Holiday FO

Squeaking in under the wire, I present the Phyllo Yoked Pullover.

Pattern: The Phyllo Yoked Pullover, from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Rowan Caaaaaaaaalmer, 8 balls
Time: About 3 weeks? This was a very fast sweater to knit.
Modifications: Absolutely none
Other Thoughts: This was my last holiday gift, knit for my BFF in just the perfect blue for her skin/hair. She gave me Knitting Nature for my birthday this year, and pointed this sweater out as her favorite from the book.

The beginning of this sweater is pretty dull, so it’s a good thing the pattern calls for the most luscious yarn on the planet. It’s knit flat in 4 pieces until the yoke, then joined in the round for the lace bit.

For a sweater without waist shaping and *with* a fair amount of ease, it’s really surprisingly flattering. The bell sleeves help, for sure, as does the stretch of the lace over the bust. It’s a boat neck, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone broad-shouldered, but for just about anyone else I think it would be great.

And the best part, of course? Knowing that my BFF liked it!

*****

It’s wonderful, wonderful, wonderful to be home. I finished the first of the Friday Harbor socks before coming home, too, but they don’t count as an FO because I’m never going to knit the second. (Anyone want 67g of olive Regia Silk?) More detail on that and my holiday haul in a later post.

I have a lot of hopes for myself and my knitting in 2007. Like many others I don’t really buy into resolutions, per se, but I do always take a little time at the beginning of the year to check in on myself. Personally, I’m hoping to achieve a better balance between mom-Amy and individual-Amy this year than last. In 2006, I felt like I really bounced between extremes and it was very tiring. Since knitting is my primary hobby (and my local knitting group my only regularly-scheduled alone time), it isn’t all that surprising that I am trying to plan in lots of growth this year. In February, I’m attending Stitches West (my first such show!) and taking a class on short-row shaping for the bust in patterned sweaters. I will make it to Rhinebeck this year, damnit. I want my stash to shrink this year. And I want to achieve a better balance between me-knitting and gift-knitting, too.

What do you hope 2007 will have in store?