How sweet it is to have my first pattern published in Vogue Knitting magazine! I'm certainly keeping good company, with my #30 Aran wrap alongside Mary Lynn Patrick's #29 cabled jacket in VK's "English Garden" story. A pause while I say "Aahh," and bask in the moment I've been waiting for since I first learned my design was accepted, more than nine months ago (photo at left courtesy of Soho Publishing).
Ah, yes. Dare I admit a few thorny details which are marring my rosy day? First, the prickliest: the text on the photo page states, "...the sleeves are worked separately and sewn in." Um, NO THEY'RE NOT! At first I thought the editors had radically altered my original pattern, but no, the pattern still calls for the sleeve stitches to be picked up around the armhole and then worked down to the cuff. Maybe this is my inner neurotic designer speaking, but that seems like a fairly important bit of information regarding the sweater construction. It's also a fun way to work the sleeve (secondo me) and nicely maintains the continuity of the cables across the back and down the sleeve. Another cool thing about the design is that the front edge (which is really the top edge) cable is reversible, meaning it can be folded back and still looks like, well, the right side instead of the wrong side of the fabric--something which is not mentioned. And finally, I guess I never really noticed this before, but with only one photo of each design, it's not possible to get a good idea of how it looks from various angles, which I think is a problem for anything with an unusual construction or special detailing on the back or the sleeves. After considering this, I thought to myself, "At least knitters can look at the schematic and get a better idea of the construction,"-- but again, no, there is no schematic for my design. So, if you look carefully at the 2nd photo, at least it gives a good idea of the construction: you work the upper part side to side, binding off stitches and then casting on again to form the armholes; pick up stitches around the armholes and knit down to the cuff for the sleeves; and then pick up stitches along the lower edge and knit down to form the wide vertical ribbed hem. Simple? Maybe not. Fun? Yes. (But be warned, it is the size of a lap blanket, and quite heavy if worked in the suggested alpaca yarn.)
And now, please indulge me as I post a few more photos; the top of my son's head managed to find its way into the last one.
So cool! Okay, their mistake in describing your design is *not* cool, but the rest of it is. Congratulations! And what a treat it is for us to get the bonus photos too.
Posted by: SoKnitpicky | July 31, 2008 at 06:13 PM
It looks beautiful! I must admit that one of the reasons I stopped subscribing to Vougue Knitting (after 25 years!) was because of the frequency of errors such as you pointed out. I can recall one very elabaorate sweater coat that erroneously described some feather trim as being glued onto the sweater, if you can believe it! Of course, in the directioons the trim is sewn on, but I shudder to think of how that designer felt upon seeing the reference to glue.
Posted by: Misty the Kneedler | July 31, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Congratulations on your VK debut! I purchased the magazine yesterday and took it to knit night, and was pleased to see your work in there.
Thanks for the clarification on construction, and the extra pictures. That helps a lot!
Posted by: MicheleLB | July 31, 2008 at 06:17 PM
I love this pattern! Hopefully the new Vogue Knitting will show up here soon. This is definitely going on my To Do List right now!
Posted by: Cyndi in BC | July 31, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Congratulations !!! This is beautiful.
Posted by: Shweta Shankar | July 31, 2008 at 06:44 PM
I absolutely love this! So cozy for the winter & this will be the only sweater I make this year.
Posted by: Dawn | July 31, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Looks like you beat me to the punch. I just emailed you a photo of your design before I saw this post. And I love the extra photos you took. It's nice to see what the jacket actually looks like. Maybe I'll try to make this is in a lighter weight yarn. At any rate, it's a gorgeous design!
Posted by: connie | July 31, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Thanks for sharing the additional photos, especially the one showing the sweater's unique construction. I think it looks fabulous, and I can't wait to get my hands on the magazine! :)
Posted by: Clumsy Knitter | July 31, 2008 at 08:20 PM
It's definitely my favorite in the new issue. I'm trying hard to figure out what yarn to use. I'm thinking of Cashmerino Aran (4 1/2 sts/inch) and hoping that the over-sized nature of the design will accomodate the difference in gauge. What do you think? I'm open to other yarn sub ideas since Trendsetter is hard for me to find. BTW, I was really annoyed that there was no schematic, but your pics on Ravelry (and now here) helped a lot.
Posted by: Jocelyn | July 31, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Gorgeous!! And the photos are tremendously stylish.
The construction is really clever-- too bad the copy is wrong, but if it makes you feel any better I never read their inane copy anyway :)
Posted by: Emily | July 31, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I am totally buying this issue just for this pattern! :)
Posted by: Pixie | July 31, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Also, Ravelry just told me its your birthday today. So, happy birthday!
Posted by: Emily | July 31, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Gorgeous! I said it on Rav and I'll say it again here: you rock. That cardi is to die for. Thanks for the heads up about the construction (which is actually very clever and knitterly).
Posted by: Cher | July 31, 2008 at 11:18 PM
And also: why are there *three* photos of the (lovely but far simpler) white cardigan? I can't even see the details of the dress next to it!
Posted by: Cher | July 31, 2008 at 11:26 PM
That is an absolutely stunning sweater, and a brilliant design. Love the extra photos - that is one of my biggest pet peeves. I always want to see the other angles, especially with unusually constructed patterns. I will definitely buy this issue just for this sweater. Congratulations, and thank you for a lovely design!
Posted by: Elizabeth | August 01, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Thank you SO MUCH for the extra explanation and photos! As I looked at the design in the mag, I thought, "Well, it's from Angela Hahn, so I know it's got to be gorgeous, but I can't really tell what's going on in their picture!"
Congrats on a lovely sweater!
Posted by: Katinka | August 01, 2008 at 12:45 AM
Congratulations on your VK Debut! I will have to find a copy so that I can try it out. VK is not easy to get here.
Posted by: Shirley | August 01, 2008 at 05:54 AM
Your photos are actually superior to those in VK. The belted shot gives me a better idea how I would wear it. And, you anticipated my observation that there was no schematic, the first thing I look at while I'm studying patterns.
Congratulations. This is very exciting.
Also, did you know that there's a great article about the silk industry in Lake Como in a recent Smithsonian Magazine. I read it with interest, knowing that you live there. To add to the interest, we have a customer at Miss Chickpea's Funky Fibers, in little Hudson, Ohio, who is from Lake Como.
Posted by: Janet Daniels | August 01, 2008 at 06:00 AM
That is one spectacular design. Many congratulations.
Posted by: Gale | August 01, 2008 at 07:30 AM
I love the cable patterns you used. I might actually knit this!
Posted by: patty | August 01, 2008 at 08:02 AM