March 04, 2008
Buttercup
Buttercup is done, and I love it!
I finished her in the middle of last week, but didn't get around to photographing it until Sunday afternoon. It fits prefectly, and I'm over the moon with it.
I made a few changes to the pattern. On the front, I only did half as many picots as called for, as I just wasn't happy with the way they looked. I omitted them entirely on the sleeves and the band, because no matter what I did, I just could not get them to look like they did on the pattern.
And I completely rewrote the sleeves, because that itty bitty sleeve was never going to fit around my arm.
Project Specs:
Buttercup by Kim Hargreaves. Only available as a kit, directly from the Kim Hargreaves site.
Yarn: Rowan 4ply Cotton in Bleached. The kit came with 6 balls, I only used 4.
Needles:2.5mm Knitpicks Options.
Time: I started this back in November, but it got put on hold while I was overseas, then again while I finished the Shetland Shawl. If I'd worked on it non stop, it would have been much, much quicker.
The pattern was pretty easy to follow, although the shaping got a bit hairy at times. The stitch counts change on each pattern row, so making sure you were decreasing correctly got a little confusing. Apart from that it was fine, but the band got really boring really quickly!
The yarn was good to work with, although I'm not a huge fan of cotton. This didn't make my hands hurt as much as some cottons do, but even though it's Rowan, I didn't find it any different to other cottons I've used. I'm idly thinking of knitting this again for Emily, but if I do, I'll just use 4ply cotton from Bendigo Wool Mills, where I can get 200g for $AU11.50. The Rowan wasn't bad, I just didn't find it any better than any other cotton I've used.
Overall thoguh, an A+!
An the weekend, Emily managed, somehow, to coerce Twinkie into something she's never done before.
They sat like that for an hour. Too cute!
Posted by Donna at March 4, 2008 11:43 AMComments
Oooh, cute overload reference coming up: "buns 'n' racks!"
Buttercup looks great - good on you for persevering with the knitted tie - I think I would have used a nice wide ribbon!!
Posted by: Rose Red at March 4, 2008 01:48 PMAnother FO!!! annnnd it's nice!
Waiting to see how the lacy cable sweater turns out...Go Donna!!
Buttercup looks beautiful. The sleeves must have been very tiny because you look as though you have thin arms already. Twinkie must have got a lot of cuddling time in whilst you were on holidays and actually liked it which is always nice!
Posted by: Sue at March 4, 2008 10:06 PMI love it too! It suits you well and fits perfectly. Great work!
Posted by: Wool Winder at March 5, 2008 05:10 AMLove the Buttercup!!
And Twinkie your showing your softer side (not that they aren't all squishy soft) I guess going to bunny fat camp makes you appreciate home more.
Buttercup looks lovely on you. The lace pattern looks really interesting. The first cotton I've ever tried was Rowan's Handknit Cotton.. And I haven't really got over my dislike for cotton. ;) Twinkie and Emily sure look comfortable in that photo. So cute! :D
Posted by: Kessa at March 5, 2008 07:52 AMMe likey. But the BIG question. Will you wear it? (Knowing that you often don't wear your knitted stuff).......:)
Posted by: Donyale at March 5, 2008 09:45 AMBeautiful Cardi! And I just love that picture of Em and Twinkie! I can never get Fiona or Orlando to do anything other than to sit besides me.
Posted by: DKM at March 5, 2008 10:03 AMButtercup looks brilliant on you! Well done! :o)
Posted by: Terri at March 5, 2008 10:25 AMButtercup is so cute. So are Emily and Twinkie.
Posted by: Suzanne at March 5, 2008 11:04 AMButtercup is so cute. So are Emily and Twinkie.
Posted by: Suzanne at March 5, 2008 11:05 AMYay for Emily the bunny whisperer :)
Posted by: Lara at March 5, 2008 01:03 PMYay for Emily the bunny whisperer :)
Posted by: Lara at March 5, 2008 01:03 PMButtercup is very cute!! (maybe even cuter than Twinkie if that is possible!)
Posted by: Kate at March 5, 2008 01:24 PMVery nice! Buttercup looks great on you!
Posted by: Wanda at March 5, 2008 04:37 PMBeautiful Buttercup! What a nice little top - and yes, I can imagine all that band would drive anyone nuts :)
Aww cute bunny.... she really seems to be 'chilling out' a bit more of late, more cuddly. Does she have sharp claws? Dotter used to get terrible scratches from her bunny (many years ago; Pippin is no more, alas).
Posted by: Jejune at March 5, 2008 08:45 PMButtercup is PERFECT. Cute that Twinkie & Emily could bond.
Posted by: KSee at March 5, 2008 09:11 PMVery cute! It looks great on you too. Of course, everything does.
Posted by: Karen at March 6, 2008 01:38 AMYou look great in Buttercup! Your new project is a nice choice & the yarn too. Although the ribbing is boring,I am sure the rest will be done by the weekend. Happy knitting.
Posted by: Ann at March 6, 2008 02:44 PMLovely buttercup. Great knitting.
Posted by: Patti at March 6, 2008 09:07 PMButtercup is beautiful and I know you will enjoy wearing it!
Posted by: wendy g at March 7, 2008 12:07 AMButtercup looks awesome on you! I hope it's not getting too cold for you to show off your new knit!
Posted by: Evelyn at March 7, 2008 05:05 AMCongratulations on Buttercup! It's lovely! I love the sleeves especially, with those little buttons.
And as for Twinkie - aww! I wish my bunny was as cuddly!
i think buttercup looks fabulous on you! really really cute.
and yes i hear you in regards to bendy cotton - to be honest i actually think the bendy is nicer than rowan cotton - they just need a better colour range.
Posted by: jacqueline at March 9, 2008 01:29 PMThat is perfection on you Donna and the knitting is superb!
Love that sweet pic of Emma and Twinkie too!
Posted by: Debi Leshin at March 11, 2008 07:05 PMButtercxup looks great: and it seems to me that your arms are perfectly normal and that the women from whence the pattern originated must be strangely small armed!!!
Posted by: 2paw at March 12, 2008 11:51 PM
And another job well done - congratulations!
Twinkie and Em - very cute!
Posted by: Lynne at March 4, 2008 01:08 PM