Summer Crafting: Finished Object (Aisance Cardigan)

So I finished the Aisance Cardigan, as I mentioned recently. While my goal was to show you a photo of this on my actual body, I'm so truly occupied right now that it just won't happen till it happens.

In the interest of documenting something, however, please see obligatory photos on sub-optimal-dress-form-that's-too-wide:

Honestly, my shoulders are a good 4 inches less wide than these - and my arms don't pop out in that bizarre way just below the shoulder. It's hard to tell how nicely this would fit a frame of the correct proportions, but please do try... 

While the front panels look wrinkled, it's an illusion - I swear.

What I can say, now that I've blocked and worn this garment is that, while it really does nothing for the dress form, it's rather attractive on a human being. Not that you should take my word for it.

Final thoughts on the garment:

• It grew in length more than I would have liked, and I sense, given the drape and heaviness of the front panels of fabric, it may continue to do so. Sure, I can steam it to shrink, as necessary, but I wish I'd taken another 2 inches of length out of the front panels via more stringent short-rowing (I mean, over and above the short-row shenanigans I did engage in, see Ravelry notes). It would have been easy to do (and would have saved me yarn and time). The reason I didn't go harder is because I'd already removed so much length from the garment (as per pattern directions) that I was scared to overdo it. Sometimes, it's best to listen to your intuition.

• I called the horizontal measurements and other proportions perfectly, however. Given that this sweater tends towards the large in all directions, I do feel happy about this outcome.

• The yarn, for it's length-wise growi-ness, is just gorgeous. I'm not sure if you can detect it's silk sheen, but it looks like a million bucks. I will definitely use this yarn again - though I hope it doesn't tend towards pilling (which only time will tell).

• The success of this garment, overall, will be in the wearing. Alas, this isn't going to happen until the fall (I suspect). Do I love it as much as I hoped I would? No. But I can't complain. It's a lovely, minimal, elegant, luxe cardigan and if I can manage to wear it often, I suspect I'll learn to appreciate it fully.

So that's one project down. Next up, more on the Nettie assembly line experience. Thoughts about the Aisance?