Foxy lady... ;)

Yesterday I finished the Colette Pullover (link to Ravelry) from Interweave Knits Winter 2007. My beloved Peter not being home before sunset I had to go and play with the self-timer to be able to show you photos of it today:


Above is my favourite picture (well, not because of the look in my face) but I'll show you some more just for the fun of it:



I am immensely pleased with the result! Being unable to structure a text properly this late in the afternoon, I'll put all the facts I want to share with you on bullet form:

• I started this project in order to (1) practice my jacquard knitting skills (I think I've got hold of that technique now!), and (2) to see how jacquard and body shaping go together without having to think it up myself: they go together quite nicely, I must say! I'm very pleased with the result!
• As you may have noticed, I'm still contemplating what buttons to sew on it. The buttons I originally planned to use are too large for the buttonholes (explanation for this below), and I haven't decided if I can live with some of the other buttons I have, or if I'll have to go and buy some. Until I decide, it will work perfectly well without the buttons, as you can see in the photos.
• As I actually expected while knitting it, it turned out a little too large. I had a larger gauge (that's what you get when knitting from stash!), and even though I knit the smallest size (but fit the second-smallest) I was pretty sure it would still be a little too big for me. My suspicion turned out to be correct; but not to worry: I knew that this yarn would felt quite easily. However, felting in the washing machine is pretty uncontrollable... Luckily, I know how to felt by hand (I have made this jacket for myself; no knitting involved!), so crawling around on the kitchen floor I reduced the sweater size by 8 cm (~3") in the round and 3 cm lengthwise (~1.25"). 'Twas worth the trouble: the sweater now fits perfectly!
• The felting and the jacquard pattern knitted with 2 strands of each colour makes it perfect for the chilly environment in which I move - and for the skiing holiday in Sölden (Austria) we're going this Saturday! What an incentive to finish the sweater.
• And just a peculiarity: I did the sewing-before-cutting of the two neck opening steeks by hand! :)

And now for the stats (Stashalong-wise as well as general information):

• Knitted with 2 strands of yarn all the way. The black main colour is wool from Henrichsen's Uldspinderi resembling Marianne Isager's Tvinni, though much cheaper when bought at the factory kilogram-wise. The two pink/heather contrast colours are both a single-ply yarns from the local farm Lystbækgaard near my parent's summer cottage in Western Denmark.
• Knitted on needle size 3.5 mm in the round.
• I used 542 g of stash yarn.
• My 6th FO in 2008, giving me my 3rd free day (more on that below).
• One of the items on my Stashalong list for 2008.
• It is my February contribution to 12 projekter.

Regarding the free days (part of Stashalong): I have finished 6 items this year, and since I earn one free day (with the limitation of never buying more than I have used up so far) for every second item I finish, I've earned 3 free days this year. I used the first one in January on a rather modest purchase. I used the second a week ago - and I got the yarn today:

6 skeins of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in colourway Magnolia. 300 g of yarn added to the stash, but since I have already used more than 1500 g this year, it is quite all right, and still what I'd call a modest purchase.

Having finished my 6th object I've gone and spent the 3rd free day: It seems that modest purchases is my way to go this year: I've ordered 2x14 g of Habu Stainless Steel Wool. I've been wanting this peculiar yarn for some time know, so when Ysolda directed me and my fellow readers to a new Edinburgh yarn store with a webshop on the side being the only European(= no taxes or fees to be added) Habu Stainless carrying shop I know of, I couldn't resist making an order! I'm looking forward :)