As much as I adore the act of making my own clothes – the actual knitting and sewing, the creation of the garment – what I love almost as much is the planning. The planning stage is where my creativity is most able to wander, to consider what to make next, where it fits into my wardrobe, what color and type of yarn or material, and so on. Sometimes I have a pattern in my queue forever and am happy when I finally get around to making it. Other times, I find a design that really speaks to me in the moment I’m choosing a project and it jumps the queue ahead of everything else. That’s what happened in the case of this Divide Pullover.
I was selecting two sweaters to make for myself as my own birthday gift, and I chose this pattern rather on a whim. It was so different than anything else I had ever made and while I realized the potential for error was fairly high, I also love a challenge. I knew careful planning and preparation were necessary to love the end garment, so I knit multiple gauge swatches which I almost never do. Given the precise lines and structured elements that make up this sweater, the pieces needed to come out just right to end up fitting correctly. My careful planning and constant measuring throughout the process paid off and in the end, I have a sweater I absolutely adore and that I am so proud to have made.
This has been a major growth project for me. I learned new stitch patterns and techniques I had never used before, and the overall complexity definitely pushed my skills for the better. Not only was this a skill builder but I think it has opened my mind up to what sorts of patterns I am drawn to and what elements make for an interesting project. I’m excited to see what will come after this.
Scroll down for all the project details, a full photo gallery, and even a time lapse video of me seaming the pieces of the project together.
