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”

  2. Gorgeous – truly 🙂 I’m glad it all worked out so well in the end. The color, stitch pattern, and buttons – all made for each other.

  5. It turned out really well — and after all that agony! I never wet block anything except lace because that’s what everyone tells me to do. I steam block EVERYTHING. Listen to the gut. The gut is never wrong.

  6. Ohmigod – whatthehell?

    You were WORRIED?

    Well, I can understand the worry (who hasn’t had gauge worries), but hey – it looks perfectly gorgeous on you, so what the…..

    Ahem. “Perfectly gorgeous,” and that’s all you’ll get from me, missie. We’re done here. No more to see, move along.

  7. It came out beautifully, and the buttons are indeed perfect. (I’m still giggling about the chicken-chest description, as I can’t wear anything with a V-neck.) Does wet-blocking mean that you soak the pieces in water and then pin them out? That seems awfully risky, given that you can get the same finishing effect if you pin out the pieces and then spray them with water until they’re thoroughly wet. Spray bottles, for garden or laundry purposes, only cost about a buck fifty.

  8. WONDERFUL! Good for you for perservering -it’s never over until it’s over, and knits are full of surprises. Congratulations!

  9. “i did not factor the qualities of superwash yarn into my decision to go with wet-blocking.”

    What qualities do you refer to? I understand how wet blocking can stretch things out, but how is superwash different than non-superwash?

  11. Wow. You had my heart pounding by the end; I was waiting with bated breath for the result. I was fearing the worst, and SO relieved that it ended up the best! It looks marvelous. So, how long before you try wet-blocking again? (snort)

  12. It’s GORGEOUS! Looks great on you, I don’t think anyone is looking at your pictures and saying that it’s too long/too loose/whatever. We’re all just seeing the pretty yarn, cool pattern, and fabulous buttons. I’m glad it decided to cooperate with you after all, hopefully it fits even better after a trip through the washer.

  13. Wow, the sweater is gorgeous, and I’m glad that wet-blocking makes somebody else crazy-nervous, too. [I have half of LittleBit’s cabled hoodie blocked, and it turned out well, but I will feel *much* better when the other parts are blocked and it’s all sewn together and I’m officially done.] The buttons are **perfect**.

  14. It is amazing… like everything else you do and I think it fits you perfectly. I also love all the details (stitches, shape, buttons…).

    Fantastic!

  15. What a perfect sweater for you. I like the longer style, it gives a very streamlined look to the sweater and the color is fabulous!

  16. You sure know how to write a good suspense!
    The sweater fits awesomely! It looks fabulous on you. I really love it! The stitch pattern is beautiful, the texture is great, and it works very well with the variegation in the yarn. The optical effect is really interesting. You did an awesome job!
    I’d love to learn seaming with you! One day, I’ll make it happen…

  17. Everything about this beautiful sweater on you — from its color to your smile — is perfection! Congratulations on a job very well done.

  18. I knew something was up! I never wet block for that reason, it freaks me out till the pieces dry. I love steam. It is gorgeous! It isn’t too long. It is the most beautiful colour and the buttons are divine! Wear it in good health!

  23. Oh, it’s perfect! Perfect, perfect, perfect! I even like the buttons, and you know how partial I am to the pewter ones. But if you still think it is a tad large (and, mind you, I don’t), I routinely run my superwash wool sweaters through a short, warm dryer cycle, after a gentle wash and it tightens up that little bit of sagginess they tend to get very nicely, with no ill effects to date.

  24. Longer length in tops is very “in” right now. The sweater looks great and it looks great on you!!

  25. anne it’s gorgeous!

    Just think – if it all went smooth and easy how boring this post would have been without all the fodder 🙂

  26. Oh! I was so worried through the post that you had ripped it out, but I’m glad it worked. The sweater is beautiful and I don’t think it looks too long (even if it feels that way)…Great Job!

  29. You made me worry you had ripped it out. I’m glad you didn’t because it looks so good on you ! The color and shape suits you very well. What a relief 🙂 Oh that shaky feeling if you think you did something wrong, I hate that !
    And you’re NOT chickenbreasted, wished the chickens had come to me ….

