I am *this* close to finishing my brother’s wedding blanket (and only about a month late… so not too bad), which means it’s time for me to start planning my next project.
Here’s what I’m thinking:
- I want to make something for myself. Just about all my knitting for the last year or so has been for work, or for someone else (mostly the kid, so I can’t complain too much). And, while I like knitting for other people, I feel like it’s time for me to do a little selfish knitting.
- I think I want a new sweater. And not just the same plain pullover I’ve made myself thirty-seven times. I love a nice plain pullover, but I’m feeling an itch to try something new. Right now I’m thinking about doing some color-work.
- I don’t want to design it. I want to follow someone else’s pattern. I don’t want to figure out charts or do a whole bunch of math. I just want to sit down with a tried-and-true pattern and just go to town. I might not even make a swatch. (I know… heresy.)
- I want this sweater to be a little trendier and girlier than I usually go. My usual style is basic, almost unisex, straight-ahead. I want to do something a little more interesting and fashionable.
- And, if this pattern could take less than thirteen years, that would be appreciated.
So, after a long troll through Ravelry, I’ve come up with some ideas, and I need your input to decide what to do. (Though, fair warning, I might decide to do a completely different project and come back here next week with a half-knitted squid or something).
I think I like the idea of making a sweater with a cropped-yet-oversized silhouette. It seems like it would be flattering. Or maybe not? I’m not sure. It’s very different from what I usually wear, but maybe that’s the point?
This sweater could be knit with long sleeves or without, to make a sleeveless summer sweater. But maybe it’s too simple? Other than the silhouette, it’s not that different from my usual knits. Lots and lots of stockinette.
Aqua by Trin-Annelie
This sweater has a very similar shape- real boxy and simple, but I like the ribbing detail across the shoulder and the color-work at the bottom.
Navelli by Caitlin Hunter
Speaking of color-work, I’ve been ogling everyone’s Soldotnas. And I do mean everyone, there have been more than 2000 of them added to Ravelry. I really like the color-work yoke (and I do like a yoked sweater), but for some reason the combination of the yoke and the cropped length seems a little less flattering to me than the boxier dropped-shoulder sweaters. But maybe I’m just crazy?
Soldotna Crop by Caitlin Hunter
Or, I could just go along with the cool kids and make myself a Shifty. I love the color-work/mosaic-knit fabric, and I have an idea for what yarn I’d substitute. (Spincycle is lovely, but I don’t want my sweater to cost three thousand dollars.) I just wonder if this sweater is a little too close to my usual sweater, if I’m trying to make something new.
Shifty by Andrea Mowry
I guess I’ll just have to keep thinking as I finish up the last few rows of that dang wedding blanket.
And no matter what I pick, I guess I’m going to have to get myself some high-waisted jeans or a couple linen dresses to go with my new cropped sweater.
Which sweater do you like best?
Like this:
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I think my favorite part of this sweater is how wearable it is. Who would have thought? A short-sleeved, cropped sweater? Really? Past Allison would have laughed at the idea that I would wear something like this.
I’ve been wearing it over dresses, tank-tops and jeans. And once it cools down (fall’s right around the corner), I think it’ll be cute over long-sleeved tanks or a nice buttondown.
The kid seems like he likes it too. (How cute would a baby one be?!)
On the Needles 