Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Homeless Handknits Part Two

Today I bring you The Rescued Sweater.

A co-worker told me that she’d been out thrift shopping and found a handknit cardigan. Although it was much too large for her, she bought it for about $3.00 because she just couldn’t bear the idea of just leaving it there on the hanger all forlorn and abandoned.

She considered keeping it as a knock-around sweater, but it hung on her like a sail and just wasn’t comfortable. So she brought it to work and gave it to me, knowing I’d be intrigued by the work and hoping that it would fit me.

It’s simply exquisite.

Sweater-01

Chocolate brown for the main color and cream for the patterning. The stitches are amazingly even and I cannot find one single mistake in it. Trust me, I’ve been over this thing with a fine-toothed comb, and this is the work of a meticulous crafter.

Sweater-03

Sweater-04
The Perfect Buttons

When I first got it, I did what any self-respecting knitter does when presented with stranded colorwork… I turned it inside out. Would you just look at those floats? They make me want to rush right out and learn to knit two-handed so I can make something this beautiful.

Sweater-06

How about the way the sleeves are joined? There’s a section of stockinette which has been whip-stitched down to cover the raw steeked edge, and if you look very closely you can see a line of sewing thread used as a bit of extra insurance.

Sweater-07

There’s only one problem with this cardigan… it doesn’t fit me.

I tried to convince myself that I actually like large over-shirts, but reluctantly concluded that it simply wouldn’t get worn very often. That’s no fitting fate for such a fine cardigan, much as it breaks my heart. However, since I’m pretty sure it will fit my stepfather, I'll be able to keep it in the family. At lease that way I’ll be able to visit it now and then.

Although if it accidentally gets tossed in the washer, I simply refuse to be responsible for the consequences! Hand-wash, mom, I'm begging you.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! That is fairly gorgeous--it'll look great on him. Yay!

marycatharine said...

Wow, it's beautiful! I love that your co-worker saved it, the attention to detail is amazing.

Bells said...

oh I love that!

TinkingBell said...

Wow - how wonderful - what a great find - I wonder what its story is?

Rose Red said...

Oh it is wonderful - I'm so glad it was rescued and that you have a new wearer for it.

Donna Lee said...

I can't believe someone put all that work into that beautiful sweater and it ended up in a thrift shop. Good thing it got rescued. What a gorgeous piece of knitting.

Alwen said...

Man. I'm another who wonders what its story is. Here's hoping it finds a wearer that it fits!

Anonymous said...

That looks like a real work of art! Have you thought about using it as steeking practice to make it fit you?

Chandler said...

Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous. If only it fit! You're making me want to go out thrifting!

Unknown said...

Oh wow. I would LOVE to see that cardigan.

I read somewhere the sentiment that handmade things are full of magic because they're made of love - they can kind of give you 'powers'. Posts like this make me think it might be true - what a great co-worker, and how lucky for the eventual recipient.

BTW - if it doesn't fit them, I'll have it.