What better way to launch the Venezia Pullover into society than high tea at the famous Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.
(and yes, I know–the head turned to the side is my go-to model shot–I can’t help myself)
I got home from my trip tonight (which was so amazing although that seems like an insufficient word to describe it) and since this post was long overdue, here I am staying up past my bed time to bring it to you. That’s just the kind of girl I am.
It has been quite a journey since I had the bulk of the sweater finished in November. A crazy December and a trip half-way around the world stalled the completion of Venezia but in a way I am glad I didn’t finish before my trip because now I get to have this great memory of high tea at this unforgettable hotel tied with such an unique knit.
The night before I was up late finishing and blocking so I could wear the sweater to the Peninsula. It just seemed like the perfect place to show off all my hard work. Not that anyone other than my party knew I made it but I knew and that is enough for me.
This pattern is truly amazing. It was clear to follow and while following the chart and managing the color changes can be difficult–I really do believe it is a sweater knitters should not be afraid of tackling…if you want to. Really the difficulty lies in patience and commitment. If you are the type that gets distracted or bored easily than maybe this is not the sweater for you. It is not boring to knit, only it is fair isle on size 2 needles with 10 colors and if you are not relentless and a tad obsessive then it might get taxing.
One of the things I LOVE about this design is how the pattern on the sleeve matches up with the body of the sweater. A perfect detail to a impeccably designed sweater. Although, the sleeves are the only thing about the sweater that I am not perfectly happy with. I think my row gauge ended up being off a bit and so the armholes are a little bigger than I normally like. But I think the sweater still works well regardless. Just as a heads up, if you attempt the sweater, remember to pay attention to row gauge as well as stitch. Also, check your gauge as you are knitting, I was on gauge when I swatched but it changed a little as I got into the knitting.
All in all, I love the sweater. Starting it was spontaneous and impulsive, knitting was fun and intense, and now that I am done I am left feeling a little sad and lost. What will be my next big project? What will I take on next? I am kind of excited to find out…and a little scared.
Project stats:
Pattern: Venezia Pullover by Eunny Jang
Source: Interweave Knits, Winter 2006
Yarn: Jamieson’s and Jamieson & Smith 2-ply Spindrift (see this post for colors)
Needles: 32 inch addi turbo circs–size 2, 1, 0
Mods: none
Notes: I started knitting the first sleeve using double pointed needles in the round but switched to using 2 circs for the second sleeve. For fair isle, I found knitting with 2 circs to be MUCH easier, more slick, and better for tension purposes.
The following 74 comments were originally left at blogspirit:
*sigh* WOW!!!!!
As soon as I finish making some socks for someone, I;m going to start back on mine again. Yours is absolutely beautiful. It takes my breath away.
You know, you’re my new idol!! Everything you knit is absolutely amazing; the designs you start with, the colors you choose for them and then the knitting result is always looking perfect! On top of that you seem to knit three times as much as me. How do you do it??
I just have to say congratulations, once more, to a beautiful pullover!
It’s absolutely beautiful, and you look lovely in it! Well done!
that sweater is STUNNING! Well done!
Oh, wow!!! And what a way to unveil a new sweater. It’s gorgeous — congratulations!
OMG – that is absolutely stunning! and what’s more it looks sensational on you! Well done!!
OMG – you are one fab knitter. The sweater looks so PERFECT. What an amazing job.
That is absolutely beautiful on you!
What an accomplishment! It’s beautiful – and it fits great. Congratulations! I totally know what you mean about needing a new project and feeling kind of lost knit-wise. I was in the same boat a couple weeks ago. I hope you find something new soon.
Again, just a gorgeous knit. Wear it well.
OMG, it’s fabulous! Bella!
Congratulations! The sweater looks incredible!
(And I’m sure tea at the Peninsula was fabulous as well – tea at the Peninsula here in Chicago is one of my favorite things!)
Absolutely gorgeous! You are totally rockin’ that sweater!
Woo-hoo! You look fab-u-lous. I’m totally envious of your sweater-knitting self.
Wow! Very impressive, it looks beautiful on you!!
Erin, you continue to amaze me. Wow, Hong Kong! And, such a beautiful sweater, and to think you crated that with your own fingers. Erin, that sweater is breathtaking. You did such a wonderful job on it. I know you must be so proud of yourself.
Necia
That is *such* a beautiful sweater.
it looks amazing. congratulations on tackling such a complicated knit. your work continues to be inspiring.
Wow, that is gorgeous! I’ve been following the KAL on Craftster, but have yet to dive in to this sweater myself.
Relating to your previous post, I can also commiserate on losing pictures from a memory card – I lost about 200 pics from a trip to Ireland a few years ago. However, I just heard about a program that might help recover them – http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec. Haven’t tried it yet, but maybe it can help you!
Absoloutely wonderful! I’m looking forward to seeing it in person when you’re back.
Whoa mama. That’s a beautiful sweater. You did an amazing job! Love the colors, especially the red trim.
Holy CRAP, that’s a perfect sweater! I adore it! Now, if they only made the pattern in fat-pregnant-lady sizes, I’d bet SET.
You’re my hero.
The sweater looks amazing! Simply beautiful color choices.
Yea for you!! It turned out absoulutely beautiful! Doesn’t Eunny write a great pattern?
It’s just perfect!
It is perfect. So divine.
Happy New Year. Wow, you’ve done it again. Yet another beautiful knit. Well done you.
Absolutely gorgeous! wow, it is stunning!
It’s absolutely stunning!! You did a marvelous job Erin.
