I'm about to show you something you have not seen around these parts for quite some time - it's an FO and it's for ME!
This FO started out wanting to be something else. You may remember my sad tale of denial from this post.
After that failure, I just couldn't bring myself to start the same sweater over again, so I used the yarn for a different sweater:
Why yes it does actually have sleeves; I just couldn't get them in the picture (hey, I was rushing). Here it is on the blocking board yesterday afternoon:
I know, it's still hard to really see what they look like; I'll try to get a modeled picture for you soon. I have it on today, and I will be going to Chicks wiht Sticks tonight, so maybe I can beg someone there to take a photo of me.
Details:
Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple Neck Down Swing Coat
Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool ~ Needles: Sizes 8 and 9.
Mods:
~I wanted a little less swing in this Swing Coat, so instead of increasing every six rows, I increased every 8 rows. If I were to make it again, I'd leave out the back center increases (with a butt like mine, I don't need to be drawing attention to it).
~I did the entire collar in seed stitch instead of most of it stockinette with 3 garter ridges as the pattern called for.
~I used seed stitch at the cuffs, the bottom of the sweater, and the button band.
I do love me some seed stitch :-)
More pics:
Seed stitch:
Buttons: 
(The true color of this sweater is somewhere between the brownish and the grayish of these pictures; truly hard to capture.)
The sweater during the inspection process:
It was certainly worth the wait! It's darling. Wear it well.
Posted by: margene | Feb 17, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Yippie!!!!! it looks beautiful. I can't wait to see the modeled pic.
ps. need to borrow your inspector for a few um, months?
Posted by: colleen | Feb 17, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Julie, it is wonderful! You need to model it for us. Clover climbs all over your knitting just like our dog chooses to lie on mine. Every time I have something laying out to block she decides to see how soft it is and takes a little nap. Fortunately, I catch her quickly.
Love the buttons!
Posted by: Estella | Feb 17, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Wow that came out great! Can you wear it to CWS in May please so I can see it in person? How many skeins did it take?
Carol
Posted by: Carol | Feb 17, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Beautiful coat, Julie! I love the pics of Clover and the measuring tape! How bout a picture of you in your coat...huh? Huh? : )
Posted by: Gina aka SleepyEyes | Feb 17, 2009 at 05:59 PM
It looks great! KP&S patterns are so nice and easy to tweak, too.
Hmm, maybe you have a budding seamstress there...
Posted by: Chris | Feb 17, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Lovely. I was so going to try to make it to CWS tonight, but sleep had a stronger pull in the end.
Posted by: Mel | Feb 17, 2009 at 07:18 PM
It looks great! Wear it Thursday too, okay?
Posted by: Brenda | Feb 17, 2009 at 07:22 PM
What a handsome sweater! You have the best eye for buttons, too. Wear it well!
Posted by: Gigi | Feb 17, 2009 at 07:47 PM
It looks so wearable and love those buttons!
Posted by: kristi and otis | Feb 17, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Wow, Noolie, that's a gorgeous sweater. Cute inspector too. Great job on the knitting.
Posted by: Barbara | Feb 17, 2009 at 09:27 PM
Well, if it gets Clover's seal of approval, it must be a winner! ;-)
Posted by: Sarah | Feb 17, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Wow! I'm speechless...that is wonderful!!! Clover looks suitably impressed as well. ;)
Posted by: Sheepish Annie | Feb 17, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I really like that coat! Hehe..Inspected by #1 I see! ;)
Posted by: Zonda | Feb 18, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Beautiful sweater! Cute assistant too.
Posted by: Karen | Feb 18, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Wheeee! I saw this on your ravelry page, I LOVE it! I know that colour, love it also. deeply. Beautifully knit, Julie!
XOXOX
Posted by: marianne | Feb 18, 2009 at 09:20 AM
The sweater looks great. Those buttons look really familiar. I think I used the same ones on my grandmother's sweater. We have marvelous taste!
Posted by: Hillary | Feb 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM
What a wonderful coat! Can't wait to see your modeled shots. Clover is going to be a great knitter just as soon as she gets her hands on her first sticks!!! She's taking to your knitting things like a natural.
Posted by: Debby | Feb 18, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Hooray! Good for you, a knit for youself, and it looks great! Glad to see you have such a careful inspector, you can never be too careful, you know! :o)
Posted by: Charity | Feb 18, 2009 at 01:24 PM
Such a beautiful sweater/coat! Your seed stitch edging and less swingy mods are perfect!
Posted by: Pat | Feb 18, 2009 at 05:22 PM
No kidding - an FO!!! Proud of ya! I see the official inpection person passed it as being good...and it does look really nice...
Posted by: Sara | Feb 18, 2009 at 06:11 PM
Looks Great!!! I saw the pics on the flickr page, glad to know what's behind them.
Posted by: lisa | Feb 18, 2009 at 09:22 PM
It's magnificent! You did an amazing job; I love the color & buttons. Pat yourself on the back!
(The new blog look is great too).
Posted by: Dana | Feb 20, 2009 at 03:51 PM