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October 03, 2005
Pippa
Pippa, started 11 Aug 05 finished 18 Sept 05
Pattern: My own – available here
Yarn: Baby Cashmerino
I like Pippa. She is sober and refined, sensible, cultured, thoughtful. She knows her way around a horse, and plays piano. She has a delicate ankle, and a firm will. She is quiet, but not shy, affable and without guile.
What I most like about this cardigan is that I can wear it to the office without looking the least bit ‘homespun’. Sgt Pepper has some stiff competition for title of most-wardrobe-enhancing knit this autumn.
Next, I am tackling mountains, acres, rather, fields of stocking stitch. You see I’ve taken up ‘The Booker Challenge’, the challenge being to read the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize between the announcement of the list and the winner being announced. Competitive reading in the workplace.
As with competitive sports, in competitive reading I lag fearfully, but join in and have a go regardless. I have already done far better than last year when I managed all of one measly book. This year I am playing by slightly amended rules: I do not have to finish any book. I think of it as a ‘knock-out’ tournament, and it’s really quite scientific. Simply put, if Book B is sufficiently interesting to keep me from Book A, Book A is out of the running and it’s Book C’s turn to go up against Book B. Life being too short for ploughing through dull novels.
So far I have read three-quarters of Julian Barnes’s Arthur & George, which was knocked-out by Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, which I read to the end. They have seen me through a sweater-dress and the front and back of the world’s simplest raglan. I am starting A Long, Long Way with a sleeve: it’s a close call which will be finished first. For Heaven’s sakes, I’m running out of stocking stitch ideas, and I lack the co-ordination to read while doing any other stitch. If I can find the knitting to keep me going, I could potentially finish two whole more books by the 19th.
Talk amongst yourselves.
Posted by Anna at October 3, 2005 11:10 PM
Comments
You are wonderful!
Posted by: anon. at October 4, 2005 12:47 AM
Very pretty. The front of a sweater dress?! Jeez, I read Never Let Me Go in three days or so and just finished part of a huuuge bulky sweater on 13s.
Posted by: Lauren at October 4, 2005 02:50 AM
Beautiful! It fits you so well. Good luck with the Booker Competition - I couldn't finish Never Let Me Go so you're way ahead of me already.
Posted by: Cara at October 4, 2005 03:05 AM
That is such a beautiful sweater!
Posted by: SF Knitter at October 4, 2005 03:15 AM
You are so amazingly talented! Love Pippa :-)
Posted by: lyn at October 4, 2005 03:29 AM
Smashing--are those baby cables? I can't quite tell. Elegant as usual and not the least bit homespun--I've never seen you produce anything that is!
Socks are my knitting reading--I can manage a rib at least, although nothing more complex than that.
Posted by: Ashley at October 4, 2005 03:30 AM
Pippa looks vintage, classic, lovely. And I love your sofa and the duck egg blue of the walls too!
Posted by: erin at October 4, 2005 03:53 AM
Love Pippa, so elegant and wearable! I wish I could knit while reading, even stocking stitch would be great!
Posted by: joy at October 4, 2005 04:04 AM
How are the vertical stripes knit?
Posted by: Kat at October 4, 2005 04:08 AM
just beautiful. beautiful. oh, and the feeling of baby cashmerino on your skin. i really must finish my own babycash cardi soon.
Posted by: kris at October 4, 2005 07:29 AM
Hey Amelia, I'm just on my last book John Banville The Sea. I only ever read the list if more than one appeals. This year is a good one. Knitting has gone awol. Pippa is so grown up (and might describe me perfectly except I play the piano v.badly!)and the colour is beautiful. You are sooo talented!
Posted by: Teresa at October 4, 2005 08:07 AM
this new cardi is delightful. i haven't quite managed to learn how to knit and read - but i really need to start trying. i have let my reading lapse too much and would love to have more time to dedicated to my two favourite hobbies simultaneously.
Posted by: jacqueline at October 4, 2005 08:34 AM
I love your design, Anna!! So classic and feminine, yet looks so comfy, like something we would want to wear whole day through. I've got to try baby cashmerino someday, it looks delicious ;)
Anyway, I've been trying to read while I knit, but I haven't figure out a way to hold the book open yet ;D
Posted by: yuvee at October 4, 2005 09:40 AM
Pippa looks amazing Anna, I totally love it. Very elegant and classical. Perfect..
Posted by: kerrie at October 4, 2005 10:06 AM
Pippa is beautiful!
Posted by: Nichola at October 4, 2005 10:31 AM
I love Pippa; just perfect for work. Reading is the perfect accompaniment to stocking stitch, although it is sometimes hard to keep the book open, I find. I'm reading the the Woman's Hour best of the Orange Prize list at the moment, listening to it has made me realize I've missed reading some good books.
Posted by: Mary at October 4, 2005 11:18 AM
A lovely, well fitted sweater in a timeless style that can be worn anywhere. Good Job!
Posted by: Pam at October 4, 2005 11:25 AM
What a beautiful cardigan you created. Very vintage. Great photo shoot too. Looks like something right out of Rowan!
Posted by: Adele at October 4, 2005 11:38 AM
Another triumph -- it's gotta be darn close to perfection, too. It's fabulous Anna.
Posted by: Vicki at October 4, 2005 01:43 PM
Pippa is just lovely--very classy!
