Everything Looks Better With Pompoms
Pattern: Sitcom Chic
Size: Smallest
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in the Lime colorway (slightly less than 5 full balls)
Time to Complete: 2.5 weeks to knit, 6 weeks to add the button
Modifications:
- I added two sets of short rows to the back of the sweater right after I completed the ribbing. This helps the sweater hang straight while it’s worn, i.e., the back doesn’t ride up.
- I grafted the underarm seams instead of binding off and sewing.
- I lengthened the sleeves by casting on 34 stitches (instead of 38) and working the increases every 6 rounds until I had the required number of stitches on the needles. Then I knit plain rounds (about 12 more) until the sleeves were about 17.5 inches long.
- For the front bands, I picked up 2 sts for every 3 rows and I worked the bands in an eyelet pattern that closely matches the yoke eyelet.
- Instead of a button, I used a clasp that I bought at my LYS. Several people asked about the clasp, it’s just a basic closure made by JHB International that you can probably find at your LYS or perhaps even a craft store. Here’s a link to the company that manufactures it. The crazy thing is that Cayenne used the exact same closure on a sweater she finished last month. Talk about coincidence–Cayenne lives on the street parallel to mine, mere spitting distance from my back door!
I’m happy with the finished sweater; it fits great although I think it makes me look a bit dowdy. My daughter likes it, though, so it will get worn by someone. I was pleased with the Cotton Ease which had a good hand and knit up easier than most cotton yarns, probably because of the acrylic content.
The winner of my back-to-school contest was Alicia, who correctly guessed that my son is on his high school golf team and, as you can see from the first photo on this page, my daughter is a cheerleader. It was she who coined the phrase that is the title of this post.
Oy.
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Susan | knitting, sweaters, contests
That is one gorgeous sweater, well done!
Nice sweater and funny about the pom poms!
I find it comforting that it took you longer to finish the sweater with a button than it did to knit. I’m not feeling so odd now
The sweater looks great and I love all the finishing details.
And you do know the cheerleaders never die - they just lose their pep. Bad I know - sorry.
i love that sweater and i love the cotton ease. may you please give a little more detail about the short rows you added? good lookin’ gal you got there!
Ditto on the details about the short rows. That sounds very important. Thanks!
Very nice! And your daughter is adorable, although I don’t see any pom poms…..
This came out great. I’ve been thinking about making the sweater, but it might be too boxy for my already-boxy figure. Looks SO comfy though.
Hannah is adorable! And I love how you did the bands — it looks great.
It does look great on Hannah. Good job!
I’d second requesting the short row directions, and directions for the eyelet front bands, those look great! I really like your version a lot.
YAY I won! I won!
Lovely sweater! I like how she scooped it up
Good deal.
(P.S. I do not spin, so I’m a bit more complicated as far as that goes
)
Very nice! I just purchased a skein of that yarn this week so it is nice to see how it knits up! Go! Ray! Shish-kum-ba!
to-totally AWESOME!
Your girl is a real cutie pie! She’d make anything look better, but the sweater is beautiful!
It looks great! I completely understand about the six week wait for the clasp… I finished a hoodie vest for my daughter in July and have yet to put the zipper in.
The grafting of the seams looks great! Love the addition of the eyelet up the front. Daughter H certainly wears it well!
Pretty–and it’s green!
It’s very pretty - love your mods!
Dowdy? Nope.
Six weeks to add the button seems perfectly reasonable to me.
Looks great! And what a beautiful model! I’d love to know about the short rows, and I’d also love to know the advantage of grafting the underarm. Is it just for looks (because it looks great!), or are there another reason?
I see nothing dowdy about that sweater. It’s lovely and classic! And your daughter wears it very well.
The sweater looks great on your daughter! I really like the changes you made and woud really be interested in more info on the short rows.
Beautiful sweater and daughter. Please let us in on all of your modifications. I love that sewater.
I especially want to understand the short rows and eyelets down the front.
Thanks for the posting.
Very cute. I think pom poms totally work with the outfit. I like the closure too.
Oh that sweater is just beautiful! The pom poms really bring out the color.
Have a great weekend!
Great sweater, and great modifications. I like the idea of the short rows after the ribbing….great idea. Thanks.
Fabulous work, Susan. As always!
I’m with the others–more on the short rowing. Cute sweater, cuter model.
The sweater is beautiful! And so is your girly!
Laugh out loud. I am sure your daughter looks very nice without the pompoms though. Congrats on the sweater, an instant classic for good reason.
That is very cute-so is the model. I made Eyelet Cardi in turquoise KP Shine
Very cute sweater and very cute daughter. Thanks for mentioning me! Did you read my latest post? We are trying to sell our house and hoping to move to Daybrak, so sadly I won’t be mere spitting distance away if it all works out. I hope I will still make it to SnB off and on. Question: The two sets of short rows you added to the back to keep it from riding up, were they at the top or bottom? I am guessing the bottom since you said they were right after the ribbing, but I’m having a hard time picturing it helping at the bottom. How does that work? Thanks!
I’m sure that sweater looks adorable even without your daughter in it, but she’s a real doll!
By the way, what happened to your Rick Rack Purse pattern from Knit Picks? I tried to refer someone there to purchase it, but it seems to have disappeared from their website.
I love your front band modification!