Monday, September 30, 2013

knit parade: my beacon hill cardigan

i've waited such a long time to share this with you. 








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this is the sweater i volunteered to test knit way back when. and the pattern is stunning. it was an epic 6-week endeavor - complete with an all-over stitch pattern, 2 skeins worth of frogging, alternating skeins of handpainted yarn, and the search for the perfect buttons. 

i should've photographed it months ago. but i only go the go-ahead to share the sweater very recently. so i thought i'd take the my beacon hill sweater (official name) out for a walk on the train tracks on the day we got over 100cm of rain.


all in all, i'm very proud of my work on the beacon hill sweater and know that i'll be wearing it for many, many years. the design is classic. and so quintessentially me. and warm. so warm. 

beacon hill cardigan by jane richmond
hand-knitted using madelinetosh vintage in graphite

designed by the lovely jane richmond (whose patterns i have been known to knit over and over again), the beacon hill pattern can be found in the newly released cascadia: a gorgeous book full of knits by west coast designers, brought to you by the knit social ladies

i have grand plans to knit everything in the book. at some point. someday.

for now, i fully intend on wearing my beacon hill sweater to knit city, where i can be sure to meet other sweaters of its kind in a multitude of colours. i'm getting excited just thinking about it, actually. i get to see some very cool people again. and i get to meet the yarnharlot. she's going to teach me a thing or two. and then there's the market. 

yup, i'm totally doing a giddy dance in my chair.  

9 comments:

  1. I am doing a giddy dance here with you... that sweater is lovely! I can tell it was a true labor of love. It looks great on you! I also love Jane Richmond, although I have not been brave enough to do her patterns yet but she is on my list on revelry.
    So very proud of you my friend! The pictures are beautiful :)

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    1. Lol Alma! Thanks for the compliments as always! Jane's patterns are wonderful because they are so much easier than they look. The best kind of deception. :)

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  2. oh wow! this is totally stunning margo! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! looks amazing! and so warm! I can't wait to see it (and YOU) in person! squeeee! xo

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    1. I'm so excited to show you and especially to see you again on your birthday weekend! Yay!

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  3. You are right about it being a classic! It's so lovely, especially after you went to all the trouble of using alternating skeins of handpainted yarn. That is a little trouble, but so worth it when it's done. Ah how exciting to be in on the test knit of this!

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    1. It was exciting! We didn't even know it was a collaboration until the launch. Lovely surprise it was! Making the decision to rip back and them alternating skeins was painful, I won't lie. But I knew this would be a forever sweater so I sucked it up and got to it. ;)

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  4. Yay! What a great looking sweater! Congrats! Did you love the vintage? I have two skeins in a discontinued colour way for a cowl. It sounds like you are going to have a great time at knit city. I'm jealous! It seems like your fall has been full of lots of great stuff. Reconnections, family, knitting... Enjoy it and soak it all up! Your photos are great, by the way!
    Sarah
    Violingirl76

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  5. Thank you Sarah!!! And yes, I adore Vintage. It's got a lovely hand, the ply is sturdy, and the stitch definition combined with tosh's signature dye job is well worh it. Without a doubt, it's a top 5 fave. I can't wait to see what you do with yours. And yes, it is a very busy, very full time. I'm even going to Toronto for a few days at the en of the month. I'm super stoked for knit city though! Are there fibre fests at all where you are?

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  6. If there are, I haven't found them. Vogue knitting live was here a couple of years ago but, of course, I was out of town. Nothing else is really local. My sister and I had planned to save and go to sock summit but that obviously will not be happening. Maybe I will get to live close to where they have some soon!
    Sarah

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