A peep at Brigitte
Thanks to the most intensive four days of knitting I’ve ever logged, Brigitte was all done at 9:17 last night. That makes Mamie the winner – narrowly – over Elaine: congrats, Mamie, and thanks to everyone for playing along. I’m picking out some choice items to pop in the mail tomorrow morning. These little contests are fun, so I’ll have to dream up another before too long!
But without further ado, Brigitte:
I thought she’d feel most at home if she debuted in as French a setting as possible, and I always like the chance to consume some authentic pastries. So Mr. Garter and I whiled away an hour or two at St. Honore, boulangerie-patisserie extraordinaire. (I promise that chausson aux pommes was not as big as my head – it just looks that way in the photograph.) I made Monsieur mon mari take je ne sais pas combien des photos and then – quel horreur – some sort of “card error” ate all but two of them! This is the better of the survivors. Zut alors. I’m praying it was a random glitch, and not some kind of flash card death spasm. Won’t Mr. G be thrilled when he learns we need to do a reshoot? I’ll dangle a quiche for bait. Camera gods willing, I’ll have some better pictures in a day or two, and we’ll do the summary judgment then. (Who are the camera gods, incidentally? There’s sure to be a patron saint of photographers, at least… ah, it’s St. Veronica. I wonder if she takes burnt offerings?)
In the interval, a distraction:
Meet Signy. She’s my new Husqvarna Viking Emerald, a birthday gift from myself and from my grandmother. She and I are going to have all kinds of fun together, just as soon as I acquire a wee extension cord so I can reach her accelerator without stretching my leg halfway across the Fibordello.
And what to knit next? I’ve been so monogamous with Brigitte these three weeks that I hardly remember what else I was working on. (This is always dangerous: the siren song of new projects grows louder and more seductive in the wake of a major accomplishment, I find.) Back to the Frost Flowers, I guess. Interesting coincidence that its front construction produces a pullover that looks like a cardigan, much like Brigitte. And several friends are spawning offspring in the next month or two, so we all know that means baby sweaters. I recently stashed a little Dream in Color Smooshy Sock Yarn in the luscious In Vino Veritas (don’t think I’m missing the irony there, TdF KALfolk) colorway that I think will make a darling EZ February sweater for the coming girlbaby. Simple stockinet and quick knits for little people should be just the ticket to relax and soothe my crampy hands after the epic strain of finishing Brigitte.
Posted: July 30th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Lovely sweater and yes, please, another picture so I can see how the color changes played out. It is a tribute to my new-grandbaby-weariness that it took me a couple of minutes to realize that there *were* color changes in the front, and to remember your earlier post about “curry” not agreeing with the other colors. [Which I totally get; curry doesn’t agree much with me, either.]
Handing you a piping-hot virtual quiche to dangle in front of Mr. Garter’s nose so he’ll get out the camera. And thinking that a quick trip to the local French bakery is in order before I head to Cowtown in the morning for another day of burp-cloths and baking and bonding.
Posted: July 30th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
That’s gorgeous! So much texture but it doesn’t seem to be bulky. I have a confused-cables-crossing-at-the-front sweater tucked away that I only have one more set of seams to sew up — now I’m thinking I really should get at it, altho’ mine’s more obviously a fall/winter weight.
If the virtual quiche doesn’t do it, there must be all sorts of yummy French patisserie items to work your way through — what a great venue for a photoshoot.
You’re going to love your Husqvarna. I have one that’s almost 30, never had to be serviced, doesn’t ever need oiling. I haven’t used mine for ages–maybe you’ll be posting some projects that inspire me to take it out.
I vote for the baby sweater next — I’m a recent convert to those fabulous Dream in Color yarns!
Posted: July 30th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Whoops! forgot to leave my website URL
Posted: July 30th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
So far, Brigitte is a beauty! I can’t wait until we can see more pictures, though. The colors and texture are so intriguing!
I’m eager to see what you come up with in the sewing arena as well.
