Why you should always check your gauge (and Ivy Sweater Giveaway)

October is a big month for the Wayward Girls! We have our "half-blogoversary" this week, and over the course of the month three Wayward Girls and two of their husbands will celebrate birthdays. To celebrate, we're having a giveaway a week throughout October! This week is mine:

Several years ago, I wanted to make a beautiful wrap sweater for myself. I went on a long hunt for the perfect pattern, and came across Ivy from Knitty Magazine, an amazing free online knitting magazine. I knew I had to make it but I wasn't willing to splurge on the recommended yarn. (The intervening five years have taught me the value of good yarn!) I really liked some microfiber yarn from Lion Brand and I went for bright red.
  
True colorColor altered to show detail
The pattern has a faux-cable on bottom of the body and sleeves. I reengineered the sleeves to be a little narrower than original. But in the end, I think my gauge was off. You see, when you knit something, your stitches need to be the same size as the pattern designer's stitches. If you have four stitches per inch where the designer has five, your finished project might have the right number of stitches, but it'll be 20% too small.

Or the opposite happens (though I may have picked the wrong size in the beginning): it's too big for me! (Okay, there's also the issue that I was nursing at the time...) It took me more than a year to make, and it doesn't fit. Sigh.

Color altered to show detail
The yarn is super soft and comfortable and pretty warm for an acrylic. No itch here!
  
Color altered to show detailNeckline and bottom detail (color slightly altered)

True color

I love the details and the pop of color and the feel of the yarn, but it's time to face facts: it just doesn't fit me :( . So my loss is your gain!

It's made for a 38" chest (if I remember correctly). It's soft, comfortable, hypoallergenic and I've worn it maybe three times, including this photo shoot.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. WINNER POSTED HERE.

All you have to do to enter to win this beautiful handknit sweater:
  • One entry for becoming a follower of our blog, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
  • One entry for following us on Twitter, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
  • One entry for tweeting this post, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it (with a link directly to your Tweet).
  • One entry for Liking us on Facebook, and commenting on this blog post to tell me about it.
Just so we're clear: each of these should be in its own SEPARATE comment! So if you like us on FB, comment, Follow us on Twitter, you should leave 3 separate comments.

Good luck!

Looking for a fast and delicious dessert? In half an hour, you could be eating this:



What do you do when a project you love just isn't right for you?

31 comments :

Mary Pat Siehl said...

wow this sweater is amazing!

i am already a follower!!

Laura said...

What a great giveaway (October is my birthday month so, I'm glad all the giveaways). You did an awesome job on the sweater! And I follow y'all already.

annemarie said...

I am a new follower and so glad I found you - beautiful sweater - wish I had your knitting skill!

Tiffany & Brittany said...

Already a follower!

Jill said...

What a gorgeous sweater! Good luck for all in the giveaway - great prize! (unfortunately wouldn't fit me!)

Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Shelley said...

Beautiful sweater! I crochet want to learn to knit also :) I Liked you on Facebook

Winnie said...

Oh, I'm shelleywright0103 on facebook :)
I followed you on twitter I'm winn0103 there ;)

Shelley said...

ooops, sorry! I had to sign in to my google email and that switched my sign in...dang! *sign out...sign back in correctly**
I'm shelleywright0103 on facebook :)
I followed you on twitter I'm winn0103 there ;)
AND I tweeted this post! whew!
I also pinned your sweater :)

Shelley said...

AND I am following you now :) on my blog www.wright4texas.blogspot.com and in my google reader.
For some reason I do not have the option to just click "follow" :( *anyone know how to fix that??*

Laura W. said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE this sweater! It's such a beautiful pattern.

Laura W. said...

I just followed you guys on Twitter! I am @LWGsMom

Laura W. said...

I've tweeted this post!

http://j.mp/oeFEY3

Heather Landry said...

Your sweater is lovely! I'm not entering to win because it wouldn't fit me either. LOL

Having said that, now I want s'mores pie! You are SO not helping. Hehe

waymom said...

It looks great! I follow the blog :)

waymom said...

I follow you guys on FB

malinda said...

Whoo. I was your 100 FB friend

Malinda Mortell

malmort01 at optonline.net

malinda said...

Follow you on twitter

malinda1971

Amie {Kitty Cats and Airplanes} said...

OMG you have no idea how badly I want to win this!!! I already liked you on facebook...but for some reason I didn't follow! Fixed that. :)
kittycatsandairplanes{at}gmail{dot}com

Amie {Kitty Cats and Airplanes} said...

I follow you on twitter now.
kittycatsandairplanes{at}gmail{dot}com

Amie {Kitty Cats and Airplanes} said...

I like you on facebook already!
kittycatsandairplanes{at}gmail{dot}com

Amie {Kitty Cats and Airplanes} said...

I tweeted it too. Because I really want to win.
http://twitter.com/#!/kcatsNairplanes/status/122070539027230720
kittycatsandairplanes{at}gmail{dot}com

Havalah Turner | Sisters, What! said...

wow you knitted that! I'm always jealous of people with sweet knitting skills. I'm a follower

Havalah Turner | Sisters, What! said...

i like you guys on facebook

Ruth said...

new gfc follower (Ruth)
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

Ruth said...

like you on facebook
ruthhill74

Ruth said...

tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/ruthhill74/status/122735022439546880

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower!

Anonymous said...

I follow on Twitter @Lealee33

Anonymous said...

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/Lealee33/status/123083689088397312

Anonymous said...

I'm now a Facebook Fan!

Diann said...

The sweater is beautiful and the color is wonderful. you did a great job making it! Thank you for being part of Thrifty Things Friday and have a wonderful day!

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