My Sweatery Past
I've completed 3 sweaters in my life.
One was crochet and I followed the pattern exactly except for the suggested yarn and checking for gauge. It called for worsted, I used Lion Brand Homespun. Having never assembled a sweater before, imagine my surprise when I discovered that the "pattern pieces" were exactly that-pattern pieces. They were, however, somewhat larger than I was used to sewing together. duh.
Sweater number 2 was a cardigan knitted with some topaz gems. Still no swatch. I did use something close to the suggested yarn but really had no idea how much time one should spend on finishing a sweater and had only done some cursory reading on the concept of blocking. I thought I'd "whip it right up." I also didn't really measure myself. Closer but a little small and falling apartish.
Sweater number 3 used Wendy Bernard's Flair pattern. I got gauge but used such a weird ass yarn that it hung way funny and having just made one that was too small, I overcompensated by about 6 inches or so. I did experience raglan sleeves knitted in the round which made my not so great at finishing self very very happy.
I've made 2 vests. One was ginormous (that swatch thing again.) The other fits, but rather closely. I don't really count these as part of the big picture because the only seams were the shoulder seams and there weren't any sleeves to contend with.
My Sweatery Present
I have in my stash enough yarn to knit at least 4 sweaters.
I have plenty of potential patterns including ones I tried to create myself with Sweater Wizard 3.0
Here's the thing. I don't believe the tape measure. I don't believe the numbers that other people give as sizes. In spite of my swatching I don't believe the numbers when I count stitches for gauge. I find myself wanting to "round up"-just in case.
I've had just enough experience to know what can go terribly terribly wrong and not enough experience to keep remembering and living with the fact that it's going to take some practice and patience to pull this off.
My Sweatery Future
It was my own "blog motto" ... where but in the life of an intermediate novice... and a pattern from Eunny Jang in the fall Interweave Knits that combined some stash that I had no idea what to do with that finally gave me the strength to try again.
Two of my current WIP's are garter stitch-mindless meeting knitting (unless of course you turn your work and go in the wrong direction while you're at the sit and knit-I don't want to talk about it.) The third is a sock which I feel completely comfortable with. I can knit socks.
Knitting brain was ready for a challenge. I've cast on for the sweater and finished about six rows. I'm still feeling o.k. about it but I also still didn't believe the numbers and kicked it up a size. It's very possible that I'll be having a contest in late January for a fabulous sweater that is entirely too big. I'm guessing that I know how Faith came up with the title of her blog.
6 comments:
Very funny! The thing about sweaters is that the right one has to capture your imagination at the right time. There has to be a perfect aligning of the planets as well in terms of time, yarn, skills and available patience.
MMM,like that sweater. I have a sweater promblem too, I've gotton burned too many times now I stick to small body things,like hats and socks and such stuff.I oughta suck it up and try again.
You can do it! You can do it! It is a really pretty pattern.
I am always tempted to go bigger too and I never trust other peoples measurements either.
I have trouble believing the numbers too. I listened to the numbers for my first sweater and it's a tad to tight. My next 2 sweaters are roomy but wearable. The fourth, I listened to the numbers and it came out great! It's hard to know if a pattern runs large or small. I hate finishing and now try to make only top down raglans so I can try on as I go and fix a too small or too large problem. Good luck! That's a lovely sweater pattern.
I have a similar problem with always making sweaters a little too big. I think it's always in the back of my mind that a little big is still wearable, but too small means a trip to the frog pond. Still, ever since my recent discovery that my bust is a full two inches smaller than I thought it was, I'm measuring everything. And I'm determined to trust the math--I'm tired of great sweaters that are just a little too floppy.
Good luck! That is a sweater to turn anyone to sweater knitting. I have plans to knit myself a sweater soon, first since 1982. Yup, I've gotten burned, too.
Post a Comment