Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Finished Knit: Azami

Oh, boy. I started this sometime in May. Several times, I started it. I finished it this morning, and my ten-year-old agreeably came outside to take photos for me. He doesn't even ask why or anything.

I really like this pattern (Azami by Carol Feller). I really hate this yarn (Southwick by Valley Yarns, which is Webs' house brand). This is disappointing, because I almost never use the exact yarn called for in a pattern, but I wanted to do this sweater right, so I decided to order the Southwick. It seems like a mismatch between yarn and pattern to me. Plenty of people love this yarn, and I am admittedly biased towards wool and wool blends, although I've knit with cotton and linen before and enjoyed some of those yarns very much. But I found this to be slippery, splitty, and extremely unforgiving. Picked-up stitches look like, well, crap. I also fear the yarn won't wear well, since the yarn I unraveled (sigh, I had to do this quite a bit) looked shabby just from one knit and redo. It is so frustrating to spend lots of time on a project and end up disappointed in the materials, especially when using the suggested materials. I wish I'd subbed.

But, you know, moving on. Here's a shot of the back, so you can see the hood.

(Didn't my son do a great job? He asked me how to zoom the camera and this is his original shot, no cropping on my part.) I made the hood a little shorter than called for, because I think this yarn is going to grow. Yes, I swatched, but I didn't swatch and soak and hang and beat the heck out of it to see if it would turn into some other fabric entirely. I think it might, though.

As for details, this is the 32.5" size with no waist shaping. I originally began the next size up, but when I pulled it out after one of my numerous errors (I forgot to switch to stockinette after completing the first lace repeat), it looked enormous around. I don't have as much waist as I used to, and I thought the fabric was clingy enough without adding in shaping. It's all a moot point because this is probably going to pill within four wearings. So it's a good thing my son took such nice photos...

15 comments:

Rose Red said...

Oh, I hope it wears well, it would be such a shame otherwise, as it is really pretty!

Shell said...

Fingers crossed it will wear much better than you anticipate after the time you have spent making it. Your son has done a great job with the photos, you may have a little budding photographer :)

Jill said...

Yes, he did a great job, and so did you, and isn't that a pretty skirt?

Unknown said...

Oh it's so pretty! I'm sorry the yarn disappointed you!

Michelle said...

I'm so impressed! Those details look so intricate. The hood is so cute! And that color is really nice, even if the yarn itself was frustrating.

Great job with the camera, V!!!

Bells said...

oh look! Yay for you. And good on you persevering despite hating the yarn. Some cottons are just not great, and some are. Sounds like this is one to avoid.

The yellow is so sunny and cheerful and I adore the hood. Well done!

Karen Isaacson said...

that hood is fabulous. I hope you are wrong about the yarn and that you can wear it for years to come.

Carolyn said...

Amy, it turned out beautiful and I hope it wears better than you think. I can't imagine putting that much work into something and not having it last! Hope you had a happy 4th!

Jennifer J said...

It is beautiful! I hope that it stays that way. Tell your son that we all think he did a great job with the pictures. I do wish I could knit sometimes. But I seldom even finish crocheted dish clothes, so it would probably be a moot point. Enjoy your week!

lamina@do a bit said...

I love it!!! Such a great colour too! I hope the yarn washes well... I would be a great pity if it didn't after all the hard work you did knitting it! Love the hood too :)

Donna Lee said...

I love it. It's such a pretty feminine sweater. Disappointing about the yarn. Would you make it again in something you like better?

amy said...

Thanks everyone! I hope it lasts too. Live & learn. :) Yes, I would make it again in something I like better, definitely. It's a great pattern. I particularly like the top-down set-in sleeves...a very nice touch. And I do love me a hood!

Anonymous said...

Oh, that is so pretty - I also hope the horrid yarn didn't ruin it for you. I love a hood, too, even though I almost never wear them up. There's just something fun about the drape down your back.

stephinie {gypsy forest} said...

It's awesome! I *love* the hood!! And the yellow:)

Sally said...

Yes your son has taken really beautiful shots. Good for him. What a pity you're so disappointed because it really does look so beautiful in the shots. I love the yellow, I love the v-detail at the front and I really really love the hood. What a bugger that you think it it won't last. I feel awfully disappointed for you too.