Good Morning Everyone!
I know many of you have already seen the picture I posted yesterday of my Big Love Cardigan, isn't she fabulous? What I love the most about this project is how much fun it's been to knit (I can say that now). I was a bit apprehensive initally, Andra scared the crap out of me, but she also reassured me she'd help me through the gymnastics, be my safety net. I will say it's been quite helpful having her clairfy the directions, the construction of this thing is like none other. It reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket, this odd shaped thing is going to somehow transform itself into a sweater, ok if you say so....
I have enjoyed having those little "a ha" moments throughout the process. Those moments when the lightbulb goes on and you understand that the odd shaped yoke piece you've just created is the back. The shoulders and the fronts get formed and before you know it, you've joined everything together and VIOLA, it's a sweater! The reward for accomplishing this amazing knitting feat is hours of a rhythmic 4 row repeat that you no longer need the pattern for, you can see it in your work. My favorite detail on this garment is the I-cord edge, it's just clean and looks beautiful. I'll also add that the lovely decreases that adorn the front collar give an elegant shape and fit. I'm really quite impressed with this design, imagine the effort that went into creating it.
'As previously mentioned, the best thing about a KAL is learning new techniques. I'll be the first to admit that despite the decades I've been knitting, I still learn something with every single project I knit (patience counts). I'm finally finished knitting the body of my sweater and it calls for a tubular bind off, never done that. Andra had given me heads up awhile ago about using a FAKE TUBULAR BIND OFF, I Google it. Then I decide to watch the video provided in the pattern, hmmm. Not liking the idea of cutting a piece of yarn 4 times the length of the width of the edge and getting a darning needle out. So I decide that I shouldn't have even watched the stupid video, JUST LISTEN TO ANDRA, DUH!!! So I'm looking at the picture and reading the directions, I understand what has to happen but cannot seem to get the ball rolling. I make several attempts and decide to call in the big guns before I throw the damn thing across the room.
My text message to Andra is received and results in a phonecall in a matter of seconds. She manages to not only get me started but completely restores my confidence, I'm no longer dumb. I told her I was getting upset because I knew what had to happen but all I could do is stare at it and make a mess, UGH!!! She talked me through it, I found my groove and just you wait to see the result. I am so proud of this accomplishment, I not only learned something new, it's perfect. Of course this feeling of euphoria was short lived, it took me 3 attempts to pick up and knit the correct number of stitches for sleeve #1. Always worth the effort, it looks pretty damn good. I'm cruising on sleeve #1 and will likely have it finished today. It's exciting to think that I may have a new sweater by the weekend, YAY FOR ME!!! Best of all, the temperature feels like it should, FALL, I have 5 new sweaters completed, YES I AM BRAGGING! That damn boss of mine makes me knit ALL OF THE TIME. She has absolutely no regard for my days off or other things I'd like to do (housework, lol) so I am very excited to wear my new sweaters. The challenge now, what's going on the needles next???
We will be meeting tomorrow evening, Wednesday 6-7:30, for Stitch and Bitch, I hope you can join in the fun. Make it a great day and I'll see you soon!
Katy
Comments