My only finished sweater for the summer and I think I need a haircut

Pattern: Bianca’s Jacket by Michele Rose Orne from the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits

Yarn: Hemp for Knitting AllHemp06 – 5 skeins of Periwinkle, 1 of Charcoal when I ran out of yarn at the button band and couldn’t find any more Periwinkle that matched.

Time to Knit: Sometime in September ’07 – August 15, 2008. Yeesh.

Raveled: Here

Modifications: I added about 3″ in length because I didn’t think I would like a cropped sweater but then I made the sleeves shorter to compensate because I knew I wouldn’t have enough yarn otherwise (I still didn’t). I also put buttons all the way down instead of just at the yoke to make the sweater a bit more flattering.

I love the yoke pattern in the hemp yarn, girly but not too girly

Thoughts: I originally purchased this yarn to make the Cupcake sweater from the Happy Hooker. I crocheted the back piece then realized that

1. I did not enjoy crochet

2. I didn’t really like the sweater

and 3. It would not look good on me anyways.

I frogged the sweater and the yarn languished. When I decided to try Bianca’s Jacket with it I wasn’t really sure how much yarn I had so I knew it would be close. Even though I had to do the button band in a contrasting color I am still really pleased with the sweater.

I think the buttons tie the contrasting color in pretty well.

I think this photo shows the sweater a little better

Overall I am really happy that I pulled this sweater out of hibernation and got it finished up.

Even though I do not think that it is the most flattering sweater for my shape (it has some waist shaping but not enough) it is very comfortable and a great weight for summer, going out and for traveling to warmer climates.

I have already worn it quite a bit which surprised me a bit because I am always cold and I thought a short-sleeved hemp sweater wouldn’t be warm enough but it actually layers really well even though the sleeves can’t really go under a jacket.