The sweater::

 

Well, it's done!  The big Daddy sweater is done.  And, this is a photo heavy post that I hope you will indulge me in because this is by far the biggest thing I have taken forever to knit.  

 

I started this in November last year.  No, November the year before that.  I worked an inch and realized there was no way I would finish before the holiday even if I stopped showering.  So, it sat.  The year rolled by and this past October I thought maybe I could try and finish it.  I have lots of time.

With the handmade holiday idea I set onward.  I finished the body.  Cast on and finished both sleeves and then, froze.  It was now mid-December and I could have finished it.  But, with Elizabeth Zimmermann patterns, as I have mentioned, they are fairly straight forward if you have done them once.  If you haven't well, you are flying by the seat of your pants most of the time, at least with the seamless hybrid.   Because the directions are shall we say brief.  

 

However, the sweater did get wrapped up with the needles still in it and put under the tree.  He smiled.  I felt bad it wasn't done.  But, with no projects on the knitting horizon in January there was nothing stopping me.

I will say, it was a process this sweater and I thought many times with all the thinking and figuring I had to do that maybe it would never get done.  And, then?  

 

It was finished.  Even a secret message was sewn into the hem ala Elizabeth Zimmermann.  

I swore then and there that it would be a loooonnnnnggg time before I knit something that big again.  He said he would wear it everyday.  He said good luck washing it because he was never taking it off.  

So there you go.  

 

That is the beautiful kind of husband I have.  

The kind of husband who has shown it off around town and to my two dear knitting buddies.  They show great interest having struggled though the whole EPISODE with me.  They know the angst.  The worry.  The procrastination.  They also smile when my sweet husband says, "Look, isn't that a lot of knots?"  because they know that he loves it.  They know he will wear it out.  

That is just the kind of guy he is.

Do you want to know something amazing?  

When he put the finished sweater on for the first time, I laughed.  I knew then and there that my heart was already planning the next one.  Good luck convincing me otherwise.   

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Phoe]

Well done!

[Jennifer]

That is one gorgeous sweater, I love that colour. Great job on getting it finished, it really looks great.

[Mary Beth]

I love it. You will have to tell him to come see me and show it to me in person.

[anne]

This looks wonderful. I was so impressed that I just went and bought the book. Could I get one done for my hubby by xmas? Thanks for sharing and well done persevering until the end!

[kellywknits]

Such a beautiful sweater, on such a handsome guy. He is one lucky fellow. Congratulations on finishing!!!!! xoxo

[Randi]

It is truly beautiful, and beautifully done. I just love the secret message! I do believe it was worth ALL the effort. What a lucky guy!

[Helen (Dixon Hill Girl)]

Looks fantastic, Kellen. And that's a great model you have there! :)

[Julie Smith]

Kellen, it is so, so incredible! That yarn is to die for and that color is absolutely perfect. Beautiful work!

[MSB]

Kellen - SO AMAZING!! You are a goddess. I dream one day of taking on such a project. Although I am still struggling with cowls. Goodness... I hope you are well. Your family is so beautiful. I hope to see you back at Squam sometime - perhaps when my little one lets me escape back to that creative wonderland!! Much love from DC!!