Ribby Fun!
Yesterday was Ribby's debut and so many of you noticed. Let me tell you what a great sweater this is: Classic, warm, functional and easy to wear. Bonne Maire! I love my Ribby Cardi!!! We did take mountain pictures but the bright white snow and blue sky make it hard to see the details of Ribby because of the dark yarn. So we headed to the play ground. Here she is with a mountain in the back ground (the sky isn't as blue in the valley and we have no snow.)
I tried a 'Greta' but that pose is beyond my skills at the moment. (The swing nearly did me in, but the PT did say that inversion would be good for me.) You can see that Ribby is great for play time, office time or any other time. A true classic. 
The pieces had been finished for some time, but the sock obsession hit hard. After finishing up the socks (and the suck) the inclination came on in a rush and I sat down to finish her up. It was quick work as the pattern is so well done. Sewing the seams and fitting in the sleeves was easy as pie. The collar knit up quickly (I put a little stripe about half way) and then in went the zipper. Waalaa! She was ready to wear. And I wore her for three days straight. That tells you what a great sweater it is!
Ribby Cardi by Bonne Marie Burns
Yarn: Peruvian Highland Wool- Charcoal Heather for Body, Oxford Gray Heather for Sleeves.
Started: 1-01-05
Finished: 3-12-05
Changes: Top of the sleeve was made wider by increasing eight stitches more in the body of the sleeve.
I plan to make a second Ribby with all over rib pattern, longer body and a mandarin style collar out of Oxblood Peruvian. Now you know what a great sweater this is if I'll knit it twice.
Thank you so much for the outpouring of support and good wishes! You are all awesome and Blogland has been a thrill this past year. To Renee, from the RAOK Ring, thank you for the very nice rememberance of my birthday! I love the frame which will hold Moxie's picture as it was his birthday yesterday, too. And the pin which says, Make a Sweater Not War, is perfect! And lookie here! Smith bought me a spindle and some roving...how cool is that? Time to learn to spin! The carved piece of wood is an Armenian sock blocker and it's so beautiful. Need to figure out how it works. Anyone have an idea?
I love the quote Janice in GA left in the comments that she attributed to Diane Keaton.
"As you get older, physical deterioration is offset by a larger world view and a deeper sense of gratitude."
That says it perfectly for me. Mmwwwaaaaa!!
Your ribby is great and so are the photos. I want to make the sweater, but I need to learn how to put zippers in.
Happy belated birthday!
Posted by: Vera | March 15, 2005 at 03:45 AM
gorgeous ribby! and those pics are so fun! your future ribby sounds really cool. can't wait to see it.
Posted by: froggy | March 15, 2005 at 04:18 AM
What great photos -- you look so cute!
Posted by: Wendy | March 15, 2005 at 04:29 AM
What fun!! Your Ribbi looks fantastic.......this should help encourage me to restart my sleeves :-)
Is that a hint of Spring that I see in your pictures? Grass that looks a wee bit green? Ahhh.......what an even better birthday present! It will be weeks before we see grass, let alone green grass...LOL
Posted by: Kim | March 15, 2005 at 05:41 AM
Ribby looks fantastic! I am so jealous. So it's worth it huh? ;-)
Happy belated birthday, by the way! Ribby looked terrific yesterday.
Posted by: Cara | March 15, 2005 at 08:07 AM
I noticed your Ribby yesterday and am so glad you elaborated today, Margene. I've been eyeing that pattern for months and I think your photos have pushed me over the edge. It looks like the perfect combination of style, comfort and wearability. (And what a model! Bonnie Marie should give you a cut!)
Posted by: Jan | March 15, 2005 at 08:10 AM
You are so adorable (if it's ok to call 'a woman of a certain age' that). The Ribby and your surroundings look awesome.
Posted by: Liz | March 15, 2005 at 08:26 AM
WOW, what a sweater! What a woman! From the younger bunch...."You go girl!" Fabulous at fifty five!
