Saturday, July 31, 2010

Better Late than Never

Dear Mom,
It was a little late getting finished, but Bonnie won't be able to wear her birthday sweater until it gets cold out anyway. I am very happy with how it turned out.
Here is Elle, modeling the sweater in my vegetable garden.


This is the Tea Leaves Cardigan, designed by Melissa LaBarre for Madelinetosh. I used Black Water Abbey Yarns, color Forest. This beautiful Irish wool was everything I was hoping it would be. I love a good hearty wool, and it got much softer after washing it. I suspect it will continue to soften with future washes. I made a few modifications to the pattern- placing four buttons in the yoke rather than two, and I added afterthought pockets because I thought the sweater would look nice with them and Bonnie told me she likes pockets when I asked.


I may have been as excited about the buttons as I was about the yarn. A long while ago I found these vintage Girl Scout Uniform buttons in an Etsy shop. I knew that one day they would be in a sweater for Bonnie and they've been waiting for the right sweater pattern and yarn to come together.

I placed them over a larger button to keep them secured in the buttonholes. The black buttons also serve to frame these special buttons with out attracting too much attention away from the sweater. I always find it a challenge to find buttons that compliment handknits. I want the buttons to be worthy of their place in the sweater, but not be the first thing you notice about it either. This could explain why I buy good buttons when I see them. (Plus, I just like buttons!)

Love,
Kim

p.s. Bonnie tried on the sweater and it fits perfectly.

6 comments:

Liz said...

Lovely sweater Kim and I love the buttons..

I wanted to answer your query about the quilt label I made but you're down as noreply-comment@blogger so I can't email you back. Anyway, I simply print the labels on my home printer. I use paper ironed to freezer paper but you could use the printable fabric sheets too. I just make sure to iron them to seal the ink then they can be washed......
Hope this helps..
Lizzie
xxx

Bonnie Jo said...

I love, love, LOVE it!! It is the cutest sweater in my closet. I'm gonna call it my "Girl Scout Sweater"!

Michele said...

Kim, what a gorgeous, thoughtful gift. The buttons must make the sweater especially meaningful to your sister. You do such beautiful work, and so fast, too! Michele

lv2knit said...

I laughed out loud with the "knitting in sympathy" line! Your Tea Leaves is absolutely stunning! I LOVE it!!

Mary Lee said...

Oh, to be on your gift list! Beautiful sweater and the buttons are absolutely INSPIRED!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Beautiful! Love the buttons!!!