Posted: July 30th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Oooh, how pretty. I too am eagerly awaiting more photos! And fingers crossed for the health of your flash card, or, at the very least, ONLY a flash card problem and not a camera problem!!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 3:53 am
It really is lovely! I have to admit that when I saw my name in the posting, I thought I had won, and had to do arithmetic to check. Good job Mamie and I hope that I won’t win because of a drugging scandal that eliminates you because you somehow sped up the clock used to monitor the end time. 🙂
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 4:06 am
now, see! i TOLD you you’d do better than you thought! tadah!
nice sewing machine. i have to semi-antique singers (before the new company put plastic in the innards) that are work horses. looking forward to seeing what comes from it.
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 4:54 am
oooh, brigitte is lovely! and that sewing machine is to die for! lucky you!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 6:08 am
I can’t believe you finished! You seemed to have so many problems with the poorly-written pattern… Congrats!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 6:28 am
Brigitte is beautiful! And looks very lovely on you, too. Too bad about the card error…I hope it was nothing but a fluke!
teehee, In Vino Veritas…that gave me a good giggle. Pretty yarn, though!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 6:52 am
Brigitte est tres belle! And, congrats on the sewing machine- you’ll have so much fun with it.
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 7:33 am
holy moly that is stunning! great colors on you and such an interesting construction. i’ve never seen anything quite like it.. i wonder if we’ll start seeing more brigittes out there??
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 8:53 am
Brigitte is lovely, the colors are amazing. And she does look great next to a french pastry – you may have to have one every time you wear her!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 9:21 am
Wonderful! And a perfectly appropriate setting, as well. I hope the reshoot is uneventful and SOON so we can see more of her. good work. Watch out for the startitis – I have a case myself.
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 9:22 am
Sarah! I’ve been meaning to comment on your blog for the longest time. I, too, work at a yarn store in Portland; more to the point, though, I spotted Mr. Garter at Crema a couple of months ago wearing his Fishtrap Aran cardigan!! I was so surprised and pleased! It looks even better in person than on the blog. My boyfriend laughed at me for the longest time about recognizing a handknit, but it was great.
Anyhow, Brigitte looks fab, especially modeled at St Honore (another favorite haunt of mine).
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 11:36 am
Congratulations and happy belated birthday, Sarah!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
ok, my eyes bugged out of my head. nice work, my dear.
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Felicitations!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Dream in Color! My envy knows no bounds. I’ve been coveting some Happy Forest Smooshy like you wouldn’t believe. That stuff is just delectable. Brigitte looks beautiful, and I cannot believe how fast you knitted her up. You win at knitting!
Posted: July 31st, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Brigitte looks wonderful on you! Have a lot of fun with your sewing machine! I should go and dust mine off.
Posted: August 1st, 2007 at 8:46 am
What a lovely shape for you! I would very much like to see more pictures, please, as long as there is no flash card death spasm in your near future.
Posted: August 1st, 2007 at 6:35 pm
At least socks knitted in In Vino Veritas are sure to finish quicker than you would expect! (grooooan)
I love the way Brigitte turned out. I am so impressed you managed to finish the whole thing in three weeks!
Posted: August 2nd, 2007 at 9:15 am
Another triumph! What gorgeous color, and so lovely on you. Congrats on the new machine–much fun lies in store. I love the Smooshy too, and was blown away by their colors when I clicked on the link–have you used DIC yarn before? Do you like it?
Posted: August 3rd, 2007 at 10:18 am
Beautiful! The colors are gorgeous on you. Congrats at finishing!
Posted: August 3rd, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Sarah — Brigitte is amazing! Meg posted the photo after I’d sent her updates, and my jaw just dropped when your photo appeared. You must have knit your fingers off completely to finish her on time. Wow.
Happy Birthday and congratulations on your new sewing machine!
Posted: August 4th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
that suits you so well and it is a lovely knit. and then baby clothes to knit. it is great fun although easier for girls than boys i suppose. the february sweater is very nice and the mother i knit for says it is very practical. maybe one could do a cabled boyish version.
and here in copenhagen my lys has a whole store window filled with february sweater look a like’s as have my 60es knitting books. so that is obviously what is trendy for today’s children.
Posted: August 6th, 2007 at 4:06 am
what a beautiful sweater! I’d love to see a “full” modeled shot to see the entire thing…..stunning!
Posted: October 1st, 2007 at 3:35 am
[…] A peep at Brigitte […]
Posted: January 17th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Are you planning on writing up the pattern for this beautiful sweater? It looks very light-weight –which i need as the hotflash syndrome has been hitting me of late….julierose