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Rachael Herron

(R.H. Herron)

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The Mom Sweater

May 25, 2008

Finally, pictures!

Photo_1271

The backstory: I grew up with a sweater just like this. My mom had it made for her in a small Norwegian town in the sixties. She wore it ALL the time while I was growing up. I’ve wanted to copy it for years, even took it home with me a couple of times, but always had to give it back when she nagged me to — she was cold, and it was just sitting on my shelf. A couple of months ago, while I was home with her, I took it out and made about a billion notes. I ordered yarn, and then made it without the original in front of me, but it worked. It really worked! This is it! The only difference is that I left one peerie off the edge of the sleeves on accident and the button-band is worked horizontally instead of her crazy-ass vertical one.

I love it. I love it so much I think I might cast on for another one. That might be my comfort knitting (although I did throw some weird acrylic (how did it get into my house?) on the needles last night for a quick cardi — desperate times, desperate measures).

SPECS:
Pattern: My own copy of mom’s 60s Norwegian sweater.
Yarn: Jamieson’s Spindrift, 11 balls Olive, 4 balls Natural White
Needles: US 2
Gauge: 6st/inch
Buttons: 11, pewter, bought at Stitches, can’t remember vendor

Photo_1181

Closer look! Hello! (That lipstick? Seriously? Wet’n’Wild, 508A. Can you believe it?)

Photo_1061

Lala wanted to say hi.

Photo_1141

Miss Idaho kept flying by and messing up the shot.

Mwah! I am off to wear it for fun times with dogs and La right NOW. 

Posted by Rachael 53 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tara says

    May 25, 2008 at 11:11 am

    you.have.got.to.be.kidding.me. That is the most fabulous sweater I have ever seen! You rock!

    Reply
  2. Michelle says

    May 25, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    The last two pictures are my favorites. Hi Lala! Hey, Miss Idaho!
    The sweater–and YOU–are both gorgeous.

    Reply
  3. TheBon says

    May 25, 2008 at 12:49 pm

    The sweater looks fabulous!

    Reply
  4. Nell says

    May 25, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Wow!!!! Great job! You did that on just a few notes?!?!?! You’re a knitting ROCK STAR!

    Reply
  5. chris says

    May 25, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    That is an EXCELLENT sweater!
    Also, how jealous am I that you can wear a wool sweater in late May? (answer: VERY).

    Reply
  6. megan says

    May 25, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Gorgeous sweater! Hilarious photos!

    Reply
  7. Wendy says

    May 25, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    Haha, your wife is funny–I laughed out loud at the silly where’s waldo/suess-esque popping out and had to click over to comment with the Miss Idaho shot–love her buggy face zooming by. Mommy’s posing, chaos time!

    Reply
  8. Wendy says

    May 25, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    Oh, uh, and great job on the sweater, it looks awesome! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  9. --Deb says

    May 25, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    The sweater looks fabulous! Love the extras in your photo shoot, too…

    Reply
  10. Anne says

    May 25, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    A. May. Zing. Nothing else to say.

    Reply
  11. Catherine says

    May 25, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    You are a knitting goddess – that is a fabulous sweater! Great pictures too – and I swear your Wet’n’Wild lipstick looks tons better than the Clinique I just gambled on.

    Reply
  12. claudia says

    May 25, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    You are so darned cute, but Miss Idaho…oh. my. god.

    Reply
  13. Kathy in San Jose says

    May 25, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    It is absolutely Fantabulous! I’m in awe of your sweater skills and reverse-engineering ability.

    Reply
  14. Kirsten says

    May 25, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    It’s AWEsome. I had fun knitting a Norwegian sweater for a baby, I can’t imagine making an adult size one. It’s beautiful. I see you are knitting on through all crises – so very E.Z. ๐Ÿ™‚ Hugs.

    Reply
  15. Jennifer says

    May 25, 2008 at 6:14 pm

    Wow – Talk about comfort knitting! This should take the cake for 2008 for all knitters out there. I love the story – the color – the buttons and the pics. It looks great on you and I know you’ll treasure it forever. Thanks for sharing such a great knitting story with us.

    Reply
  16. Lynn in Tucson says

    May 25, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    You ARE a wonder. Had I untaken something like that, I’m sure it would be left sitting around for my own daughter to finish!
    Lovely.

    Reply
  17. Darci says

    May 25, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    Okay, the sweater is rockin’ which is given because you made it but the fact that you just keep on posing as chaos happens around you.

    Reply
  18. em says

    May 25, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    That sweater is so great. Wow. It looks like a happy childhood sweater as if that makes any sense at all.
    I’m really only commenting because the picture of Lala was so great and then the one with Miss Idaho made me laugh.

    Reply
  19. Angie says

    May 25, 2008 at 6:55 pm

    Beautiful sweater. I mean, really outstanding!
    Acrylic has a place and it works for comfort knitting ANYTIME. ๐Ÿ˜€
    Funny little flying dog.

    Reply
  20. Gwen says

    May 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    Beautiful! All of you, including the sweater…

    Reply
  21. Lee Ann says

    May 25, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    I’m a sucker for a flying Miss Idaho, but the closer look shot is my favourite. YOU are a cutie-patootie. Gorgeous job on the sweater, too!

    Reply
  22. Jeanne B. says

    May 25, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    Wow, you made the pattern off an existing sweater?!? WOW! Totally cool. Nice job! It looks great on you, too.