Posted by: PJ | March 15, 2005 at 08:36 AM
I did notice the Ribby yesterday! I think its gorgeous.
Posted by: Sharlene | March 15, 2005 at 08:37 AM
Happy belated birthday! 55 years young - how fabulous! I love the ribby. I have ten skeins of charcoal in my stash. How much yarn did the contrasting sleeves and band take you? xox
Posted by: Julia | March 15, 2005 at 08:39 AM
Glad you liked the small gifts. The Ribby looks awesome! I've bought my yarn, but haven't cast on yet - and now I'm itching to!
Posted by: Renee | March 15, 2005 at 09:09 AM
Very cute - nice job!
Posted by: Sandy J | March 15, 2005 at 09:14 AM
margene, you and the ribby are radiant! love your collar.
Posted by: mrspilkington | March 15, 2005 at 09:15 AM
Your ribby is lovely! The stripe is a perfect touch! Glad you're enjoying it!
Posted by: Kimi | March 15, 2005 at 09:15 AM
I saw the ribby yesterday on the swing. It looks great!
Posted by: monica | March 15, 2005 at 09:24 AM
Oh, man. I want one *just like it.* Same grays, same pattern. Can I copy you? Can I be just like you if I do? This is my favorite color combo so far.
Happy belated birthday!
Posted by: Sara | March 15, 2005 at 10:49 AM
OOOOOH, GRRRRLIE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! belatedly...as to how young you look, when we all tell you that you don't look 55, just quote Gloria Steinem and say, this is what 55 LOOKS LIKE!!
I can tell you had a wonderful day. May the year ahead be filled with the same.
hugs.
Posted by: caroline | March 15, 2005 at 11:01 AM
Fabulous colors on you Margene...and so young at heart. :) Lovely gift from Smith. He is a doll.
Posted by: kathleen | March 15, 2005 at 11:22 AM
Ribby looks fabulous! Very flattering and it looks great on you. What great pictures. The oxblood is a great color. A coworker of mine bought that for her sleeves with a dark grey body. I might just make a solid one out of the dusty rose I have about. I seriously toyed with the two-tone greys when I bought the ruby/black. Nice to see they work so nicely together!
Posted by: Risa | March 15, 2005 at 11:25 AM
I love the little stripe on the collar. Nice move!
Also, happy birthday!
Posted by: Heidi | March 15, 2005 at 11:43 AM
I noticed yesterday too but thought I missed its debut. So I started looking through the archives and couldn't find it there either! haha It came out great...as all your knitting does!
Posted by: Karen | March 15, 2005 at 01:44 PM
Happy Birthday! Cute ribbie.
Posted by: Lauren | March 15, 2005 at 02:31 PM
simply great sweater! you look like you had so much fun.
Posted by: lynette | March 15, 2005 at 06:45 PM
Your ribby cardi looks great! Wonderful Photos. Hope you had a Happy Birthday!!
Posted by: eyeleen | March 15, 2005 at 08:55 PM
Ribby looks great - I LOVE the fun pictures! Good job Smith! :)
Posted by: Jackie | March 16, 2005 at 05:37 AM
Oh Margene, it's gorgeous on you!! Great work!
Posted by: Kim | March 17, 2005 at 06:28 AM
Margene...fabulous Ribby cardi! I love the colors and how they are placed. Next to burgundy, grey is my favorite color. I am going to knit a GREY cardi. I am, I am, I am!!
Posted by: Eilene | March 18, 2005 at 07:12 AM
OOoohLaLa Margene! Your fabulous Ribby and wonderful spirit are an inspiration to us all! I can't tell you how delightful it is to see you enjoying the landscape all tricked out in such a fashionable state!
I am GREEN with envy...
Thank you so much for the KINDEST words!
Posted by: Bonne Marie | March 20, 2005 at 07:35 AM
How did I miss this one? You look FABULOUS in Ribby, and now I totally want to copy you, like, exactly. Those colors, that stripe, fab.
Posted by: Rachael | April 02, 2005 at 06:30 AM