The sweater, she is DONE! Actually, she has been done for over a week, and I have been wearing her a goodly portion of that time. Warm, cozy, fits right, scratchy enough that I need to wear a long-sleeved t-shirt under it, but I have several so that is not a problem. The color are fairly accurate at left, but the neck does not do that funny thing it is doing in the photo.
I learned some things in this sweater, mainly that I am not quite as good a sweater knitter as I thought. I won't go into excruciating detail because I don't want you all to feel you need to reassure me. I know what is not quite right about the sweater and none of it is enough to prevent me from being pleased with it and happy to wear it. So there.
One thing I learned is that I need to allow a bit more ease in the sleeve length. The kimono sweater I finished almost exactly a year ago? Sleeves barely long enough, and I intend — someday — to frog and reknit the last six inches to remedy that. I do not plan to do anything to the sleeves on this sweater except to use them as a reminder that I really need to put at least one extra inch of ease into the length of the sleeve, amen.
The blue-gray background yarn is a bit scratchy on my skin, so instead of doing ribbed cuffs I did turned hems and lined them with the same merino as the stripes.
Knitting the hem lining on a sleeve:
The same sleeve hem turned back:
The hem being fastened down with a three-needle bind-off; I threaded a second needle — the one at the top — through the back side of the stitches where I wanted the edge of the hem to attach:
The finished hem:
The idea for this came from a sweater I bought a number of years ago. Its hem (this is the right side; the sweater is reverse stockinette):
It seems to have worked a bit better on the machine-made sweater 😦 I knit the linings on a needle one size smaller than the sleeve to ensure that the hem would not flare. This worked on the sleeves; not so well at the bottom or the neck. Also, the row of stitches where I worked the three-needle bind-off pulled in significantly. I was able to fix this — mostly — by a firm steam-pressing.
I am also happy that this knitting basket:
is now available for my next major work-on-it-at-home project.
These last photos are for Heather, who requested to see the inside of the sweater. Here ya go, Heather!
That is the inside of of the side "seam" where I changed colors; since I knit it top-down in the round there are no actual seams*. Here is the right side of same:
kmkat & her kneedles 
Nice finish!
I am admiring the last photo. I am currently knitting a striped sweater in the round and I seem to have a few jogs despite the usual correction but I think it looks seam-like so I should be alright.
I ,too need to add for the sleeves, although it’s always hard to know until you actually wear it and get the ease (or lack of) from the shoulders. I can’t abide sleeves too short or too long.
Looks great – I like the hem treatment – very professional!
Your hems look great! Mine always come out lumpy-looking, so I usually stick to ribbing.
Looks great!
I’m not much of a sweater knitter but with every one I make I learn a little more … hopefully, eventually, I’ll be able to make them just right every time. A girl’s gotta dream…
Beauty, eh? I know what you mean about knowing things aren’t quite perfect, but being happy about the project anyway…story of my life, actually. I love the colours in yours–what kind of yarn did you use?
Great sweater! I like what you did with the lined hems.
Wow, those stripes look great! What method did you use for getting jogless stripes? I’m thinking of starting a striped sweater and can’t decide!
I love your sweater, love the colours, it looks so nice and comfy! well done with the hems!
Yay! Looks lovely, and cozy.
Excellent lack of stripe jogs.
Looks cozy and warm and fun 🙂
Congratulations!!!
It’s wonderful! Congratulations on sticking with it! And you even learned something while do it. I think that makes it a win-win!
With your newly-honed stripe-knitting ability, I’ll wager you’re going to be cranking out matching zebra costumes for you and The Man next Halloween.
Because, you know, you strike me as Halloween party costume-wearing types.
Congrats!!
I do like “hemmed” edges on knitting. 🙂