Beau for my beau

I had last Friday off work and was thinking about what to knit, andI decided that I really should finish sewing up husby's Beau jumper. I had only to sew on the second sleeve, plus do the side and sleeve seam and the buttons, and that was it. It had been sitting waiting for me to do just that for a couple of weeks - but you know, it had been too hot, no need to wear a jumper any more, so no rush. With cooler weather, a weekend away (with the prospect of a photo shoot in Bowral and of the course the recreation of the photo in the book), and my birthday, I decided I'd finish it so husby could have a present on my birthday as well.(If only you could have been there to hear husby worrying about getting a wet bum from sitting on the ground...he's such a manly man!)

And even though the weather warmed up a bit too much on the weekend for him to wear it much (not that I'm complaining, mind), he did wear it for a while, as we were zooming through the Southern Highlands with the top down on the car and the wind whipping through our hair!

Details

Pattern: Beau by Kim Hargraves from Rowan's Vintage Knits. No modifications to this pattern at all - except to knit husby's initials at the bottom of the left front side of the jumper. It didn't turn out quite as clearly as I'd hoped, but husby still pretty impressed with his totally personalised jumper!

Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in Thorny - just over 7 x 100g balls - managed to pick up the yarn from Janette's on eBay, just after it had been discontinued. It feels slightly harsh when knitting but softens so beautifully after washing, and drapes so fabulously. Husby was surprised at how light it felt.

Sticks: As usual, up a stick size - 4.5mm for the rib, 5.5mm for the body and sleeves. Used Addi Turbos.

Time: 25 March - 9 November 2007 (although I did actually finish the knitting in about September...just the sewing up that takes the time for me!)(if you look closely, you'll also notice he is wearing the first pair of socks I ever knitted!)

What I learnt: This is a very simple knit, so not much by way of techniques. But I did learn that this yarn is a b*tch to seam with - keeps breaking. As I am no doubt quite naughty and use my ends to sew up, it meant lots of breakages. So eventually I learnt that I had to sew in my ends and use new yarn for the seaming - ahhh, much better!