Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
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Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

It's Still Winter

3/26/2014

16 Comments

 

As part of my continuing mission to complete the projects in the box of UFOs/WIPs I moved between residences, I was forced to face my longest outstanding project. The earliest record of this sweater I can find is just over two years old. 

The pattern for this sweater is a vintage men's ski sweater. I love it.  I have it imagined as a gently fitted, waist-length ski sweater paired with a red skater skirt. I used almost exactly the same color scheme as the published version.  I wanted a lady sweater, not a gentleman sweater, so I tinkered with the charts and sized things down a bit. I also worked in some waist shaping. 

Back in 2012, the sweater was slow going, but I was making good progress on it. The sweater is raglan sleeved, knit flat in fair isle. I managed to finish both the front and back pieces, and I cast on a sleeve. Shortly thereafter, I bagged it up and buried it. 

I could claim ignorance as to why this project was banished. The truth is, deep down, I knew. It wasn't going to fit. In a tragic turn, I had managed to make the fronts and backs of my sweater simultaneously too big and too small. It was far too long. Far. Also, it was going to have a ridiculous amount of negative ease.  Inexperience and bad math. Vintage pattern in combination with modern adaptation. I don't know exactly where I went wrong. But it was a disaster. When I pulled it out of hibernation, my fears were confirmed.

I considered ripping it back. That seemed like a lot of work. All those colors. All those ends. Even with all the success I've had in knitting, it broke my heart to think that I had spent hours working on this project, and I would have nothing to show for it. 

The sweater wasn't going to work for me. I accepted that. I couldn't accept defeat, however. 

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I was wallowing in self pity when my pal Doctor came over to console me.  Doc and her mom Hallie, my sister, are our new housemates. They've helped us fill some of the empty space we have and keep us company now that we're living in the suburbs. Doc did more than cheer me up with nuzzles and puppy kisses. She helped me with the solution to my sweater situation. It was like a light switch flipping on. The raglan shape of the sweater made the pieces a great shape for a dog sweater. It would take a little tinkering, but all the difficult bits were already out of the way. 

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I undid the neckline ribbing at the top edge and picked-up the live stitches. Once I reached the end, I cast-on additional stitches using a backward loop cast-on and worked a collar in the round. Next, I picked-up stitches all the way around the body and knit a few rows of ribbing. 

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To secure the sweater, I knit a little chest strap and fastened it with a button.  It worked pretty well. It almost looks like I planned it-if you look past the black dog/white sweater component.  

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As I mentioned, I had both the front and back of the sweater finished. So, Danger got a matching outfit. I did have to rip down to shorten Danger's, but I still used the majority of the panel.

Dulce is a little bit jealous that she doesn't have a matching sweater. 
But it's not like she goes without. 

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I really still want this sweater for myself. I hope to revisit it someday. If you don't think I'm a crazy dog lady by now, just wait until the lot of us are parading around in matching garments. 

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16 Comments
Meg link
3/25/2014 11:48:20 pm

ERMEHGERD PUPPIES! I just want to snuggle both of them - they look so cozy in their new sweaters!!

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Michelle link
3/26/2014 03:12:06 am

Whenever you want! They love snuggles!!!

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katie metzroth link
3/26/2014 01:15:06 am

wow. These are the nicest dog sweaters I've seen. ever. and I think they look great on your black dogs!

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Michelle link
3/26/2014 03:13:15 am

Thanks! There is a nice amount of contrast between the black and white, but those sweaters are going to be grey after a few wears! :-D

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katiemetzroth link
3/27/2014 05:21:23 am

The colors will still pop on a nice even gray background. :)

Sarah C.
3/26/2014 02:50:48 am

Amazing! What a brilliant idea. The sweaters look fabulous on Doc & Danger! The knitting, as always, is INCREDIBLE, and the style is terrific. My dogs are senior and can be very chilled, but they also can get a bit overheated with a full sweater. This idea is perfect. It is like having a little blanket on for snuggling.

This is my first glimpse of Doc; what a beautiful dog. And Danger, how I love those ears! How is he doing, if you don't mind a stranger asking? (I am the Sarah who wrote you long messages about our foster Macy when you first posted about his glaucoma.) He looks wonderful in these photos! Sending lots of good thoughts your way.

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Michelle link
3/26/2014 03:11:27 am

These are exactly like little blankets, or capes, as my husband says. :-D

Danger is doing VERY well. he is noticeably more mellow and a little skiddish since the vision loss, but he is happy and playful and navigating the house and yard like a pro. He makes me nervous when he takes off running and playing with his sister, because I'm worried he'll misjudge the locations of trees and bushes and hurt himself.

During one of his pressure checks, the vet re-read his records from the specialist multiple times to make sure she had read the diagnosis correctly. She says he hears so well, his vision loss is almost unnoticeable at first impression. During one test, the vet tossed cotton balls to both sides of his head to determine a visual response. She said he turns to look at the cotton ball as soon as it hits the ground, which indicates to her that he can hear the cotton ball hitting the ground. Kinda freaky.

But, he gets scared easily if we or the other dogs "sneak" up on him. We're working on being more vocal and have put collars and tags on the other two dogs to help alert him.

Thank you so much for your insight into the situation and for following up with us. It's ridiculous how much I love my dogs!!!

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Alicia link
3/26/2014 03:00:40 am

"If you don't think I'm a crazy dog lady by now, just wait until the lot of us are parading around in matching garments."

THAT. IS. AWESOME. :) What a truly creative way to eliminate a WIP and gain 2 FOs! Nicely done.

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Michelle link
3/26/2014 03:15:01 am

LOL. It's not even "if" it's "when" . It's bound to happen.

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steph link
3/26/2014 06:02:03 am

THE CUTEST!!!!!

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Ginger link
3/26/2014 08:44:14 am

Oh my gosh, these are too fabulous! What a great save! And what a handsome pair!

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Spinster Beth link
3/26/2014 08:58:17 am

Oh my gerd ... that is awesome!! You are just brilliant! I wonder if I have anything laying around I could make a doggie sweater out of!

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Loran link
3/27/2014 02:27:26 am

Genius, absolute genius : ) Now I want matching sweater for my girls!

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zilredloh link
3/28/2014 12:51:39 am

Awww such dearies. The sweaters look fab on them - such an ingenious way to make a project work. :)

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Sezza link
4/3/2014 08:28:33 pm

I love your use of these sweater pieces for the dogs, gorgeous!! lucky spoilt dogs!

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Nat @ Made in Home link
4/16/2014 12:19:06 am

SO so cute!!

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