olympic gold!

I started out really strong right off the gun—but I rounded that first turn and hit something of a wall. (More like: I was on vacation at the beach and had other things to do besides knitting. But when I realized yesterday that the Olympics are actually over tomorrow, I hit my second wind and quickly finished seaming it up.

366.238 • the drops jacket is done! (by mintyfreshflavor)

Today I went to Tender Buttons for the priciest buttons I’ve ever bought (total came to 3/4 what I paid for the yarn), but they’re worth it.

collar and button detail (by mintyfreshflavor)

Drops Jacket
Pattern: 103-1 Jacket in Eskimo or Silke-Alpaca with A Shape
Yarn: Ram Wools Selkirk, natural/undyed
Skeins: 4
Needles: Addi Turbo US 8
Started: Friday, 8/8/08
Finished: Saturday, 8/23/08

cuff and hem detail (by mintyfreshflavor)

Notes: Knit the pattern as indicated, with full-length sleeves. Instead of “casting off” in the body, I just decreased. I suppose I’d have liked it a little longer, but I’ll try to block it bigger next time I wash it. (Mirage was too long, this is too short!) And boy will there be many more washings; the yarn is incredibly scratchy but “softens with washing”; it’s a marked difference in softness from the knitting to the blocked piece, so I’m hoping more washings will make this more wearable. It is ridiculously warm, and will be perfect come winter. (As it was, I was dying during the photo shoot.)

Here’s to getting the gold!

drops jacket jump (by mintyfreshflavor)

43 Responses to olympic gold!

  1. marissa says:

    Wow, lovely sweater, and it looks awesome on you! I don’t think it’s too short at all, but you know what you like. Nice job on the buttons, too.

  2. gleek says:

    congrats on getting gold!!! such a beautiful jacket! everyone who knits one makes me want to knit one too :) the buttons are perfect. worth the extra cash indeed.

    p.s. the first cloned photo is awesome :)

  3. Lisa says:

    Fabulous sweater! The detail on the buttons echoes the stitch detail on the sweater. Very nice. And I love the cloned photo – shows all angles in one shot! I hope it softens up for you — it’d be a shame not to wear this one often!

  4. yaiAnn says:

    I love getting second winds especially when the lead to FOs when you’ve just been lagging on them for no good reason! Great sweater! And seriously.. don’t we often just by ready made clothes just for trim or embellishment?

  5. Num Num says:

    You’re a wonder. So beautiful.
    Buying the right buttons is like buying the right jewelry. Money is no object. :-) They’re terrific.

  6. Chante says:

    I just had to comment just to say that I’m mesmerized by your first picture. Its fantastic how you showed all angles of the sweater. Sweet!

  7. Mom says:

    You did a fabulous job, it looks fashionable, warm, and fun to wear. The buttons are great and I agree with Num Num, the right accessory or accent is utmost in pulling together the whole look.

  8. annmarie says:

    Ah, yes. The Tender Buttons experience of spending almost as much (or even more!) on the buttons than on the rest of the garment. Totally worth it and congratulations on a beautiful finish. Somehow, what with taking my son back to college, etc. I completely misunderstood the finish time and thought I had until Sunday PM not AM. I *did* finish my February Lady during the closing ceremonies on television, but I consider that to be fairly limping into the stadium. ;)

  9. Ava says:

    Super, super job! And I love the photo shoot too. How did you do the first photo with four images of you? What software did you use?

  10. Ellen says:

    Minty…help me! I am making the crazy Drops Jacket. The pattern for the sleeve cap is making me nuts. I’m doing the long sleeve, which begins the castoff for the cap at 19″. I started at 17″ as I have stumpy, short arms.

    The pattern then describes the cast off randomly based on overall length, rather than stitch count. The overall sleeve length should be 22.5″ (20.5 for me). I have gauge mostly, but I’ve reached 19.5 in overall length and still have 44 stitches on the needles. The thing doesn’t even say how many stitches should be on the needles at final cast off! What the hell? Any advice?
    Ellen

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