Tea Leaves

Here it is.  My tea leaves cardigan.  It's not the best photo, but I took a bunch and wouldn't you know that this is the best I got?  Now it's dark so there is no chance of a re-shoot until tomorrow and I am afraid tomorrow I won't have time.

I like this sweater a lot.  The sleeves are a funky length - not 3/4 and not really full - but I'm okay with that since I ran out of yarn.  I do wish it were a little smaller.  The pattern goes from a 36 to a 40 and of course, I am a 38.  I knit the 40 which was definitely the right choice, but a 38 would have been better.  I added about an inch of length - maybe a mistake as the sweater grew when I washed it (I'm sure the sleeves did, too).  Leslie told me I could throw it in the dryer for 5 minutes at a time to shrink it a bit, but I was too freaked out to have it in there for more than 3 minutes total!  I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Park Bench.  I originally bought this yarn for the February Lady Sweater, but didn't like it for that knit.  I love it for this.  I used somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 and a half skeins and size 6 and 7 needles.  I liked knitting it too - a lot of mindless stockinette which is perfect for knitting on the go.

I'm excited to share some other fun knitting news tomorrow.

And a small number of camera straps will be in the shop on Wednesday, February 10 at 12:00 noon EST.

Ok, then.  See you later.

Comments

[kevin]

Looking goood

[Sarah Jackson]

It's really beautiful. After seeing yours and Sarah's and Beki's, I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon.

[Kelly]

it's so pretty! love the color!

[beth billups]

it fabulous!

[Colleen]

Looks great -- good job.

[christina]

Oh this is making me want to knit myself a sweater~!

I love the color too.

[Becky]

I think they used to call that sleeve length "bracelet length," presumably for showing off one's jewelry. It looks good.

[Kristin]

That is beautiful!....all these tea leaves are making wish I could knit. I love the color.

[Niki]

I love that color! I have the same yarn, and of course now it is discontinued. If you still need some, might have a hank left. Your tea leaves looks great!

[AJ]

Nice job on your Tea Leaves. I just got my yarn in the mail for this sweater. Once I finish the one I'm on I will start my Tea Leaves.

[jess]

So Beautiful!
I love it!

[mama-pan]

love it! I am still in the hats&scarves phase of my knitting career (one failed attempt at a legwarmer design is currently haunting me), so I'm so impressed with anyone who makes a sweater--and you look great in it, to boot!

[Jennifer]

It is gorgeous, I love the colour. What a beautiful job you did.

[aseemlylife]

I love the color and the style. I have a sweater which I've made 3 times. Two I gave to my daughter and the third I kept. I have a lovely green similar to yours that I am going to make it in next. I also added length. I think I would love this sweater. I like that it buttons only at the top and then hangs open. It's really pretty.

[cloth.paper.string]

oh erin, it's fantastic!

[Amy Hodge]

Beautiful!

[Erin]

thanks dad!

[Jenny]

I love love love that cardigan! Beautiful job.

[malka]

It looks great, Erin.
I'm actually going to finish mine, despite my yarn "crisis".

[Shannon]

Your cardigan is beautiful! The color is just wonderful. :)

[Krista - Poppyprint]

Awww, was that really your Dad in the first comment? That's adorable. This sweater is beautiful, and I'm not really a knit sweater girl (socks are another story). I love the buttons at the top then open look and wear all my (store bought) sweaters this way, too. Nice job!

[minnesota:madre]

It's beautiful. Really. Love the color. And the sleeves look good even if they're a weird length. The dryer does sound scary- I wouldn't have done it either. Can't wait to hear what's next!

[heather harris]

looks perfect to me! very pretty...and such a nice green too.

[Emily]

That is one adorable cardigan! I love the gathers at the yoke and the color is beautiful.

[christi]

looks great!! thanks again for your pillow tutorial. i used it again tonight and it's so simple!

[Mama G]

Great color! really nice and even looking. So flattering!

[linda]

Looks fab. I'm a 38, too, and think I'll need to go with the 40 as well, dangit. If I was a more clever type, I'd figure out how to do a 38 myself . . .

[Erin]

you should!  it'd be perfect for post-baby. xo.

[Erin]

I think you are right, Becky!  Now I just need to get out my baubles...

[Erin]

knittting is not hard!  you can totally do it if you have someone to show you how.  or you can find good tutorials on you tube - seriously.

[Erin]

thanks for the offer, niki, but i think i am good!

[Erin]

thanks sarah!  and thank you for inspiring me to make it. xo.

[Erin]

yay malka!  i can't wait to see it (and the tunic - that's on my list of to-do's).

[Erin]

yes, that's really my dad. he's one of my biggest fans!

[Erin]

thanks! and happy birthday!

[Anna - Three Sneaky Bugs]

It looks great!! Someone was just talking about this sweater the other day and now I can see why. Hmmm..... I've never knit an adult size sweater. This one is tempting.

[Erin]

go for it, anna!  it's top down, with very little finishing - fun to knit!

[Darby]

I think it looks fabulous in every way!!!

[Tanya]

Beautiful!

[amy]

The sweater looks awesome on you!! I found the Tea Leaves pattern on Ravelry several weeks ago and decided on it for my first sweater. I am nearly finished with the yoke, which seems like the most difficult part, so I actually may make a sweater. Your photo has given me added inspiration! I'm curious if you think it would work without knitting the sleeves at all. I am really tall (long arms) and my hand-dyed yarn is kind of itchy. I was thinking of just wearing it as a vest-like cardigan with a long-sleeved tee underneath.

[Meg Evans]

Lovely sweater!

[Lisa Clarke]

Ooh, so pretty! It looks like a very fine gauge. Was it time-consuming? I'd love to try something like that - I've been looking at February Lady, but thinking it might require me to think to hard, LOL!

*Great* color!

[Tracy]

It is super cute. I love that ultra alpaca. I'm using it for February Lady, and I'm a little nervous about it, but we shall see.

[Mary]

Oh, it's just gorgeous! What a beautiful shape, and the color is perfect. Well done!

[Mary Ann]

Its beautiful and the color is spectacular! I really have to learn to do more than knit in long rows!

[Erin]

hi amy - i think that if you like sweaters with cap sleeves, it'd probably work.  since you do the sleeves last, you could try it on to see when you finish the body.  good luck!

[Mama Urchin]

It looks really great on you. I find sizing on knitted sweaters can be so frustrating. I always feel like a lot is left to chance and after so much time spent making it I really don't like chancing anything.

[Erin]

it was a pretty fast knit, lisa.  definitely easier than the february lady, in my opinion.

[Erin]

i'm sure it'll be great!

[Erin]

amen to that!