It's Owls by Kate Davies.
I know, I'm probably the last person in the entire knitter community to finally knit one, but it took me only three glorious days of knitting (hardly knitting, that is. This thing was fast). And better than the just three days it took, it used just one skein of yarn to boot. Take a look at the before and after. The before, or light color in my right hand, is a brand-new skein of the Cascade Ecological Wool all caked up, which is a wonderful value for your money. The one in my left hand is what I have left over from the sweater I knit.
I decided to place just one pair of button eyes on the owls because, first of all, the local store that sells buttons is such a buzz kill that after I leave I want to find a padded room, and second, I prefer to make things with minimal finishing so attaching two buttons is about all I can endure.
The only thing I would do differently on this sweater is knit it from the top down (I think there are notes online about how to do it) because that little bit of yarn that is left over would have given me an extra inch in length for the Body and I would have been able to knit top down until I nearly ran out of yarn. But, that's okay. I like it anyway, and I actually wore it the day before yesterday for practically the whole day. That's a feat for me in of itself.
As far as modifications go, I knit the second size (33" chest) and instead of knitting long sleeves, I cast on 40 stitches and knit 10 rows of ribbing and then increased to 44 stitches among 16 rows. After that, I just followed the directions for the rest of the sweater and adjusted my stitch count on the first couple of the Body rounds so that it matched the pattern on my size. Voila.
In other news: Loretta just pooped under Girlfriend's bed.
Bet she (Girlfriend) just loved that. Love the short sleeves on Owls. Way to go for California.
Posted by: Chloe | January 13, 2012 at 06:39 PM
Fabulous! Love the own sweater on you. I can see why you wore it. I agree with only the one set of eyes. That would be plenty for me too.
Too bad about Loretta and Girlfriend's bed. lol
Posted by: Lauren | January 13, 2012 at 06:43 PM
It looks great! I have yet to knit an Owl, so you're not the very last one...
Posted by: Annri | January 13, 2012 at 06:46 PM
love the sweater, but how are you not sweating to death in that thing? i'm in venice and the heat is making me cranky. stupid "winter"! ;)
Posted by: kristi | January 13, 2012 at 07:50 PM
It was about 80 today so we waited until dusk to take the picture. The sweater was immediately taken off after that!
Posted by: Wendy | January 13, 2012 at 07:51 PM
To add length, you could cut the sweater a couple of rows just above the ribbing at the bottom, attach the ball of yarn to the top of the sweater and knit down until you are left with enough yarn to graft (Kitchener) the stocking stitch back onto the ribbing.
I have done this on a couple of projects and if you just snug up your grafting yarn, one would have trouble noticing the graft after blocking the sweater.
Beautiful sweater, BTW. Oh to have that figure again...
Posted by: Geri Inglis | January 13, 2012 at 09:21 PM
I have to declare, I haven't made that pattern yet either and I've got to do it because I think it is a cute pattern. I love the colour you knitted it in. Regards, Anita.
Posted by: Anita | January 14, 2012 at 03:03 AM
Don't feel bad. I haven't knit my Owls yet either. Though I will have to learn how to re-size (doesn't come in my size) so I don't mess up the placements of the owls, lol.
Looks wonderful.
Posted by: Hev | January 14, 2012 at 06:45 AM
Hilarious!!
Well, I used two skeins of eco wool...but that's because I'm 6' and I knit long sleeves (New England winters, and all). I'm ready to try again at the correct gauge ;)
Posted by: CambriaW | January 14, 2012 at 06:46 AM
Wow 3 days...! Tendinitis? ha ha ha!!!! Great job!
Posted by: Chantal Boucher | January 14, 2012 at 09:40 AM
oh, no! is Loretta sick? Nice sweater, too
Posted by: Linda | January 14, 2012 at 09:51 AM
No, not sick. She's just a tough nut to crack when it comes to potty training.
Posted by: Wendy | January 14, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Love the sweater, looks good
Posted by: Ruth | January 14, 2012 at 02:42 PM
Woohooo that looks great on you. I'm somewhat jealous you found time to knit someone else's pattern. I'm staring down the barrel of a deadline right now so I can't even think about other people's patterns.
Posted by: Marnie | January 14, 2012 at 03:04 PM
You reminded me that I soo wanted to make this sweater long time ago, I started on it twice! It looks gorgeous on you and I love your color choice. I really need to make a sweater, any sweater for me this winter before winter is over.. How does the saying goes - a shoemaker without shoes! :D
Miss you, lady! Hope life is glamorous! <3
Posted by: Olga | January 15, 2012 at 03:51 AM
You know, I STILL haven't knitted up an Owls sweater, either! Yours is beautiful - I love the warm mustard color. I might do up one for a toddler in my life... just have to clear out some projects-in-progress first. :)
Posted by: Christie | January 15, 2012 at 07:08 AM
Yep. Add me to the list of people with this on their 'to-do' list. I loved the little owls when I saw this the first time and I still love them!
Posted by: Anne | January 15, 2012 at 07:33 AM
I, too, love that sweater but have yet to knit one. Maybe for a baby ... if anyone I know has another one!
Posted by: Anne | January 15, 2012 at 07:48 PM
Lol. Did you type that last sentence in your best news-anchor voice?
You're definitely not the last one to knit that sweater. I have the yarn for mine (Eco as well) and it's on my to knit list for this year.
Posted by: Chancy | January 16, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Oddly enough, you and Susan B. Anderson seem to be in about the same place. Her most recent blog shows her "owls" being blocked. No mention of dog poop though!
Posted by: KarenJ | January 19, 2012 at 08:19 AM
In San Diego sweating while looking at this! You could have used a cotton yarn! And, ALL sweaters should be top down - that why I love your books!!
Posted by: Lisa | January 20, 2012 at 01:09 PM
Did you see on Susan B Anderson's blog that she just finished her first, too?
Posted by: Judi A. | January 22, 2012 at 02:12 PM
i like it with just the one pair of eyes. good choice!
Posted by: villalena | January 23, 2012 at 09:24 AM
Got my eco wool and will make the short sleeve version for my 20 something daughter. I think she will do better by it than i would. Were you able to use the 10 needles? some say they dont like the fabric, but yours looks good to me; and I love the idea of just one skein.
Posted by: MIchelleinCO | February 22, 2012 at 06:34 PM
I used size 9 for mine. The best bet is to do some swatching and decide for yourself.
Posted by: Wendy | February 25, 2012 at 07:08 PM