Noro Prep

Okey-dokey. Now awake after a pretty okay sleep. It was my first day sleep in the new house, and I’m SO pleased how vastly quiet it is. I still have to wear earplugs, since my cats are so tromp-ey around the house, but there was no noise underneath. Well, that was until the doorbell rang, leaving my shutterfly order. Why did I install a doorbell again?

I’m SO bad at sleeping. But today, I channeled Joanna, who is a Master Sleeper, by her own account. Seriously, I woke up every hour or so, and each time I woke, my brain threatened to wake UP. You know, the kind of brain noise that renders it impossible to ever get back to sleep (have to order some Manos Cotton Stria, I should go to Trader Joe’s before work, check to see if I have cash for that, oh and check the bank account to see if the rent’s gone through yet, I wonder what time Christy’s coming by for her bike). Every time I woke up, I hugged the pillow determinedly and thought, sleep like Joanna, sleep like Joanna. I willed myself to sleep today. And it worked pretty dang well. Thanks, J.

Here’s Noro Prep for you.

I’m actually wearing it right now. I was tired and wasn’t really thinking when I picked up the stitches for the neckline – that was the point at which I could have made the cardigan decision, but I missed my window of steek-ability and now have a pullover. I’m glad for it, too. It’s quite cozy and just the right size, and I love the neckline in this pattern. See?

That's my manic "smile fast, you're late for work" smile. Yipes.

Specs:
Pattern: Retro Prep, Interweave Knits, Fall 2002
Yarn: 9 balls Noro Kureyon 55 from the Threadbear Boys
Gauge: 24 st/4 inch
Needle size: 3US

My needle size is going to get me killed someday.

Comments

[Erica]

That is such a great sweater! Sooo cute on you. I've got to finish my Retro Prep!!

[Mandy]

I love the sweater! It looks great on you...:)

[anne]

you look lovely!

[alison]

oh! my! I must get my hands on that pattern -- I LOVE this sweater, and it looks especially good on you! It IS just the right size, and the colours really suit you, too.

But size 3 needles? How do you DO that?!

[ann]

Great sweater!! I also love seeing your new apartment - love the yellow!

[Ann]

Oooh! Is that a little bit of blue in the 55? It's entirely perfect.

I channel G while I'm driving.

[cari]

That pattern's been on my to-do list for ages but of course you've actually gone and made it. And it looks fabulous, as your sweaters ALWAYS do. covet covet.

[Silvia]

Very cute sweater and despite your claim that the photo was rushed,it's a good pic too! It's a keeper for your momma...

I posted to Joanna that I just got the GSRP box, and perhaps setting up a meet in your hood for the hand off...

[chandra]

Your Prep rocks!!! and it's really cute on you, especially with the manic look in your eye. :) But dammit! Now I have to add that to my "gotta-knit-that" list . . . It's all your fault. (thanks!)

[froggy]

Love that retro prep! Great fit, too. I have to work on getting out of the baggy sweater look. The way your sweater fits is much more flattering.
Great job!

[Jan]

You and LooseEnds Melissa are going to be the cause of a massive run on Kureyon! Love the sweater...perfect fit.

[Jan]

Ok, I admit it. You already have been the cause of a massive run on Kureyon, now that I think about it.

[Em]

Oh, it's so purty! I love the neckline and the colors, like all frickin' colors, look gorgeous on you.

[sarah b.]

That looks great! Is this the same sweater that you feared would be boxy? The fit is very flattering on you! Shows off your shape nicely!

[Lisa, Mike, Jack, and Della]

fabulous noro prep. cool.

The pups and I wish you some happy snoring time.

[Carrie]

Wow, that sweater looks fabulous!! LOVE that colrway of the Kureyon....did you really knit on 3s? You are crazy, woman. I'm scared of 5s.

That is a great picture of you, by the way. You look happy and excited, not rushed!

[susan]

Like Cari, I have been putting off knitting the Retro Prep pattern and you are lighting a fire under my butt. It never even occurred to me to use Kureyon for it, but now I'm thinking it could be just the excuse I've been waiting for to buy a bag of Kureyon #91. If you don't mind a copycat.

And I must say, you're having a nice hair effect.