Posted by: --Deb at October 4, 2005 02:15 PM
Wow, that is a beautiful cardigan! I love the photography, too -- really shows off the gorgeousness of the sweater.
Posted by: chris at October 4, 2005 02:17 PM
Beautiful sweater! Classic design and stunning good looks :) Well done!
Posted by: Debi at October 4, 2005 03:02 PM
Absolutely gorgeous. Totally classic. So when are you selling this pattern? I really adore a good cardigan and this one is a GREAT one.
Posted by: Sarah at October 4, 2005 03:21 PM
beautiful cardi, it is my favorite so far. the photos are gorgeous and your words are as elegant as yourself.
Posted by: blossom at October 4, 2005 03:50 PM
Love your Pippa sweater! I'd buy that pattern in a heartbeat - very classy!
Posted by: Lisa D. at October 4, 2005 04:32 PM
It's exquisite. The neckline is particularly well done--it's beautifully tailored. Really painstaking work.
Posted by: Beth S. at October 4, 2005 04:32 PM
I love Pippa! Are you selling the pattern? Please let me know. I've been looking for a classic cardigan pattern for a while and haven't found anything as beautiful as Pippa.
Posted by: Jen at October 4, 2005 04:59 PM
Pippa is very nice. How did you come up with the name?
Posted by: Liz at October 4, 2005 05:49 PM
Pippa is very, very pretty. And so practical!
I can't even do stockinette and read, so consider yourself talented.
Posted by: Purly Whites at October 4, 2005 05:58 PM
Gorgeous cardi. Will you be sharing the pattern?
Posted by: Ruth at October 4, 2005 05:59 PM
How DO you knit and read. I need to learn this skill. My television is broken and I like reading best anyway! I'm afraid I lack the skills for such a task!
Posted by: Elizabeth at October 4, 2005 08:06 PM
Where do you find the time to knit all of these knock out designs and go to work? Your amazing!
Posted by: Ali at October 4, 2005 09:55 PM
Pippa is definitively my favourite. It is a classic... Bravo Anna! Where will your pattern be available to buy?
Posted by: francoise at October 4, 2005 10:06 PM
Pippa is lovely, but I'd expect no less from you. In college I often trolled the Booker short list for new reads. After letting that lapse, I was really glad to be reminded of the list as a great resource. My money is on Ishiguro. I haven't yet read any of this year's list, but there's been a lot of great buzz about his latest. Let us know what you think of your reading.
Posted by: Julia at October 4, 2005 11:42 PM
Pippa is an ispiration for me. I love it. It's perfect on you.
Posted by: Teresa C at October 5, 2005 01:15 AM
Beautiful, beautiful sweater. Love it.
Posted by: katie at October 5, 2005 02:22 AM
Wow I wish I could do that it looks like a pro you and the sweater are both beautiful.
Posted by: Alex at October 5, 2005 03:28 AM
Amazing- Pippa is so beautiful. Feel very proud of yourself!
Posted by: Kym at October 5, 2005 04:20 AM
Hi there Amelia,
Just wanted to say that I think your designs are FABULOUS* Rowan NNNEEEEEDDDDSSS you!!
Congratulations too on a fabulous blog, I REALLY enjoy reading all your wonderful adventures*
Blessings
norbu
Posted by: norbu at October 5, 2005 02:13 PM
Nice sweater! I love the lines of vertical stitches, and the backstory. Will you be offering this one for sale?
Posted by: Diana at October 5, 2005 03:29 PM
Pippa is lovely. You're such a speed demon, how do you do it?
I just started Sgt Pepper the other night. Pics soon!
Posted by: jodi at October 5, 2005 04:04 PM
I like that Pippa; she's my kind of girl.
Posted by: B. at October 5, 2005 07:00 PM
What a great sweater. I hope that you decide to publish the pattern. Many of us NEED a classic cardigan pattern and Pippa fits the bill.
Posted by: Deena at October 5, 2005 08:03 PM
Anna - you have officially become a designer!! It seems you have another gorgeous original knit on display every other week - I love Pippa!! And in baby cashmerino...sigh. Sounds absolutely divine. Hope to see the pattern for sale soon - this is one I won't be passing up! :-)
Posted by: Vicki at October 5, 2005 08:38 PM
i finshed the ishiguro. just finished 'on beauty', an amazing book! not sure which i'll tackle next, maybe the julian barnes. pippa is lovely, btw!
Posted by: shobhana at October 8, 2005 10:27 PM
So when shall Pippa be available for purchase, darling?
Posted by: Christina at October 9, 2005 05:03 AM
Why do you have until the 19th to read? The winner was announced on the 10th! This year I made it through 3.5 of the 6 shortlisted books before the announcement of the winner (the best I've ever done, though I cheated because I read the Ishiguro (ugh, I hated it) before the shortlist was announced) but I still didn't manage to get to the winner in time. Maybe next year...
Posted by: Meg at October 11, 2005 03:19 AM
Lovely sweater!
Posted by: Roxanne at October 12, 2005 06:25 PM
Very elegant!
Posted by: Birdsong at October 13, 2005 05:53 PM
Anna, I would buy this pattern in a heartbeat if you published it. It's the most beautiful handknit sweater I've seen in ages.
Posted by: liesl at November 6, 2005 03:38 AM