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FO Friday: Blue Betty!

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The blue Tosh sweater is finished, blocked, and photographed!

Blue Betty main

I’m so, so happy with the way this design turned out. My intention was to design a colorwork sweater that would be flattering to larger-busted gals. Here’s my original sketch:

Betty sketch

I did add ribbing on the sleeve cuffs. My first idea was to do a turned hem, but I don’t think it would have looked right with the ribbing at the bottom and the neck. Other than that, the sweater’s pretty much the same as I envisioned!

Hubby and I went out to a local park and strapped the 50mm/f 1.8 lens to our Canon Rebel T3. I cannot begin to express my love for this camera and this lens. Practically every shot pops right off the screen. And after hours of manually blurring backgrounds in Photoshop on the pictures from our point-and-shoot, having pics that don’t need anything more than a little cropping is spectacular.

Betty Boobs

 

The Tosh just glows, doesn’t it?

Here are the specs on the FO:

Pattern: my own, tentatively called Blue Betty. I’m hoping to get it into the hands of test-knitters next week and release the pattern in a month or two.

Needles: 32-inch circs in US #6 and #7, plus DPNs in both sizes. Loving my Knit Picks Harmony DPNs–they really make sleeves in the round more enjoyable.

Yarn: madelinetosh tosh vintage in Betty Draper’s Blues (about 4 and a half skeins) and Antler (about 1/4 skein).YUM. Tosh vintage remains up there on my all-time-favorite yarn lists.

Two of my skeins were much darker than the others, which unfortunately didn’t show up until I wound them into balls. I alternated skeins on the sleeves and yoke to address this, and I think it worked out okay. There’s a little bit of striping, but nothing I can’t live with. You can see it on the upper back in this pic:

Betty back

Notes: I love the fit of this sweater. I tried back shaping only instead of my usual side shaping, and I’m totally sold. My back is much narrower than my front, so this sweater fits me better than any others I’ve knit. The colorwork band pulls in right under the bust and adds an almost empire waistline effect.

Betty side

Now on to writing up the pattern! Also fun, but not as fun as knitting (and wearing) the sweater…

15 Comments

  1. Pumpkin
    Pumpkin05-18-2012

    That’s why I love Tosh so much, it glows! Love the photos, looks like that camera and lens combo is a winner! Love the new design, as always!

  2. Minding My Own Stitches
    Minding My Own Stitches05-18-2012

    Love this sweater! Can’t wait to see the pattern available, although I think I’ll alter the cuffs and waist to replace the ribbing with something else – maybe an Estonian braid type of thing.

  3. Robin
    Robin05-18-2012

    So so flattering! The color does just pop and the design is lovely. Nice work creating an attractive sweater that shows off all the right curves!

  4. Sarah
    Sarah05-18-2012

    Its gorgeous!!

  5. Katie
    Katie05-18-2012

    Oooh, it’s beautiful! I want one <3

    Oh, and yes, 50mm lens love! Mine hasn't left my camera since I got it.

  6. Truly Myrtle
    Truly Myrtle05-19-2012

    Your sweater is gorgeous! The fit is fantastic – I love the back shaping, it is so flattering :) And the yarn – it is just amazing!! Tosh tosh tosh – must get my hands on more….
    I’m looking at replacing my point and shoot – I think this is the camera we’re looking at (we have UK names) – it will fit all our old redundant Canon lenses from years ago :)

  7. Sam
    Sam05-19-2012

    such a cute sweater! I love the colour and design!

  8. knucna
    knucna05-19-2012

    Hello ! I do not know if you remember me, I made the test knit for your Bevin’s pullover ! I love the new one ! I never made colorwork, do you think it would be ok for beginner in that technic ? I would love to test it, if the due date is not too short and if you want me of course :-)

    • Triona Murphy
      Triona Murphy05-19-2012

      Of course I remember you! I think this would be a pretty good sweater for a beginner to colorwork. I’ll earburn you to the test thread when I finish writing up the pattern :-)

  9. Mamgi
    Mamgi05-19-2012

    Lovely, its very flattering

  10. Tracy
    Tracy05-19-2012

    That sweater is fabulous, wonderful fit and colour. It certainly did come out just as you’d envisaged :)

  11. Sue
    Sue05-19-2012

    Your jumper looks perfect, the shaping gives a great fit, well done.

  12. MissH
    MissH05-19-2012

    That is stunning! I would totally wear that! In any colour!!

  13. kristieinbc
    kristieinbc05-20-2012

    This sweater is absolutely gorgeous! And in my favourite colour!

  14. Melissa
    Melissa05-23-2012

    The sweater looks amazing on you and very flattering too.

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