My Saturday Rhinebeck sweater this year comes to you courtesy of CustomFit, which is now open to everyone. (Please, come! Set up an account and if you’re going to the festival, spend your time dreaming about the yarn you love instead of worrying about what pattern you’ll use to knit it.)
So I wanted to spend a little time today talking about sweaters. And namely some of the surprises I had when knitting my very own CustomFit sweater. WHICH I LOVE.
Pattern: CustomFit, average fit, V-neck pullover with neck shaping beginning at armhole, long sleeves, low-hip length. 1×1 rib trims.
Yarn: Quince and Co. Owl, in Tawny and (I think) cilantro. Purchased at the incredible Knit Wit.
Size: Mine. Everywhere.
Now, let’s talk about that last part a little bit. Because I’m definitely no stranger to great sweaters.
I have a closet with ~40 handknit sweaters in “my size”. The funny thing is, I don’t wear them super-often. (It was one of the most shocking things to Jackie, actually, when we started working together more closely.) They look great, but most of my day-to-days? Are about comfort and style mixed, not style over comfort. And I wouldn’t say that very many of my hand knit sweaters are really comfortable. They’re not uncomfortable, exactly, but… well, I knit the samples to fit Ms. Average most of the time. (This means that the sweater in the picture is the exact one you’ll produce if you follow the instructions, which is good!)
So when I wear them, I’m either tugging on the sleeves, or pushing up the body, or pulling down the neck, or something. I fidget with them, when I wear them. They look great as long as I’m mindful of my body, but they’re not the kind of thing I roll around on the floor with the kids in. Does the difference make sense?
And so when I knit my own CustomFit sweater, about a half-dozen things were ever so slightly different than the sweaters I usually wear in the pictures you see.
- The sleeves are the perfect length. I’m neither pushing them up nor tugging them down.
- The waist is located at my actual waist, instead of just an inch too low.
- The neckline is just where I want it.
- And, of course, the shoulders / bust / waist / hip measurements are perfect.
And when all of those really minor things are together, I’m left with a sweater I want to wear all. the. time.
It’s kind of revelatory, actually. I never want to take it off! I’m not just proud of this sweater. It doesn’t just look good. It feels good, and I don’t want to take it off.
*****
Want to see it in person this weekend? I’ll be wearing it on Saturday at Rhinebeck, and we’ll be having some special CustomFit meet-ups at the festival.
- First, Jackie and I will be all over the festival with CustomFit buttons and postcards; seek us out!
- I’ll be signing books at the book tent from 12 – 2:30 on both days, with a little mini-talk at 1pm both days.
- At 3pm both days, we’ll be holding an informal CustomFit meet-up at the hill where the Rav gathering takes place. Bring your CustomFit sweaters, if you’ve got ’em! Get your picture taken, admire the other sweaters, and we’ll even be doing measurements for those who are interested.
Rhinebeck is the ultimate sweater location, and this year I’ve got my most favorite one ever. And that’s saying something.
Amy Herzog Designs