all for naught

Posted on annePosted in designing, projects

you probably already know that i’m a worry-wort (because you’re so smart, while i’m so transparent). and, as with all worry-worts my fears are proved right just often enough for us to continue to do it even when we shouldn’t.

because, well, what does worrying solve anyway?

my big worry of the weekend started after i finished my red cardigan on saturday night sunday morning.
when i finished the knitting, there was no problem at all.
i went to bed feeling pretty good about it. pret-ty, pret-ty good.

then, on sunday, i decided to block it. now, i am normally a big fan of steam blocking my sweaters, being loathe to handle heavy pieces of very wet, knitted fabric which are not yet stabilized in any way.

but i hadn’t wet-blocked anything in a long time, and tempted by juno’s posts on the subject (she’s a fan of wet-blocking), i decided to try it on these pieces.

a couple of hours later, i was on my knees weeping pitifully and wailing WHAT was i thinking??, as i struggled to push fabric into a shape that measured 22 inches in length and not 27.5. i would show you pictures if i could have held the camera steady.
i did not factor the qualities of superwash yarn into my decision to go with wet-blocking.

well, after a while the fabric started to dry a bit, and i was able to push the pieces into the shapes that my pattern dictated. as they dried, they drew in a little more and became the correct size . . . more or less. my nerves were in a state, but the pieces were the right size.

i may have been feeling a little bit hannibal lecter-ish toward the damn thing by then.
maybe my sweater romance had soured a tad. possibly.

on the other hand, it just lay there being sweet and quiet, and very Red. in a very pleasing way. and i began to notice other things i liked . . . nice texture lying in nice straight patterns

some really good overall yarn color . . . no pooling and no variation between skeins.
and nice detailing, like a tiny, curving shawl collar.

by the time i unpinned it i felt better, and forgave the sweater pieces. we were pals again; two peas in a pod.
until last night.

see, i was still a little worried about the sweater size; i think i mentioned that yesterday. it was definitely about 1/2-inch longer than i’d planned, maybe more, and all of that was in the upper torso area, where i am at my tiniest (freakishly so, in fact). now, often i let a little bit of extra length in there to sort-of mask my high-waistedness (i know. it doesn’t work, but i am compelled to try). but i don’t want so much extra length that i look like i am dripping sweater all over.

and i was beginning to have that feeling that it might be that way . . . just because i can squeeze 27.5 inches down to 22 doesn’t mean it will stay put.

then last night i put the sleeves in. it takes me hours to sew in cap sleeves; i am very careful and VERY picky about how they look.
they went in pretty easily and i was very excited about how they looked. i decided to leave the side and underarm seams til today. but i ran to the mirror and put the sweater on anyway; i just had to look.

that was about the dumbest thing i could’ve done.
it looked awful. the front hung on my shoulders, the neckline seemed to scream “chicken chest!! ahahahaha!”.
the sides hung halfway to my knees. oh no.

i took a deep breath and put it down. i decided to deal with it in the later.
then i spent the next hour trying to fall asleep and wondering if i could wash it and run it through the dryer. maybe the superwash just needed some prompting to be itself again.
i made a mental note to email chris in the morning and ask her advice.

but i didn’t. halfway to the coffeepot this morning i spied the sweater sitting there.
now, i have a lot to do in the mornings. i need to tend the garden, work, cook, answer email . . all that stuff. i do not have time to fix bad knitting in the morning.

but the sweater got the best of me.
i’ll just sew a few inches of seam while the coffee perks, i thought. hehe.

i love seaming, have i mentioned that before? (maybe not since i have been knitting a lot of shawls this year, and they don’t have seams)
but i do. i really love seaming (ok, and before everyone gets all excited and offers to let me seam all their UFOs, let me just add that i could NEVER be so selfish— i think everyone would love seaming too, if they gave it half a chance, and i will NOT deprive anyone of that opportunity).

(seaming pieces with patterns is especially easy and entertaining, since every few rows you have the pattern to match.)

i gave it a final steaming to set the seams in place.

while i worked, the mail carrier knocked on the door and handed me a small package; my buttons had arrived. sarina is my hero. as soon as i had those seams pressed, i added the buttons (ok, by now i was dawdling . . i didn’t even want to know that it didn’t fit).

aren’t they beautiful? they match the yarn EXACTLY. i mean, the glass variations even match the yarn variations. they are perfect.

and they fit the buttonholes like they were made for ’em. (when in fact, i had to choose a buttonhole size as soon as i started; the buttonholes were knit right into the fronts.).
i put it on shakily.

it fit. it is a little bit long (maybe an inch?). i would probably like this sweater in a slightly tighter version that i could wear without any shirt underneath.

but . . i am extremely happy with this one. all that worrying for nothing. phew.

why do our knits put us through all this? why do we let them?
i wonder what sweater i’ll do next?

123 thoughts on “all for naught”

  3. The procedure with your red and lovely cardigan is pretty much exatly like it goes here as well… all the doubts and second thoughts and questions and turmoil, all so familiar and when in the middle I always promise to myself that from now on it is only lace shawls and socks. But all well in the end and your result is beautiful…

  6. Way to build up the suspense! Seriously, by the end of the post, I thought you would have to give it away, or maybe there’d be a raffle :). And instead? It’s magnificent. Bravo!

