For anyone who has been keeping track, less than a year ago, I attend the Webs Spring Retreat where I took my first Fair Isle knitting class. I was without a doubt, the most novice student in the class. I didn't even know how to cast on over DPNs and I wasted half the class simply trying to get the yarn on my needles and the remainder trying to figure out how the heck I was going to hold 2 different colors. Well, it turns out that the latter was actually the most important part of the process for me and once I figured out what felt best, (because following charts has never been an issue for me) I was well on my way. And for anyone who is curious I knit Continental and hold one color in each hand (wrapping the CC with my right hand).
So a little over 2 weeks ago, I attended Stitches West 2020 and after some super inspirational encouragement from the lovely ladies at the Farmers Daughters Fibers booth, I bought Boyland Knitworks / Caitlin Hunter's Stagecoach pattern, determined that size 2 would fit me best and bought the yarn necessary to start this project. I cast on this pattern on February 23 and under no particular pressure, finished it in less than 2 weeks. This is the first stranded colorwork sweater I've ever knitted. I have no idea why but I erroneously assumed that knitting something like this would be some horribly tedious, super time consuming and unenjoyable project when it actually turned out to be one of the easiest, quickest and most wonderful projects I've yet to knit!
Below is a photo of my sweater as soon as I finished it prior to blocking it.
This is what it looked like as soon as I tried it on (prior to blocking).
Here it is blocking.
Most of the colors used in the actual pattern were unavailable so the 4 Farmers Daughter Pishkun 100% MT & WY Rambouillet colors I used were Gary Cooper for the MC and the following CC's: Natural, Flower Point and J. Rankin.
Here is the sweater, sparkling in the morning sunlight, blocked and after 1 day of wear.
Here are my floats.
I didn't trap any floats. Knitting with 3 colors simultaneously on the hem required some deep concentration but I survived.
I had these clothing tags made ages ago and totally forgot I had them so it was nice to finally put one to use!
I really love the fit of this sweater. The cropped body especially suits my short, big boobed, tiny armed figure.
I followed the pattern exactly and did not make any modifications.
I couldn't be more pleased with the results. This was a delightful pattern to knit and extremely easy to follow, especially considering it was my first stranded colorwork sweater and first time working wrap and turn short rows for raised neck shaping on the back!
