A Sweet Sixteen Sweater

 

My grandniece Cauliflower will turn 16 this summer. She's getting to the age now where she's more or less full grown and may be wearing the sweaters I make her for some years to come instead of growing out of them in a year or two. She's also gotten to age at which she wants to pick out her own clothes. However, I still want to make her sweaters for a few more years yet, so play it safe by gravitating towards classic designs when picking out a pattern for her annual birthday gift. Even the pickiest people with the most specific tastes don't tend to object to a gift of classic knitwear.

When I searched Ravelry for a suitable pattern for Cauliflower's birthday present, I came across the Holly design you see pictured above, from Marie Amelie Designs. It's classic, wearable, and flattering, with a nice bit of texture to give it some distinction. 

As for the yarn, I visited Romni Wools during Boxing Week 2024 to see what they had. Last year Romni Wools was forced to close their main store on Queen Street because the rent had gotten too high to make the location financially viable, and now their only Toronto location is their Weston Road store. It's much smaller than the Queen Street store, so Romni Wools' selection is now less than half what it was. When I looked for a machine washable DK wool for this sweater, I only really had one brand to choose from -- Garnstudio Drops Karisma -- and not a lot of colour selection. I ruled out the blue yarns, because Cauliflower's 15th birthday present sweater was blue. I ruled out pink, as Cauliflower hasn't liked pink in years. I ruled out some other colours as being too drab or unflattering or unattractive, and that left me purchasing 450 grams in shade 39, "Dark Old Rose", which I think is more of a plum, and hoping Cauliflower would like it.

The completed sweater. I think it turned out quite well, though I'm afraid I might have gotten the sleeves a little long. 

I am much more confident of the other component of Cauliflower's birthday gift. At Christmas I asked her what subjects she was taking that semester, and which was her favourite? She told me her favourite course was Food Studies, and that she really enjoys cooking. I asked her what her favourite thing was to cook, and she said, "Pizza." So, when I saw this good-as-new cookbook on artisanal pizza baking at my local Value Village, I snapped it up for Cauliflower. 

Sixteen is a milestone for a teenager. In Ontario, a kid who reaches sixteen is eligible to get their driver's license, which is a big step forward in terms of greater freedom and independence. My gift isn't at all as exciting as that prospect and it won't open any new doors for Cauliflower, but it just might serve to keep her warm and comfortable on cold days, and take her pizza baking skills to the next level.