It’s beautiful! Congratulations!
wow, your sweater turned out soo beautiful! I love the colors you picked.
Stunning! And indeed, what a debut for such a lovely sweater!
Congratulations! It looks very chic!
A knit to LIVE for! What a great place to show off a spectacular accomplishment. The sweater looks fabulous on you. You are one of the most talented knitters around!
WOW. I am totally impressed. It looks way professional. bravo!
Absolutely stunning. It looks wonderful.
It’s stunning! Simply beautiful on you – amazing job! Happy New Year! Can’t wait to see what you tackle next.
Oooh, looks fantastic! I do say, I like it even better than the magazine version! Happy New Year! Hope you had a great trip!
Gorgeous! You are a knitting goddess.
Happy New Year.
That is just amazingly beautiful. Great job and what a place to have its debut!
Wow, it’s gorgeous! I’m working on my own right now and it’s such a fun knit.
I read that you lost most of your pictures, and I totally sympathize. My mom and I lost about a third of our pictures from our trip to Paris a few summers ago, and it was pretty depressing. We didn’t figure it out until after she’d gone home, so we never had the chance to make up for it. Oh well, it’s an excuse to go back!
That looks absolutely fantastic. A gorgeous, flattering sweater from an incredible pattern–the ideal combination! I’m stash-knitting for 2007, but my fall-off-the-wagon allowance is going to be the yarn for this sweater, probably to knit over the summer. Your post has made me want to do it much sooner than that.
Again, beautiful–and good notes, too!
Oh my, it’s beautiful!
REALLY beautiful.
I can’t wait to see what you make next.
You did a great job, and of course, I am super jealous because I want to knit that one right now, but I can’t. Anyway..
What a great way to show it off to the world – it is perfect for tea.
::swoon:: this is the first Venezia I’ve seen finished, and wow it looks so wonderful! Congrats on getting it done so quickly! Glad you made it home from Hong Kong safely.
applause, applause – WOW and double wow.
You did great.
It’s lovely, spectacular – and you wear it with such panache.
congrats on the beauty of it all (and on yourself
Wow.
You did so many amazing knits this year ~but what a fantastic way to fininsh up the year.
Seriously amazing! It looks stunning on you
I’m SPEECHLESS! Gorgeous.
Wow! Incredible! I can’t believe how quickly you knit this up.
I think you may have outdone yourself and you look absolutely fetching!
What a beautiful sweater! And a debut at the Peninsula in Hong Kong, I am truly jealous. A perfect place for the perfect sweater and I do agree, you look quite fetching. Congratulations!
what can i say. it is absolutely gorgeous. i seriously want to knit one just like yours right now. pity i can’t knit with 2 or more colours, but that wouldn’t be a problem, would it ;0)!!! must.learn.now.
x
BTW, you’d better be wearing that Tuesday night when we’re photographed for Stitch n Bitch Nation!
Bravo. Hats off.
I admired this in the magazine photos, but I think your high tea shot is far more elegant. What an awesome job! Birdsong, sent by Margene and sure glad of it.
hot damn, you rocked this pullover. nicely done!
i do have a question, is it an itchy sweater? i saw the jamieson stuff at shop a while ago and i remember that it felt really rough to the touch and i couldn’t imagine it feeling softer when it was knit up. how do you like it?
thanks! and good job!
I don’t know why I haven’t seen your blog before! I was doing a search on the Venezia sweater…I just started it.
I was in Hong Kong over Thanksgiving! A knitting friend of mine moved there back in May. I have tons of pictures on a blog here… www.yamproject.blogspot.com
I loved HK. Did you find all the yarn stores? I did some major damage.
your sweater is absolutely gorgeous! I am so in love with this pattern! I love how yours turned out.
Erin you look stunning! absolutely stunning! Great job, the colors that you picked out work so well together. You have a million watt smile on!
Really, really beautiful. I can’t believe you finished that so quickly.
Oh my word it is gorgeous! And so flattering on you. Congrats!
HOLY COW! Who are you? This is amazing…I can’t believe what it became….and stick with the “go-to model shot”. It’s a keeper.
HOLY COW! Who are you? This is amazing…I can’t believe what it became….and stick with the “go-to model shot”. It’s a keeper.
WOWSA! Erin… you are SO talented, I mean I always knew you were talented but WOW! It is so beautiful. And to think some thought you’d give up after dish rags…*sigh*
Unbelievable. That might be the most gorgeous sweater EVER!! You are absolutely making me want to go against my new year’s resolution and buy yarn right now to knit that. Sadly I have so so many other things going on right now that I would never get that finished, but WOW. I’m definitely knitting that. Someday.
My jaw dropped when I saw these pics! It looks so great!! I love the colors you chose….I like your color scheme better than the one in the magazine. You should be very proud of yourself, that is one amazing sweater!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. I love the colors you chose–the deep red edging is spectacular. You’ve given me the inspiration to attempt this myself someday!
Absolutely gorgeous and I love the color combos you chose – great job!!!
Wow! The colors and the fit are perfect! Perfect work!
oh, good god! *has heartattack*
Stunning, gorgeous, unbelievably specatular. I’m speechless…
Erin, this is just the most gorgeous piece of handknitting I have seen in forever. You are amazing. I just can’t imagine the powers of concentrating & attention to detail. I wish I were you!
WOW! De-lurking to tell you what a fabulous job you did.
Smiles,
Erin
Oooh, it’s been ages since I had tea there. You’ve made me so nostalgic. Love love love your fantastic rendition of this pattern.
I hope I commented before…but…everytime I look at this I am blown away. I am so impressed!!!
big hug
j