Zoom in on the heart (third pic) to see who holds my heart! ;) When I made this sweater I had no idea what I was doing (hence the name). I had a vision and went to it. I had the biggest trouble with the trim….I knew what I wanted but didn’t know what to call it to figure out how to do it. But thanks to the lovely Rvelry community, someone put me on the right track with a knit on edge and I was able to research that a bit and make something up. I LOVE IT. It was a bit of trial and error getting the pattern to work with my sweater, but in the end it was worth it. There are no big bind offs in this sweater, which is HUGE for me because that is the BLECHY part-plus you don’t have to worry about the bind off being too tight! EEEK! So happy with this thing. I will be getting pics of the finished sweater today and in the next week or so type up the pattern. This will be a free pattern-my leave a penny contribution to this awesome community. I love you guys.

My notes from when I first started the top:

I knew I wanted a sweater…with a cowl…that was big…but not the choking you to death kind-I HATE turtle necks…I knew I wanted cables, but not HOLY CRAP! CABLES! I knew I wanted bobbles, but not OMG SHE HAS MEASLES bobbles….

So, enter the Sam Dickens. Why this title? Because I have no idea what, in the Sam Dickens, I am doing. I’m not even sure I know who Sam Dickens is, which makes this perfect.

12-5-14: Turning out really well, I like that I used a larger needle, it has a nice drape and this color is awesome. I love LB heartland. I’ve gotten it to the point where I can try it on and see how it will fit-loving the fit so far. I wanted it to be fairly fitted without being tight-I HATE tight crap. Very happy so far. :)

12-8-14: Getting closer to finishing the body section. I’ve figured out how I want the edging to look and for that I am very excited. I wasn’t too keen on a ribbed edge-I don’t like it when things get tighter at the bottoms. I’m going to do a rope cable edge for all the edgings. It will be my first one so I hope it works! :)

Okie dokie, I did the trim on the body and I loved it! BUT I felt it came out too wide-so I am going to modify the way I attach as I go, because I want to be super happy with it…so a little bit of frogging and then back at the drawing board. The last three pics show the too big edge…Not bad…but not what I am going for.

12-9-14: Got most of the bottom band re-done at dd’s karate last night. Much happier with the redo. Glad I did frog that part. I’ve had another mental breakthrough-I had been stressing on how I wanted the cowl portion to look, I think I have it figured out out. :) Can’t wait for that part! EEK! New pic up-showing the start of the cowl neckline and the redone bottom edge. I probably should have made it wider..Sooo I devised a new plan, that will entail the back of the cowl to be a little tighter and the front to be a little looser-I actually think this was an awesome mistake, because I would prefer to not have a huge bit of bulk in the back! :)

12-12-14: Cowl neckline is done and I am so so so super excited. The pattern will actually reflect the cowl as it is now, but will have an option for a tighter almost turtle neckline if that is preferred. I love having choices in my patterns-I was always a fan of those ‘choose your own ending’ books as a kid. :)

HUSTON! WE HAVE A SLEEVE! EEK! I’m SO excited about that stupid sleeve. It fits perfect-the next should be a breeze! :)

12-12-14: Oh dear god we are DONE! I am so so happy with this thing! I put it on and showed DD. She got wide eyed and said, “It’s UGLY.” Apparently she loves it all except for the neckline. I’d say she hurt my feelings deeply, but she has a keen hatred for all things knitted. Except for the hand warmers and hat she ‘designed.’