Monday, September 13, 2010

Not much (knitting) luck lately

I seem to have hit an all time low point in my knitting over the last couple of weeks. I'm a little bemused but it's as if all my tools and instruments are out to baffle and confuse me. I swear they have a mind of their own when left in the knitting bag overnight. Perhaps they are taking some revenge for the works forgotten and neglected or perhaps now I've tipped into my forties my skills have up and vanished as the neural pathways in my brain erode faster than a freshly picked flower with out water.
Firstly, the beautiful Crofter jumper that was to be part of CNG's birthday present just wasn't right.




Here in the pattern it looked manly and rugged, the colourway seemed to be just right for a man outdoors. As I knitted with the same colour, it just appeared a little well, peachy. valiantly, because as you all know I am not one to give up I continued even though the nagging doubt grew and grew. I knitted it large, because I know my man likes a bit of room in his sweaters, but even so I was worried that it was going to be too small. Maybe I brought the bad karma on myself, but as I sewed the final seam, I had to face the truth. On me the jumper looked stunning. The colour was perfect for me and although roomy still a flattering fit. On my man, it looked girly and too tight. I refused to photograph it because I just felt so dumb to have stuffed it up. Never mind CNG was very kind and understanding.
So I continued with the brown vest. I felt onto a winner with this one, the colour he asked for and a pattern already tried and tested but knitted the next size up coz he didn't want to look as metro. As seen below in the earlier stages.



The deadline for his birthday was fast approaching and I felt the heat as I spent Friday doing the neckband. I swear I had another ball of yarn so I could do the arm bands, but though I hunted in every ridiculous and non ridiculous place I could think of and a few I couldn't the ball was no-where to be found. No where. How could that be, balls of yarn don't just check themselves out of my stash, or any bodies stash for that matter. I've never before run out of yarn, but it would appear that was exactly what had happened. I was looking at an almost finished vest and less than 5 grams of yarn. What to do. So I did the only thing a sensible knitter would do, since frogging seemed way too drastic and jumping up and down on it too dramatic, I did a row of crochet around the armholes. Problem solved. CNG knows no different and while I'm not thrilled with the end result it does work, sort of.



I'm also working on a pattern called Ulrike from Let's Knit, a slouchy over vest perfect for spring days. I cast on the required 77 sts and did the rib and several rows of pattern. I was using a cotton and acrylic mix and I frogged it twice because something just wasn't right. It felt too dense, too tight and after some discussion at knitting group I finally pulled it off the needles and cast on again with a bamboo and cotton blend, Sirdar's Flirt. Much better. Maybe I'm back on track.



9 comments:

Sue said...

Oh I have to agree with you on that one, my mind seems worse than it did when I was in my 30's. I put things down and 5 mins later cant remember where I put it. I think you should look at the Crofter sweater as an asset for your wardrobe! I bet the brown ball of yarn will turn up now that you have finished off the sweater too.

At Home Mommy Knits said...

I'm so sorry your knits haven't been working out. It seems like finding the time to knit can be so challenging that when your knitting doesn't work out it is extra dissapointing. Lovely for you though that you got a beautiful sweater out of the deal :)

Tracy said...

Oh, no, Ally! But the up is you have a great new sweater for yourself! ;o) Hope you get the extra knitting done for CNG in time... I know you will! :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Thimbleanna said...

Hmmm. Blogger seems "unavailable" so it either ate my first comment or it's being moderated or something. ;-) Anyway, I just commented that your post points out all the ups and downs of knitting sweaters -- for me, it always seems to be a crap shoot as to whether a sweater will turn out like I want it to. At least YOU can still wear the peach sweater!

Willow said...

As I recall my mind was quicker and sharper in my 40s than it is now. But I could be wrong.

Oh, don't talk about running out of yarn. I don't want to be reminded of my very sad sweater that is currently tucked in to a bag. I'm pouting. And deciding what to do...

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

Well, I hope you kept the first sweater for yourself - LOL

Do you have a puppy? I find things disappear around here too.

Renee said...

oh, that's so frustrating!
Good to hear your back on your knitting mojo track.
You just knit yourself an unexpected lovely sweater. Hope you kept it for yourself!

Woolly Stuff said...

It's always frustrating when what's being knit is problematic, especially as I know I like to knit to relax, the last thing I want is the stress of having things not work out the way I'd planned! But I guess that's just life...

raining sheep said...

Oh boy, I think man knits are hard. Sounds like you might have got yourself a new sweater :) Sometimes knitting does not go as planned and other times it is just so perfect!! That is the knitting way :)