[claudia]

I'm a non-fan of Kureyon, yet I still like that sweater on you. Glad to see you feeling so much better!

[amisha]

adorable, adorable! i am going to add my voice in & say that it is so cute & flattering on you! i also always do baggy, unshaped, etc... need to move away from that. how much ease did you leave in the sweater? are the sides shaped? questions questions... :)
congrats, you look great!!

[Steph]

Wow great sweater. I love kureyon. But does this sweater stand on it's own? That's a tight gauge for that yarn.

I have rowanspun dk stashed away to make that sweater...I might have to go looking for it.

Hope you get a good sleep today. Mantras are good. Sleep, baby, sleep.

[indigirl]

Wow! Gorgeous! I never would have thought of pushing Kureyon to that gauge, but I bet it'll pill less! I'll have to keep that in mind... Maybe there's a 4th retro prep in my future.

[maryse]

that's got to the be the most slimming horizontally striped sweater i have ever seen. very very nice.

[Rebecca]

Super fantastic sweater! I'm glad you left this one a pull-over. It's perfect for you! Just perfect.

[Amber]

Daaahling, I love the sweater, but my goodness, it's just a DK weight, are we a little loosy goosy with the guage-ness? :)

I've got some noro something-or-other handing around that I should do the same thing with, good idea! =)

[anne]

Gorgeous, gorgeous sweater. Dpn't you dare start knitting aran weight or even chunky. Finer is classier :)

[Mandy]

What a gorgeous and sexy sweater! I am gobsmacked that you knit the Kureyon at that gauge, what an awesome idea - my wear-every-day Kureyon sweater is pilling like crazy and I bet yours will do much better. Good luck with your sleeping adventures. :)

[Jon]

Goodness! I thought the ball-band on Kureyon called for a US7 needles. I had no idea you were such a loose woman! (At least gauge-wise!)

I think that is a fabulous photo of you!

[marta]

_3_!!! size 3s?! wow, you must knit loose! It looks fabulous (of course). Thanks, yea, thanks for the super enabling...now I MUST have a Noro retro sweater.

[Kathleen]

Looks like it has all been said but the Noro Prep looks great. Love the smile. :)

[Mariko]

Size 3 needles! Gah! But the sweater looks SO comfy and beautiful. Woohoo!

[annie]

I love the sweater! Looks great on you.
And I love the yellow walls in your apartment. How cheerful :)

[greta]

YOU.ARE.ADORABLE.
That sweater is the most perfect thing I've seen since...the last one you cardiganized...wow.
I cannot get *over* the steek window thing...
in addition to being cute, your word wizardry is enchanting.

[sharlyn]

That is one hot retro prep! Now, how did you manage to knit Kureyon on sz.3's? I'm definitely adding that one to my list of things to knit.

[Alissa]

That is the best looking sweater I have seen on you yet! Not that your others aren't fab, but this one just fits perfectly.

Another stupendous job, my dear!!!

[Becky]

I want that sweater! Retrochic and stylish. You look great in everything you knit. I wannabe like Rachael!

[Marie]

Noro Prep is lovely. Colors and neckline, beautiful. And you look great in stripes. Lucky!

[Paula]

Very cute sweater, looks great.

[Loose Ends Melissa]

My nose has been to the grindstone so I am late on the scene here.....

Yay! There's another Kureyon sweater in this world. I bet you will wear this one a lot. Just bought some #55 from Halcyon. Had a 15% off coupon that was burning a hole in my pocket. Great job.

[J Strizzy]

What a beautiful sweater--it looks great on you and seems to fit perfectly. Ya know, I've been thinking about making a Retro Prep, and now you've convinced me to add it to the List.

And I don't know whether to be gratified or a little insulted that thinking of me put you to sleep. Wait--who am I kidding?!? I like to think of helping everyone get more sleep as my mission in life. I've never met anyone who's worse off when they get more sleep.

[jessica]

Late as usual - great sweater. You inspired me to go purchase the backcopy with the Prep sweater and try to use my existing stash of Noro #80. I am a fairly new knitter so the gauge conversion should be 'interesting'. Your sweater looks so great! Love your blog - daily read.