A Celtic Dream Come True
Ta da! Here’s my Celtic Dreams welcoming you with open arms. (Wooley boards are fun!)
A close-up of her beautiful cables.
And see how much I care about you? On this hot, muggy, humid, hazy day, I put on this heavy wool sweater and stepped outside for a photo. I hope you get the idea, because I don’t plan on actually wearing this beautiful thing again until, say October at the earliest (grin).
- Pattern: Celtic Dreams by Beth Brown-Reinsel
- Yarn: Black Water Abbey wool in “Autumn,” 5 skeins.
- Started in April. Finished June 16th.
I didn’t make any design modifications. I love the whole thing. There are just two things that aren’t perfect. One, my gauge loosened as I worked the body, so the lower half of the body is wider than the top–just ever so slightly tent-like. Not as flattering as I’d like (as if I didn’t have enough trouble with my waistline). And, two, the sleeves are somehow just a tiny bit too short. Usually, if anything, sleeves end up too long for me but I actually followed the pattern and made them the length called for, and they’re about half an inch above my wrist bone. I therefore may decide (later, much later) to pick up those 48 stitches at the cuff and add a couple rows of garter-stitch, just to add a little bit of length . . . or, I may not!
Regardless, I am thrilled with this sweater. The yarn is gorgeous–though perennially hard to photograph. It seems like every other picture comes out a different shade, and close ups? Almost black and white, but I have no idea why! (The color in this photo is really quite good. My hair looks better, too, but of course, it wasn’t as humid!) But believe me when I tell you the yarn is beautiful. It feels nice, too. Not quite as scratchy as I was afraid it would be before I bought the yarn, and it did soften when I washed it. I think I’ll always choose to wear a shirt under this, but it’s very “wearable.” The pattern was brilliant–even to the set-in sleeves, and the “Skirt” and cuff design elements which I think just makes the sweater work so well. It’s also my first Aran sweater–I’ve done cables, but not an “Aran,” and there really is a difference.
Anyway, I love it. The pattern is brilliant. The yarn is beautiful. All this cabley-goodness. What’s not to love??
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House Calls
That is a gorgeous sweater. I am sitting here in my office with a fan blowing on me, feeling really hot and sticky. yuck.
That is stunningly beautiful!!! BRavo….and more for putting that on in the soupy mess that was today – whew!
Excellent knitting! Although I’m hot just looking at you! It was brutal this weekend – kudos to you on a fine photoshoot.
Wow, that really is beautiful! And, yes – I do appreciate the sacrifice you made to put it on with the hot, humid weather. The outside picuture is probably the best representation of the actual color. Congratulations.
Gorgeous! The color looks great with your hair, too. I hope that was a quick photo – I’m melting just thinking about standing outside in a wool sweater.
Deb, that is a good-lookin’ sweater!! Have you tried reblocking the sweater to narrow the waist/hips and add length to the sleeves by blocking it under tension? I’ve worked with BlackWater Abbey yarns in the past and I’ve successfully reblocked a sweater using tension to get a slightly different dimension.
BEAUTIFUL! What a great job you did! And trying it on in that heat, amazing!
Sheri in GA
That is really gorgeous.
What’s not to love, indeed! It looks gorgeous.
Brava!…….and you are the most beautifully clad woman in NJ!……alert the media!……
Gorgeous!! I love the cables on the back of the sweater!
Wow! Very beautiful!!!!!
Stunning. Despite the heat, I want to knit one. Now.
Congrats! It is SO beautiful.
Gawgeous, dahlin! The sweater looks lovely, and I’m feeling the love from you actually wearing it OUT OF DOORS to get that photo! That’s what I call taking one for the team!
That sweater is gorgeous!
Gorgeous sweater!
Very beautiful!
oh wow. Celtic Dreams is so very beautiful!
Marvelous! I love everything about it – the cables, the color, the quality and it looks great on you. Congrats and wear it well.
Oh it’s lovely! I was amazed at how lightweight the BWA sweaters feel even though they use a lot of yarn. It gives a much less bulky appearance which those os us with short stature appreciate.
Your sweater is truly beautiful! Great knitting! I’m sure it’s going to be a nice companion for this winter.
Absolutely gorgeous! And I love the color. Now think thoughts for cold weather so you can wear it — I don’t know if I’d be able to wait until winter.
Fantastic job! It fits perfectly and I love the way it looks on you!
It’s perfect! Congrats on a beautiful sweater. It really is a great design. Love it!
Just one word for that sweater – WOW!
gorgeous!
WOW that is gorgeous! I’ve always loved that pattern, and now that I see yours- wowowow.
Lovely work!
gorgeous! i love it on you and that color is great.
I’ve been resisting the urge to knit myself an aran because I’m afraid I won’t wear one myself. But you people keep twisting my arm with these great sweaters!
Beautiful sweater and lovely job.
Deb, the Celtic Dreams is drop dead gorgeous!!! You should feel very proud! Good work. You have a wonderful sweater just waiting for you come October.
Great job!!! Looks fantastic.
Wow, just stunning!
Wow Deb
I think you look great in it. What a huge accomplishment. Great post.
Wow it’s absolutly gorgeous, you did a wonderful job!
Gorgeous! I looked at a sample card of that yarn at Estes (Marilyn was in my spinning class) and it’s very nice. You did a great job on the sweater – you should get a lot of wear out of it.
It looks beautiful! Great job
)
Just beautiful! Way to hang in there and get it done.
See, you won! lol I will just have to finish mine when it’s colder.
This is a thoroughly beautiful FO! Strong work. The color is also perfect.