Monday, April 06, 2009

By George

My Godson, Owen, was two at the end of February. I had been plotting his birthday present for months before, I had a picture in my head of a jumper or cardigan with cables and pockets but just couldn't find quite the right pattern. Ziggy was a favourite for quite a long time but it wasn't *quite* what I wanted. Trellis was another contender, high up on the list, but I knew I would have to resize it. I was about to give up on finding the perfect pattern when Katie posted a picture of a gorgeous wrap that her mum had knit out of a recent Yarn Yard sock club offering. I immediately asked for the pattern as it was a cute baby knit. It was in a discontinued Jaeger book, JB 29. Flicking through the other patterns in that publication on Ravelry, I found George! It was the pattern I'd been looking for. I had obviously seen it here before and it had lodged itself in my memory.
George
Then the hunt began to find a copy of the (now out of print) pattern. There were a few on ebay, but I kept missing them, and time was running out. I contacted Jannette at Jannette's Rare Yarns and she managed to get me a copy from Rowan -I got such fantastic service from her, I can't recommend her enough. I was planning on using some felted tweed from my stash for this, but my initial swatch told me there was no way I was going to get gauge so I ordered some Rowan extra fine merino from Jannette as well and took my supplies off to the Lake District with me.
George
I seriously thought about adapting this pattern into a top down raglan (which should have been fairly easy) but decided now I had gone to all that trouble to get a copy of the actual pattern I should just knit it as written. I had some issues with leaning stitches, and thought I'd forgotten how to knit. However some fellow bloggers gave me the answer to why my stitches are a bit uneven.
I forgot to take the pattern to Skip North, so couldn't finish it there. Instead I spent last week seaming, knitting button bands and collars on the train so I could deliver it in person this weekend.
It was finished blocked and wrapped on Thursday evening and worn on Saturday.
I knit the 2-3 years size and it fits (just). I am hoping it grows a bit when it is washed, otherwise I may be knitting another one in the very near future. I should have taken more notice of the "It comes out small" Ravelry comments. Ooops.
George
Next time it will definitely be a top down raglan - there is no need for all of that seaming or picking up stitches - my two pet hates - even though my matress stitch has gotten rather good of late!
George


Pattern: George from Jaeger Handknits JB29 - 27 designer garments for babies and children by Martin Storey
Yarn: Rowan Extra Fine Merino in 894 - Bark (Dark Brown)
Size: 2-3 Years
Started: 23rd February
Finished: 2nd April
Needles: 3.25mm and 4mm addi lace
Comments: It comes up small - so if you are thinking of knitting this, make a bigger size than you think you need!

3 comments:

Sue said...

Your newphew looks so cute in Georg.e I knit it a while ago too and it did come out rather small. I love yours in the brown.

Flossie in Stitches said...

It's gorgeous and so is your godson! Next time you are in Surbiton area let me know, I'm only down the road in Kingston. I wish I'd known you were looking for a copy of the Jaegar baby book, I have a copy you could have borrowed.

laurcgb said...

I love this sweater! I have started the search for the Jaeger book with no luck so far! Hopefully I can cast on soon...NICE WORK!