Homage to EZ???

Promise you this is the last post for catching up on what has been completed while I wasn't blogging. My next post should have some 'action' shots for want of a better description of knitting, crocheting or spinning in progress rather than 'here's one I did earlier' in true Blue Peter style...

Anyway cast your minds back you may remember seeing a photo of this jumper I worked and completed as a prototype (you know smaller jumper, less sts, just in case EZ hadn't got it right and it was all a disaster) for one for our friend Mike who had requested a jumper for a Christmas present in the September of 2008. As the jumper he picked from my pattern books was in a lovey Patons yarn 'Jet' which is Wool & Alpaca and unfortunately hand wash only this was no good, so rather than try and use the pattern and do a bigger size with DK yarn, I decided it was time I put my Elizabeth Zimmermann (EZ) books to good use....

Well after a lot of stop, starting which means every time I got near a bit that was not straight forward or bit I thought was not going to work out right as EZ said it would, the above jumper was completed and as usual EZ was correct, I was having visions that the raglan decreases were not enough and all you would see was the top of the head above the neckline!!!

This then gave me the confidence that maybe just maybe I could actually do this jumper for Mike, so earlier this month I finally completed his 2008 Christmas present... I have to say I am very, very OK very pleased with this and can't wait for some colder weather when it will be getting put into regular service :o))

The basic outline of working the raglan came from EZ's 'Knitting Workshop', I think this is my favourite of her 4 books... the idea for the green contrasting bottom hem (which you can't see here) was from Brooklyntweed's Seamless Hybrid. The sleeves (3x3 rib) and the collar (1x1 rib) along with contrasting facings were what attracted Mike to the original pattern - Patons Jet 1266 (see bottom left thumbnail). I have to say I think I've done pretty well mimicking this hand wash only wool/alpaca blend in a machine washable, tumble dry able Patons Diploma Gold DK yarn, don't you?

Other EZ projects have been done as well... My friend Janet was expecting their 2nd child on 24th July, Anna Laura weighed in 11 days late on the 4th August at 7lb 11oz and was met with these...

EZ's surplice jacket worked in Patons new Eco Cotton (Lime & Primrose) this carries a similar tension to Rowans Cotton Glace...

and what must be considered EZ's most worked pattern looking at the number of projects on Ravelry, her Baby Surprise Jacket or BSJ as it's more commonly known....

I joined the July KAL on the BSJ Forum on Ravelry to do this using Dale of Norway's 'Baby Ull' on 3.5mm needles and I really enjoyed this, I must have done as I offered Janet another one if she wanted in a few months in a bigger size....

As you can see even though this is my 1st one I did a few modifications such as adding the collar, lengthening the sleeves and finishing with an i-cord buttonhole....

Think that's it for now, will be back soon with more current works....