    Reply
  23. no-blog-rachel says

    May 25, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    Lala and Miss Idaho. Oh those crazy kids!
    Fab job on the sweater – it’s gorgeous!

    Reply
  24. Teenuh says

    May 25, 2008 at 11:12 pm

    Oh wow, you did an AWESOME job! You look fantastic in it, what a perfect staple sweater to add to your repertoire.
    And the pics of Lala and Miss Idaho are cracking me up.

    Reply
  25. alison says

    May 25, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    They still make Wet’n’Wild lipstick?!
    Oh, right, the sweater … is AMAZING. I love it. And it looks fabuloso on you. Love it!

    Reply
  26. alison says

    May 25, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    p.s. It is a whole cowboy-boots calendar? Or just May? HiLARious.

    Reply
  27. Adrika says

    May 25, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    Fabulous sweater! I simply love it and I understand why you wanted to have it!!! great work!

    Reply
  28. eve says

    May 26, 2008 at 2:24 am

    Wow, looks great and I love the pictures ;-))
    Eve

    Reply
  29. katie m. says

    May 26, 2008 at 2:41 am

    Wow! I have to de-lurk just to say how beautiful that sweater is.

    Reply
  30. martian77 says

    May 26, 2008 at 4:40 am

    How jealous am I that your mum wore something like that all the time? My mum had this big floaty dress with some ties around the neck that she wore to put us to bed a lot when we were little. There is no way in hell I am copying it, no matter how much I love it for nostalgia!
    The jumper is lovely, and it looks great on you.

    Reply
  31. Teresa says

    May 26, 2008 at 4:46 am

    The sweater?
    Very. Very. Awesome.
    Lala is so cute. And Miss Idaho. And of course you – always!

    Reply
  32. Brenda says

    May 26, 2008 at 5:50 am

    That sweater is absolutely beautiful. The fact that you made it from an existing sweater is even better – and that it came out just right. You should be proud of your accomplishment!

    Reply
  33. wendy says

    May 26, 2008 at 7:03 am

    The sweater is gorgeous, but the “guest appearances” in the photos that really cracked me up!

    Reply
  34. Annarella says

    May 26, 2008 at 7:17 am

    !!! Sound of jaw dropping! xx

    Reply
  35. Lisa says

    May 26, 2008 at 8:21 am

    Beautiful!!!!!! You did an awesome job, and it looks fabulous on you!!

    Reply
  36. sil says

    May 26, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Wow! That’s freaking amazing. You, are of course, a goddess!
    I hope your momma is doing better and that the sight of you in her clone sweater will cheer her immensely.

    Reply
  37. Jennifer says

    May 26, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    OMG! you are amazing.

    Reply
  38. Joan in Reno says

    May 26, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    The sweater is fabulous! And the memories that go with it, too. You’ll love wearing that for years and years.

    Reply
  39. Joan in Reno says

    May 26, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    The sweater is fabulous! And the memories that go with it, too. You’ll love wearing that for years and years.

    Reply
  40. Joan in Reno says

    May 26, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    The sweater is fabulous! And the memories that go with it, too. You’ll love wearing that for years and years.

    Reply
  41. Emily says

    May 26, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    Rad. My mom has a sweater like that too.
    Vertical button bands are for suckers, so good for you for resisting it.
    Et tu es tres belle, quelle glamour shot, madame. Baises!

    Reply
  42. Krystal says

    May 26, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    Wow, that’s amazing! You should totally write up the pattern and sell it. I’d buy it! It looks GREAT!!

    Reply
  43. Karma says

    May 26, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    I love your happy face in your blog photos. Love! And I love how Lala and the pets love to pop up in your photos, tee!
    The sweater is so beautiful and I’m duly impressed that you simply copied your mom’s sweater, your mom’s favoritest sweater, and ta da! here you have your own new mom’s sweater, too.

    Reply
  44. Betsy says

    May 27, 2008 at 8:34 am

    Hey there amazing one! The sweater is awesome, any chance you jotting the pattern down for those of us without the ability to look and knit? Like maybe on Ravelry? Love the pics!!!!

    Reply
  45. susan says

    May 27, 2008 at 8:36 am

    Holy cow, that sweater is AMAZING and it looks perfect on you! Fantastic!!

    Reply
  46. cordeliaknits says

    May 27, 2008 at 9:15 am

    The sweater looks gorgeous and so do you…as usual!

    Reply
  47. hahnak says

    May 27, 2008 at 9:33 am

    just wanted to chime in. i love norgis and this is a cutie! good job on knitting it. its well done, beautiful!

    Reply
  48. maryse says

    May 27, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    that sweater looks fan-fucking-tastic but i have to say that i love those last two pictures. how did lala get sideways like that? ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  49. Maia says

    May 28, 2008 at 10:55 am

    Love the sweater! My mother learned to knit in Norway and we all had Norwegian sweaters growing up. I have a soft spot for them.
    Love the cameos by Lala and Miss Idaho! Give them kisses for me.

    Reply
  50. Janice says

    May 28, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    It looks FANTASTIC! Congratulations on finishing an amazing project.

    Reply
  51. spoiledonlychild says

    May 29, 2008 at 10:32 am

    I am completely blown away by your knitting abilities. What an amazing accomplishment. Best best wishes for you and your mom.

    Reply
  52. michelle says

    May 30, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    The sweater is wonderful. You are wonderful. You are in my thoughts. Take care.

    Reply
  53. Wanda says

    June 1, 2008 at 12:02 pm

    That is a beautiful sweater Rachael.

    Reply

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