I've been knitting since I
was nine. It all started one day when my father brought me a small
knitting kit for kids with tiny balls of yarn and plastic, micro
versions of knitting needles. I taught myself to knit by reading the
little instruction book that came with it. I've become proficient enough
over the years that I usually create my own designs. I might use a
pattern for the stitch gauge but I generally improvise from there. This
is an especially useful approach when dealing with leftover yarn. It
takes experience to know whether you with have enough yarn to complete
an original design.
That's what was happening with this project - knitting a custom sweater for my PBGV, Punch. Punch's own coat was clipped down really short due to matting - just in time for winter in DE. I decided to design a sweater for her that would use the various luxury yarns that I have left from sweaters that I've knitted for myself. You can see (above) the basket of yarn that I selected for the sweater. I used the size/stitch gauge from a dog sweater pattern in a Paton yarns book in my collection. I don't care for the sweaters in the book but they serve as an inspiration and starting point for my project. PBGVs have basset proportions with long backs and short legs so I used, instead, the measurements from Punch's Ruffwear coat. I knew how well it fit her.
Here is the back of the sweater as I was blocking it. The tan yarn is a wonderful lux cashmere/silk blend. It's a soft, bulky yarn. The thistle colored yarn is Lopi, an Iceland yarn. The gray and teal yarns were spun and dyed by local artisans from their own sheep. I love to use the best quality yarns. They make knitting such a pleasure and the final garment becomes a work of art!
That's Mako the Airedale in the background with one of my paintings. The sunbeam made him so drowsy.
Nothing is too good for my Punchie girl, so I added antique mother of
pearl buttons (above) to her sweater. I collect vintage buttons to add
to my own garments and I shared some real beauties with her. Their iridescent luster mimics the colors of the yarn. Below, a sleepy Punch is all warm and cozy in her couture sweater.
