Elizabeth's birthday sweater

Back when I made the Shalom sweater for myself, Elizabeth tried it on and declared that she'd like one for herself. She hasn't been much into sweaters lately, so I am happy to accommodate any request of knits from her.

I ordered the Biggo yarn from Knit Pick in Calypso Heather, which is a color that she currently loves and chooses to wear quite often. I kind of wish I'd just gone with a heavy worsted or aran weight though. My sweater was knit with Madeleine Tosh Chunky, which isn't an overly thick yarn. The bulkier yarn just made the sweater a little bigger, something thin Elizabeth doesn't really need. I guess it gives her room to grow though.

Last January when I took Elizabeth to NYC for her 12th birthday, she picked this beautiful glass button out at Tender Buttons. It was easily the most expensive button I've ever purchased at a whopping $10 for the lone button. We decided back then that it needed a special project. It's been sitting in my button box for the last year, and I decided without telling her that this birthday sweater would be that special project.

With a week left to go before Elizabeth's actual birthday, I ran out of yarn on the bottom trim of the sweater and had to order another skein. (I blame the thickness of the yarn that it ran out too quickly! I bought the recommended amount!) The final skein came just the afternoon before her birthday which caused a frantic knitting session after she went to bed that evening.

Fortunately, it was completed and wrapped with her other gifts for her birthday celebration. And I now have three-quarters of a skein remaining for something else, if she chooses. Overall I'm very happy with how it turned out, and the fact that she's actually wearing it. Success!