The More Things Change

Remember 2010? Me either. Research on my blog reveals that I made two Weasley Sweaters for my children that year, and they were well-loved:

In 2010, Lindsay was 11, which is the perfect age for a Weasley Sweater. The Huff Weasleys were worn, and loved, and outgrown, which is the natural order of things. They're now in a box out in the garage, awaiting the day when I can bear to let them go to some great reward.

But leap forward a mere seven years, and Lindsay is on the brink of her 18th birthday. I know. I didn't authorize it, but it turns out that my children are getting older, rather than just bigger. Unbelievably, last month, Lindsay asked me for a new Weasley sweater. 

My children are now at ages where if they actually ask me for knitting, I pretty much lose my mind. It's been so long since I saw them wear and enjoy my knitting that I've just about given up on them as worthy recipients. But Lindsay can always surprise and amaze me. She's getting ready to leave home for college next year. She drives. All by herself. She can knit and spin really well. She has a steady boyfriend. Does all the very grownup things a nearly-eighteen year old should. But she wants a new Weasley sweater. Says she was too young to appreciate her old one when she had it.

She didn't have to ask me twice:

The new Weasley has an actual Intarsia initial, and was worked from the top-down, to Lindsay's exact specifications. Unbelievably, I realized that I have never worked intarsia in the round before. I didn't love doing it, but it did allow me to place the monogram with surgical precision.

While I was at it, I worked a top-down set-in sleeve. Thanks, JC Briar! CLICK HERE for her class. This one isn't a full-on set in; it's more of a hybrid "peasant": not quite as fitted as a set-in, but more tailored than a drop-shoulder. The fit is gorgeous: relaxed, but not sloppy or droopy. And there's none of that bulky fabric under the armpits that comes with a drop shoulder.

I just picked up around the armhole, the number of stitches that would comfortably fit into it (about 3 out of 4), then worked 5-stitch short rows from the cap all the way to the armpit. So easy, and so pretty! You should definitely try this on your next relaxed-sleeve project.

I also added 4-stitch increases to the body every 20 rows. It's actually an A-line, but doesn't look like one when worn. Instead, it just accommodates Lindsay's grownup figure more perfectly than a straight body tube would.

The yarn is Patons Classic in Chestnut Tweed. You can get it pretty much anywhere, and almost always on sale. For the monogram I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed in Brass Heather. 

My sister and her kids visited last weekend. These four cousins have always been thick as thieves, so I should not have been surprised when Sarah and Adam (aged 20 and 17) requested Weasleys of their own. Campbell, naturally, added his name to the list, too. So now it looks like I'll be up to my eyes in Weasleys for a awhile if I'm to satisfy the demand.

The only real question is: How could I say no? They're only little for such a short time, after all.