1.15.2007

pattern: hourglass sweater
size: 33" chest
source: last-minute knitted gifts
timeline: started 11.22.2006; finished 12.29.2007
yarn: >11 hanks of noro cash iroha in 084
needles: for hems, knitpicks options US 5; for everything else, US 7
cords: 24" for body up to sleeves, 40" for everything else (magic loop)

ok, so...i love this sweater. love it! it was really fast and easy to customize. i made sure to try it on when i was getting to the end of the decreasing for the waist, to make sure it fit well (it did.) and made the sleeves as long as i needed them (which i'm sure was pretty close to the pattern.). i also did a few extra decreases at the neck so that it wasn't quite so 80s. inspired by nona, i attached the hems at the waist and sleeves at the beginning, which saved me a lot of time finishing things up.



my only complaint? the yarn requirements are WAY too low. even though the pattern calls for 10 hanks, i needed a little more than 11. the cash iroha has a lot of weak spots, so even if you're planning on making the pattern exactly as written, i'd go ahead and buy an extra 2 hanks due to potential yarn waste. i probably only cut out about 7" or so of the yarn, but ended up going into a 12th hank. of course, some of that could be due to the extra decreases i did at the neck.

i guess my recommendation is that anyone who makes this pattern should get at least two extra hanks. if you aren't making any changes that would make the sweater larger or longer than written and you feel like living dangerously, just grab one extra. if you want to pay a heavy price to the knitting goddesses, buy the recommended amount.