Falling apart at the seams
It's funny how you can be so engrossed in part of a project - ie a lacy or cabley part - that you don't give other important bits the same loving attention....by which I mean keeping edges neat or increases appropriate to the pattern or tidy binding off or all of those details that make putting the thing together non-stressful. I went to sew my brown Knotty sweater together, marveling over having actually finished the three pieces, and made a real mess of the side seams. It's in reverse stockinette stitch, which normally wouldn't be that hard to sew together invisibly, but a year ago, when I started the sweater, I wasn't very clued into any of those good things mentioned above. Should have knit it on one long circular, for starters, and dispensed with silly side seams. I was too lazy to open my Vogue Knitting and learn how to do a M1 on the purl side; instead I did a lifted increase, but incorrectly. I didn't realize you're supposed to twist the stupid thing so as not to leave a hole, and it didn't look that holey til I tried to sew up the side seams. Then...disaster. Tried to sneakily stitch over some areas to hide how awful they looked. Of course that didn't work. Got frustrated, called Dot. She said she could fix it. Could not leave it alone and tried to pick out the seam, and in doing so actually started to UNKNIT parts of the sides, which actually made me feel sort of faint and nauseated. Dot told me to put it in a paper bag and staple it shut. Now it's at her house, and I can't wait to see what magic she has worked on it. Dot, if you're reading this, that's a hint....the I can't wait part. It's just hard to lavish so much attention on something and not have it be all perfect.
I'm sure you know what I mean!
So once I finish other small projects (stripey sweater fell by the wayside, it had a bad case of the uglies) I think I'm going to tackle designing something, armed with a couple of books and a calculator...it's time to give it a whirl. Don't worry, I won't be swanning around calling myself a designer any time soon...I'm thinking keeping it simple would be smart, though that's not my normal inclination. Actually my normal inclination is to wing it entirely. I'm trying to curb that impulse for the moment for the sake of learning something. I feel a little sorry for myself, scratching my head over basic math while my husband, who learned to knit when we opened the shop, is finishing his two-color guy sweater with short row shaping and saddle shoulders. At least I think that's what they're called. But what would you expect from an expert woodworker?
Must go soothe myself by working on mindless project (two wee hats for two tiny babies.) But if I sneak time to knit, some well-meaning customer inevitably comments on 'how nice it must be to be able to knit all day.'
I wish!
It's funny how you can be so engrossed in part of a project - ie a lacy or cabley part - that you don't give other important bits the same loving attention....by which I mean keeping edges neat or increases appropriate to the pattern or tidy binding off or all of those details that make putting the thing together non-stressful. I went to sew my brown Knotty sweater together, marveling over having actually finished the three pieces, and made a real mess of the side seams. It's in reverse stockinette stitch, which normally wouldn't be that hard to sew together invisibly, but a year ago, when I started the sweater, I wasn't very clued into any of those good things mentioned above. Should have knit it on one long circular, for starters, and dispensed with silly side seams. I was too lazy to open my Vogue Knitting and learn how to do a M1 on the purl side; instead I did a lifted increase, but incorrectly. I didn't realize you're supposed to twist the stupid thing so as not to leave a hole, and it didn't look that holey til I tried to sew up the side seams. Then...disaster. Tried to sneakily stitch over some areas to hide how awful they looked. Of course that didn't work. Got frustrated, called Dot. She said she could fix it. Could not leave it alone and tried to pick out the seam, and in doing so actually started to UNKNIT parts of the sides, which actually made me feel sort of faint and nauseated. Dot told me to put it in a paper bag and staple it shut. Now it's at her house, and I can't wait to see what magic she has worked on it. Dot, if you're reading this, that's a hint....the I can't wait part. It's just hard to lavish so much attention on something and not have it be all perfect.
I'm sure you know what I mean!
So once I finish other small projects (stripey sweater fell by the wayside, it had a bad case of the uglies) I think I'm going to tackle designing something, armed with a couple of books and a calculator...it's time to give it a whirl. Don't worry, I won't be swanning around calling myself a designer any time soon...I'm thinking keeping it simple would be smart, though that's not my normal inclination. Actually my normal inclination is to wing it entirely. I'm trying to curb that impulse for the moment for the sake of learning something. I feel a little sorry for myself, scratching my head over basic math while my husband, who learned to knit when we opened the shop, is finishing his two-color guy sweater with short row shaping and saddle shoulders. At least I think that's what they're called. But what would you expect from an expert woodworker?
Must go soothe myself by working on mindless project (two wee hats for two tiny babies.) But if I sneak time to knit, some well-meaning customer inevitably comments on 'how nice it must be to be able to knit all day.'
I wish!
posted by Yarn on The Brain at 12:57 PM
2 Comments:
I'm hoping to get to your shop next weekend and I promise I won't make mention of knitting all day! My family and I will be camping in Naples and I am going to try to pop in either on the way up or home. Can't wait!
Aren't we so lucky to be able to knit ALL day? ;)
How are things up in Maine?
Stewart
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