Friday, November 13, 2009

Ingenue

Ingenue in Karabella Marble
My Ravelry project notes tell me that I started this project back in August 08, worked on it in my usual undisciplined, distracted way and put it down sometime last January with the prescient comment that "...maybe I'll pick this up sometime next November". And wouldn't you know that naturally being a woman of my word and all I actually did just that, without even realizing it? Cue Twilight Zone music...

The Specs
Pattern: Ingenue from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard
Yarn: Karabella Marble #35353, 9.75 skeins
Needles: Size 8
Mods: No waste shaping because well HELLO do I really need to go into all that AGAIN with you people? The neckline is a thing of beauty--love it to death. Blocking worked some serious miracles in this sweater & just kicked the whole thing into the zone of pure satisfaction.

Ingenue in Karabella Marble

In case you're wondering, yes I am aware that I look like a John Waters character in the above picture. I'm blaming the photographer and his unwillingness to take direction.

Babs
and I are all about doing the pattern out of the yarn it's written for--I know that this might be some sort of puerile impulse, but occasionally it works out for us. And this is one of those times. Weirdly I happened to have 12 balls of Karabella Marble (a yarn that I could swear was discontinued briefly) in my stash and so cast on with great enthusiasm. Ah yes, that initial enthusiasm...if only we could bottle that and sell it. That I still had the yarn was very fortuitous as I had even tried to destash the yarn at one point, but luckily none of the ill-mannered cheapskates other detash folks wanted it.

Ingenue in Karabella Marble
Well, I'm about 23 years late to the whole ingenue/gamine party, but I suppose that since the sweater is the opposite of 'matronly', I'm still in the acceptable age range for wearing this--but only just barely. Can you tell that the photographer and I were having some marital issues during the photo shoot? He might have called me 'picky and demanding', and I might have called him a 'negative douche bag'...
Ingenue in Karabella Marble
I must say it feels good to dip into that 'zzzzz' pile and finish some projects that have been darkening my door and making me feel mentally ill. It's a good thing, too, because I seem to have stepped up my whole maniacally casting on for everything in sight routine--to the point that my 'only work on three projects at a time' policy is being put dangerously into question.
Hi we r losers
As you can see, we reached a tentative cease-fire by the end of our shoot, but I'm not expecting this to last...

33 comments:

earthchick said...

HOLY CRAP, HEATHER. This is so unbelievably gorgeous I can hardly stand it!!! WOWZA. You are rocking it hard, lady. Lovely color, lovely details, lovely you.

I am glad that you and the Curmudgeon reached some sort of detente. I have to say that my own marriage endured similar strains over the years until I did my 365 self-portrait project. During that year, I learned how to be totally self-sufficient in taking my own FO shots. It might've saved my marriage. Flip-side - I have on one to blame if/when the pictures suck.

Beautiful job, my friend. (love the lipstick too!)

Alice said...

The colour(s) REALLY suit you - lovely!

Katinka said...

I think that's one of the prettiest Ingenues I've ever seen. :D

Rose said...

Love the sweater but the post was even better. I needed a laugh (the writing was funny, not the photos or knitting) today. Thanks!

Rachel said...

It's gorgeous! And your post...I needed a laugh so badly this morning and as usual, you delivered. Thank you!

Kim said...

Seriously grogeous sweater! Mr. Kim & I have issues over his photo taking skills too. He thinks he's the new Ansel Adams, I disagree. Your expression is edgy, pretty & ready to kick ass rahter than pissed off.

Nana Sadie said...

Love the sweater...and I think you need to do something about maintaining that cease-fire - he's seriously cute!
(((Hugs)))

Cynthia said...

Remember how well the 3-project rule is working!

That sweater is beautiful. You look great in that color.

regina said...

Wow! What an absolutely gorgeous sweater. It looks fab on you! Love it.

Happily Knit said...

It's a stunning color--beautiful work!

Brendaknits said...

I'm with Rose. Great sweater, but greater post. Funny - thanks for the chuckles.

Michelle B said...

Love the sweater, love th color on you! beautiful!! Very funny post!!

weezalana said...

It's lovely! But why no pics of the whole thing? Would love to see how the entire sweater looks on!

P.S. Ill-mannered cheapskates, heehee!

kim said...

Look at you finishing up all the Zzzzzzzzzz's. I just frog mine and move on. The sweater looks great on you. Love the sweet picture at the end. Have a great weekend.

Yarnhog said...

I love it! I remember when you started it. The color is gorgeous, and does really suit you. I always steer clear of pink tones because I'm a readhead, but then I see them on other redheads and always think they look great.

Heather said...

This is awesome, really, I have sweater envy. And I think I have just enough stash yarn to give ingenue a go...

Alison said...

I've been wanting to knit that sweater ever since I saw my first one- total sweater crush, it just looks so incredibly wearable. I definitely need to move it further up the 'no really, I actually intend to knit that one' list!

I think your last photo is adorable- I'm behind the camera so much that there are actually very few pictures of my husband and I together... I suppose we should remedy that one of these days...

Happy knitting-
ali

Preeti said...

That is seriously one gorgeous sweater and to think that this was rescued from the zzz pile and finished!! Awww...for the last picture:)

Anonymous said...

Lovely. Looking forward to seeing the Karabella used.

Jodi said...

Hurrah! You're truly on a roll, Heather.

In our case, my husband doesn't get that he's supposed to be taking good pictures of the sweater, not of my face.

peaknits said...

Wow - I love this sweater! Love it! And the post is so fun to read. "Negative Douche Bag" really grabbed my attention.

nicole said...

Too funny. Mark and I NEVER fight, except when I'm trying to get him to take photos of me for the blog. All of a sudden, we make Jon and Kate look like paragons of wedded bliss with our bickering. The man cannot take a photo without adding some weird bulge/shadow/blur/amputation. I mean how hard is it to take a dang photo that matches my mental image of what I look like, right? Very hard, apparently, because in my mind there is no double chin/upper lip moustache/under eye bags. A little mental photoshop, me thinks.

But actually, the 'Mudge took some lovely shots. You look gorgeous in your beautiful sweater. That colour is so amazing on you. I've always loved pink on a red head. Blame it on Molly Ringwald, I guess.

Estella said...

Love it and love the color! I've made 3 Ingenues so far (2 for me and one for a friend) and I agree the stitch pattern on the neck is gorgeous. I was thinking I could just use that pattern and make a wonderful cowl.

Great dialogue about the photographer and the photo shoot!

Sarah said...

It looks fabulous! I am determined to make one of my own, out of Malabrigo, just as soon as I'm a normal size again.

Anonymous said...

Looks great! That color is fabulous too and will be cheerful this winter.

Monica said...

I was enjoying your post, just about to take the first sip of my afternoon coffee when I read "negative douche bag". Burnt my lip, but so worth it. And the sweater is pretty great, too!

madalyn said...

Wow, your Ingenue is fabulous!

Lisa said...

The sweater is lovely, especially the neckline. The color really suits you.

Funessa said...

hahaha well take comfort knowing that you make "pissed" look more like "sexy and sassy" -- so I'd call that a successful photo shoot!

Love love love the sweater!

nova said...

Hello, Sassy. I love the fo shots, but the witty commentary is always pleasing. This sweater has been on my list for a while, so I am glad you your are so satisfied with it; it probably means it will work out for me too...I di value your judgement so highly.

a friend to knit with said...

totally SASSY!!!
you are on one sweater making roll!!!
it looks fabulous, heather!!

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Donna said...

Hey, this is fabulous, I love the colour. I made one at the beginning of the year and am so glad the weather has gone colder now so I can get it out and wear it.