  30. I think it looks great, and not too long in the least. Plus, as someone above mentioned, long is “in”! It’s interesting how much more subtle the patterning is when you’re wearing the sweater, as opposed to in the blocking shots. It’s one of those special details that you have to get close to appreciate and that makes the sweater unique!

  31. What a stunning sweater!

    I’m always a little nervous a) knitting sweaters (that’s a lot of yarn and a lot of stitches to get catastrophically wrong) and b) knitting large items with varigated yarns, but you’ve made me think that putting the two together might be a possibility.

  33. It looks PERFECT from here!

    I tend to stress about my knits too….the sewing up stage terrifies me b/c after that I will see how bad the fit is. I have been disappointed before!

  36. It looks terrific!! I’m so glad the story had a happy ending!

    Is this a pattern you’d ever offer? Even loosely, just a guide to using that same stitch pattern on our own sweaters? I just love the diamonds, but I’m not really confident enough to work it out myself…(Which is stupid because I can start my own designs from scratch, but I must have a mental block about other people’s…)

  40. I was almost shaking by the time I got to those (beautiful) finished & fitting pics! Perhaps I’ve been through such a process many a time myself. It is very classy and eminently wearable.

  41. Stunning!!!! It is amazing what our knits do to us. I hate wet blocking – seems like whatever it is stretches to these ungodly proportions when I do it. Such a scary thing! That yarn is amazing. Perfect variegation!

  47. After all that angst, it came out beautifully! I love the neckline and honestly, I like the length. I know it’s not exactly what you were aiming for, but it’s kind of refreshing to see something a bit longer these days (coming from someone who will always have to lengthen sweater patterns).

  50. It is beautiful! I was holding my breath the whole time I read this, though. I can only imagine how awful it felt at the time.

  53. 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…

  56. 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!

  57. 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.

  58. 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!

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

  68. 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?

  69. 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!

  71. 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.

  72. 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.

  75. 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.

  76. 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.

  77. 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’]

  78. 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?

  79. 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!!

  80. 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!

  81. 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!

  82. 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!

  84. 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!

  86. 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. 😉

  88. 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 🙂

  89. 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!

  91. 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!

  92. 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?

  96. 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.

  97. 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?

  98. 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. 🙂

  101. Really, really lovely. It looks great on you! And the yarn is fab! Congrats on such a good job and beautiful results.

  104. It really looks fantastic. And, if you ever decide it is just a tad too large, I think it would fit me. =:)

  106. Oh it’s beautiful! I do understand why you were worried though. And.. you love seaming? Whoa… spread some love my way. Mmkay?

  107. Oh my, that is simply lovely! The buttons are perfect, too. Definitely the right choice! I agree with you about seaming, too. I can’t understand why people go to such lengths to avoid hand-sewing. I think it’s magical, watching all those disparate pieces become one, seamless piece of clothing! (Did you write your sweater pattern? I’d love to get it!)

  108. The sweater is BEAUTIFUL!!! Everything went well together and all that worrying was unnecessary. 🙂

  109. That sweater is absolutely gorgeous. When will you be putting out the pattern so I can make one for myself? 🙂

  112. Absolutely gorgeous sweater. I only came by your blog to check out a link for some mitts, but I was sucked in by the drama of the blocking.

    I don’t think it’s too long at all.

  113. I think it looks beautiful on you! I just adore everything about it, enough to make me try finishing some of my own things that are dawdling…

  116. What a drama! But in the end, a beautiful and flattering sweater. The red is just so gorgeous! I was dying laughing about the “chicken chest”, but I would say that is mostly in your head. You look perfectly proportioned and your new sweater loves you. Those buttons are nothing short of spot-on.

  119. superb title – as tricky as the blocking of the sweater.

    Did you notice the button has your reflection?

    The sweater is very lovely on you.

  121. I have just discovered your blog, and I have to say that you are a very professional knitter. Your red sweater looks beautiful, and perfect on you too.

  122. Been too busy lately to read, but am catching up. I think I like what you did with the black cherry Grandma’s Blessing even better than what I did with it!

    Chris is lucky to have such a talented designer on board.

    Blessings!

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