Finished.
Okay seriously folks? I am having a good day. Rambling Rose. Hands down my favorite knit ever. I am really not trying to toot my own horn here but…well, yes, that is exactly what I am doing. Please forgive me though because I am just that happy. As some of 
you know, I struggle sometimes with my sweater knits. I am a perfectionist and am a bit hard on myself when it comes to finished objects. I want them to fit well and look like I envisioned and perhaps shock people when they find out I made it but in knitting–especially with your first few sweaters and major projects–that just isn’t always possible. But I am getting better. I am learning what works for me and about the importance of a washed gauge. Oh the importance of the washed gauge.
After Green Gable I feel more comfortable with making adjustments to patterns to fit my body. Before when I looked at my expensive, time-consuming, and failed beginning sweater projects I would get sad and frustrated. But now I can look at them and see what I learned, and that my friends, is invaluable.
Okay, Rambling Rose…
Here are the stats:
Pattern: Rambling Rose
Source: Rowan 39
Yarn: Rowan 4-ply soft, #378 Daydream, under 8 skeins
Size: 36, knit with Size 1 and 2 US needles
Mods: I used wool instead of cotton. I just loved the softness and drape of this yarn.
Notes: This pattern is not very hard…but it is not for the knitter who gets easily bored. Knitting 15 cm of ribbing (sorry to go metric on you but seeing how Rowan is English I am kind of in that state of mind) on size 1 needles was a bit time consuming. The rose pattern on the front is something you have to pay close attention to but it is fun to watch grow so not too bad.
The only thing I would change if I were ever to knit it again is to make the body a bit longer. But it fits so well in my past hard to fit knit areas (arm holes, shoulders) that I am not complaining.
Overall I enjoyed the process of knitting the pieces but the real fun for me came when I was putting it all together. It was just plain fun to seam. This may be attributed to the finishing class I took at my LYS a couple of months ago. I haven’t had a sweater to seem since I took the class so I worried that I would forget all I had learned. But not to worry, it all came back to me. I want to give my teacher a big hug–I wouldn’t have wanted to ruin a lovely sweater like this with horrid seaming but I think I turned out well. I am sure there are parts of this sweater that I could pick apart but I just don’t want to. I am simply pleased.
I love it.
The following 42 comments were originally left at blogspirit:
oh my goodness. it is simply stunning! i have been staring at your pictures for like 10mins hoping that one day i will be able to knit a top as well and as your rambling rose.
good job erin- it is beautiful. x
It is beautiful! A classic piece to have for sure.
Tr�s chic! This looks absolutely wonderfully gorgeous! Congrats.
It’s so pretty! I hope your next projects are just as satisfying knits for you.
The sweater is absolutely gorgeous! You did an awesome job…it looks so professionally finished, and fits like a dream. The roses are the perfect accent and the entire piece is just awesome.
It looks fabulous, truly classic and a sweater you’ll wear for a long time. You belong in pictures, baby;-)
WOW – RR looks so freaking awesome. What an amazing sweater! Good job.
Oooh, you look just like an Interweave Model. Love the sweater! Just gorgeous!
Alright Erin,
That truly doesn’t look handknit. You should be so proud of yourself. Looks wonderful, and you look very nice and classy in it.
Necia
what an amazing sweater – and absolutely perfect for you.. whoa… definately a movie star look.. gorgeous!
it’s a gorgeous sweater. it looks like you bought it at a boutique. fantastic job!
The sweater looks beautiful and fits perfectly. You look like a Rowan model (minus the weird eye make-up.)
That is absolutely beautiful and stunning. It looks great on you. I don’t think I even saw this design, but it looks so lovely on you. You have every right to be pleased and toot your own horn! Great job!
Absolutely stunning! It looks great on you and you should love it! Take a bow!
So freaking awesome! I congratulate you on a knit well done!
Gorgeous!
You did such a fantastic job- I love the color, and I’m so glad that you got through the tedious bits. This one will be saved for your granddaughters.
I hope that you sat in the garden and sipped on a gin fizz after putting this on for the first time.
Corgratulations on a fantastic accomplishemnt.
Oh wow! What a gorgeous sweater Erin. I totally agree with Katherine. You look like a rowan model…absolutely stunning
I definitely have to put this pattern on my todo’s.
The sweater looks wonderful & you definitely look so happy to be wearing it! Congrats on such a lovely knit!
Ooooooo I love it too. It looks like something you could charge a million bucks for at Neiman Marcus. Congrats, it’s stunning!
Oh my! It’s stunning! The fit is perfect, and such nice finishing. I’ve had this sweater at the back of my mind for a while, but seeing yours made the decision for me.
It’s beautiful! The finishings looks perfect. Congratulations.
It looks like something you could buy at anthropolgie. Good stuff.
C
What a beautiful sweater! It looks like it fits perfectly, too. I’m very impressed.
Queenie! It’s AMAZING! I’m SO impressed. You look great! To think I knew you when..
That is stunning! I love it. Very nice work.
STUNNING. I am tres jealous.
Your rambling rose looks so soft in wool. Beautiful, with a touch of vintage and it goes so well with your bias skirt. It’s so nice when knitting turns out well and we feel happy
I am SO proud of you for sticking with this. And I love the perfectionist in you.
Here me now, believe me later….I WILL learn to make this….but not until I’m your size!
You’re simply amazing.
Steph/Craftoholic showed me the way to your blog – and it�s fantastic! Rambling Rose is so beautiful and your finishing is perfect. Congratulations, I am sure you will wear it very very often!
Greetings from Germany,
Suzi
What a lovely job you’ve done! It is the perfect color, the perfect knitting–and it looks fantastic on you. Very 1940s!
I am such a proud sister/roommate. It is seriously your best FO ever. You have arrived, baby! Love it and love you!
So lovey! Congrats and well done!
So beautiful! Looks great on you!
I don’t know it sort of looks like something my grandmother would wear ~just kidding! It is absolutely amazing my knitting jealousy grows deeper with the beauty of this project.
Both you and the sweater look beautiful!
So lovey! Congrats and well done!
Fantastic! Just gorgeous! Congratulations!
This is so pretty! I love the color and it looks great on you. I was looking at your other finished objects and you’ve knit a lot of stuff that I hope to make in the future, and they all look beautiful! Very inspiring!!
toot away! you deserve to–it’s breathtakingly beautiful and you’re beautiful in it.
What an amazing jon. It is such an impressive finished product. I’m thinking about knitting it myself but I’m in the process of loosing a little weight so I’m trying to decide between knitting the 36 or the 38. My actual bust measurement is 38 but I tend to like things to be a little more fitted and if I loose the weight (about 10 lbs) I’ll drop a size. It would be a nightmare to knit something only to find out when finished that it is too big. Would you mind dropping me a note about the fit if you get a moment? katrionastar at gmail dot com
Thank you!
Kate
OMG that is amazing. I love it. I am doing carolina from the book right now, and I think this may have to move up on my list of must knits! GORGEOUS!
Ok, that makes me want to drop everything I’m knitting and make that sweater stat!! You look fabulous in it! Congrats on an amazing job well done!