these adorable sheep buttons at a yarn store in Boulder - they had the right size and were just perfect for my project!


I used Malabrigo Rios yarn in lettuce - a pure superwash merino wool that is perfect for baby clothes. I love this yarn. It feels good, is very soft and easy to work with. I usually knit with bamboo needles and the stitches smoothly glide off those needles. It makes for fast knitting.

Here is the cardigan - probably still too big for that special girl, but she will grow into it.





20 comments:

Monika + Bente said...

Herrlich - die Strickart, dir Raglanärmel und die Schäfchen und die Farbe = würde ich auch noch anziehen :-)

Liebe Grüße - Monika

Barb said...

Carola, This is the sweetest sweater. The fluffy sheep and those perfect buttons! I love the meadow green yarn, too. Shame on your teacher! In the end, you proved her wrong.

Magic Love Crow said...

What a beautiful sweater! I love the colour and the sheep! I'm glad your fourth grade teacher didn't stop you from being you! Hugs!

windrock studio said...

What a fun story to share and what a sweet little knit work of art! The color is fantastic and the sheep buttons are perfect ... great job, that little girl will love it.

Latane Barton said...

I love that little cardigan. And, pooh and double pooh on that awful teacher. Maybe she's looking down (or up) from whereever she is and sees how well you are doing. Hugs.

Laurie said...

I love it, Carola! It's beautiful and I'm sure that special little girl is going to look just as beautiful wearing it.

SueH said...

Simply beautiful! I like those buttons - I always used to look for 'interesting' buttons when I knitted baby clothes for my kids (or family/friends) - they just really set off even the simplest garment and add a sense of uniqueness. I don't know about meadows but this made me think of "Mary had a little lamb..." Maybe you could make a lamb 'toy' to go with it?! ;-)

Willkommen auf meiner Kreativseite. said...

Das ist dir doch wunderbar gelungen! Gefällt mir sehr gut mit den Schäfchen und den passenden Knöpfen. Auch die Farbe ist so schön frühlingsfrisch.

LG
Renate

Darla said...

Catching up on blogs. This is indeed an adorable sweater. Your work looks perfect to me. Makes me wonder about your teacher. Why do teachers discourage students? I'm glad she didn't deter you.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

This is just too cute for words. The craftsmanship is wonderful. There is nothing more destructive than a negative teacher, they can do a lot of harm. Knitting takes a lot of dexterity and isn't just learned over night especially by little fingers. The buttons are perfect too.

Linda Kay said...

Carola, that is amazing. So pretty, and looks pretty professional to me!

Anonymous said...

Well, it looks perfect to me! And what a loving gift for that special girl. It's adorable!

Cheri said...

That sweater is gorgeous and I'm sure will be much loved!

Pamela Gordon said...

What a pretty sweater for a little girl. I love the green and the fluffy sheep and buttons. What an accomplishment for you and I'm sure the person who tried to teach you to knit so many years ago would be quite proud of your work. Well done Carola!

Valerie-Jael said...

I know what you mean about nasty needlework teachers! Love the beautiful sweater you have made, so pretty, any (little) girl wooed love it! Hugs, Valerie

Tammie Lee said...

such an adorable sweater.
yea for you learning and thriving as a knitter after a bad teacher!

EG CameraGirl said...

Sweet cardigan! I wonder if many teachers KNOW what terrible effects they have on some of their students. I'm sure you are correct about the horn warmers. ;)

The Chilly Dog said...

Adorable!! I love those little sheep. You should look me up on Ravelry if you have a chance. (I'm thechillydog, of course.) Happy knitting.

Maria Ontiveros said...

So beautiful!
The color is gorgeous and the buttons adorable!
Rinda

JoZart Designs said...

Oh, yet another beautiful little cardigan. I saw the sheep hat when I looked up the pattern for the red cardigan. all so cute and it's lovely knitting things for tiny people,
Jo x