  7. It’s perfect! Really beautiful, and I love the buttons. And I think that “I don’t have time to fix bad knitting in the morning” is the perfect slogan.

  8. Very stylish and very, very beautiful… I really can’t see why you (of all knitters) worry, I think everything you do is so beautiful and perfect (but maybe that is because you hide the rest?) 😉
    Congrats on the reddie!

  15. Damn, you’re good! Don’t even think of not wearing it to class today–or at least sticking it in your bag! :))

  18. I’ve gotta come out of lurk to say that this is my favorite thing you’ve ever shown us. That sweater is killer. Pattern, pleeeeeaaaase?

  19. As one who is drawn to all things red, esp. a variegated red, I am blown away by your sweater. The design so complements the color, and it can take you anywhere! I do hope you’ll let us in on the pattern. Congratulations!

  21. Well, after all that worry it really is very flattering! The color is lovely on you. And the stitch pattern is in perfect balance with the variegated yarn – not too much, not too little.

  22. I know how it feels to wonder if the sweater will fit, but you must be pleased. I love the pattern- will you share -I may have missed a few blogs and don’t know if it’s your own pattern. It looks perfect on you.

  25. Wow! That’s beautiful! The color is perfect for you. And I think the sweater looks like a great fit. You model beautifully by the way.

  26. I love it! The texture is wonderful and it fits your shape so nicely. I just wet blocked my huge, heavy Imogen sweater and the results were disasterous. I’m going to try a reblock, forcing it into a smaller shape.

  27. It’s absolutely gorgeous and fits you beautifully. I like the slightly longer length, especially with that lower ribbing part – gives it good lines and proportion.
    Good job! and my quote of the day to you:
    “There’s no point in worrying: if you can do something about the problem, then there’s no need to worry. If you can’t do anything about the problem, why worry about it?” [Easier said than done, tho’]

  28. Beautiful.
    The length looks great in the photos.
    And I love the way the stitch pattern plays with the colors in the yarn. Or is it that I love the way the colors in the yarn play with the stitch pattern.
    Those buttons are great!
    Now seaming… Not that I have any experience with it, but the thought of it makes what little Virgo I have in me turn and run. I can barely weave in my ends – it all just makes me feel like a hack.
    Will you be sporting the sweater next weekend?

  29. Oh my, that is one gorgeous sweater…the yarn is a deep rich colour that is only surpassed by the pattern. Will you be offering the pattern?
    Just a gorgeous accomplishment Anne?
    Wear it with pride my dear, you and “it” deserve it!!

  30. The suspense left me breathless until the end of your happy tale, whereupon it was satisfyingly revealed that all was well!

    Textured, beautifully red-colored wellness!

  31. Oooohh! And the collar- it is fabulous! The buttons-perfection! Not too long! Perfect for fall and winter! And the color, my favorite! Good job and it looks great on you!

  32. Absolutely Gorgeous! You will be the hit at Rhinebeck:) If I remember correctly you were knitting this to wear at the festival.

    Beautiful, just Beautiful!

    Hey I cast on for the Totally Atumn throw this weekend and I’m loving it!

  34. Just beautiful, Anne!

    I’m so glad it all worked out so well (although I must admit that I was *almost* – not quite, ‘coz I adore you so – disappointed not to see a final photo of you wearing a baggy red knit potato sack!).

    It really is lovely and suits you perfectly!

  36. I was so worried for you during that post!! It’s lovely, I think it looks great on you at that length! Personally, I always think it’s better to prepare for the worst, that way when it doesn’t happen it’s reason for celebration. 😉

  38. Oh Anne! My breath just caught in my throat when I came to the first picture of you in your sweater, IT IS PERFECT! You look simply stunning 🙂

  39. lol! You had me going there until I got to the end! I thought for sure the last picture would be a pile of frogged yarn! So glad it worked out. It is a gorgeous sweater and looks fabulous on you!

  41. Whoa!!!!!!! You are amazing! this sweater is stunning! I love it! you have to write the pattern and sell it. You MUST. I haven’t read your entire post yet (my family is visiting),but I will. Amazing!

  42. blocking? a sweater? i think i skipped that step! i think i’m glad i skipped that step…unblocked, the sleeves on my superwash cardigan are 2″ too long; i shudder to think what will happen if i ever wash it (which is of course, inevitable).

    as for your sweater – gorgeous. i love the red and the subtle variations of the red against the pattern. did i mention gorgeous?

  46. I had a chuckle as I read your process – freak out, set it down, pick it up and finish, holding breath all the way, totally not going to the other option.. and voila! it works! (yeah – I do that too)
    It looks wonderful on you. I’ll bet that it will become one of those favorite sweaters over time.

  47. I’m so sorry, Anne. You were absolutely right to worry. That sweater does not work at all on you. Let me do you a big favor — you send it on over to my house and I’ll wear it for you. In fact, I’ll take it and keep it and you’ll never have to see it again. He he. He he. He he. Is it working?

  48. Nice! Really really nice! And I say that as your uber high-waisted twin. You should just…ya know…. go with the flow. All your stuff turns out so nicely. 🙂

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