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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Yarn Along (#10)

I really look forward to posting a Yarn Along every week.  This week, though...it just left me feeling inadequate.  I'm in between knitting projects right now and I feel a bit aimless.  I tried to crochet some squares this week that I've been admiring on Ravelry (wooleater and African flower hexagon), but that posed way more of a challenge than I was ready for.  The picture below is the first 2 rounds of the wooleater. 

P1000525

So instead I've had 2 knitting disappointments this week.

The first is that I accidentally put my 4 year old daughter's hand wash only sweater (that she loved) in the washing machine.  It felted up nice and thick, erasing all of the pretty lace that made up most of the body of the sweater.  It also shrank several inches lengthwise.  I'm hopeful that it will fit my 1 year old next fall so that it's not a complete waste.

P1000518

The second is that I decided to tackle sewing grosgrain ribbon onto the back of the button bands on this sweater.  Two nights ago, it took me just under 2 hours to finish one button band and I was pretty proud of myself.  The ribbon was on nice and straight, and none of the sewing showed through to the front of the sweater.  I worked on the second button band last night and when I had one side sewn on, I decided to line it up next to the other button band to make sure things were looking OK.  Well, I fiddled and shifted things around, but one button band is now almost 1" longer than the other!  And now that the ribbons are sewn on, there's no more stretching them to fit one another.  They don't stretch at all, ironically, which was the whole point of putting the ribbon on in the first place.

P1000521

I know it's not a knitting mistake because I knit the button bands as I knit the sweater, so they're the same length.  I think during the washing and blocking process, my daughters picked up the sweater one too many times ("Is it dry yet?  When will this thing be dry?  When can I try it on?") and it got stretched out.  So today, I'll undo the ribbon from one side, wet it, and reblock it to the proper length.  I'm trying not to get too frustrated and to see this as a lesson learned.  Always measure first!

I'm still reading Pride and Prejudice.  While I didn't like it much when I first started, I've now really grown to enjoy reading it.  And I'm constantly thankful that I no longer live in a time when women had no property rights and marriage was a necessity given their lack of economic rights.

What are you reading and knitting this week?  I'm definitely looking for some inspiration on both fronts.

9 comments:

  1. Oh my, you have had a week. I hope you can reblock to fix the button band.

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  2. Thank goodness that knitting problems are my greatest worries this week! In the grand scheme of things, that's OK with me. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to fix it. It'll just take a bit longer than I hoped.

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  3. I'm sorry things haven't gone well with your knitting this week (and crocheting - I am also wanting to try the African flower hexagon but want to be sure I have more than 5 minutes to myself before I even think about starting!) - but I am so glad I've found your blog. Your patterns are spectacular & I've added that beautiful Lucia sweater to my favourites on Ravelry. :)

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  4. Just popping in to say "Hi" as part of Yarn Along. I guess it can only get better from here!

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  5. You are so close to the finish line! I am smack dab in the middle of two long projects, with little end in sight. Unless I knit in my sleep ;)

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  6. Oh I'm so sorry to hear about the felting but hopefully it will fit your littlest. Your blue sweater is stunning & I wish you all the best with the ribbon.

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  7. Oh no! So sorry to hear about the button band and felting accident. Your work is lovely!

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  8. Oh my! You knit so beautifully. I am sorry about the challenges. Please don't be so hard on yourself. Your knitting is incredible!

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  9. we all have weeks like that! i co for a sweater sunday night, spent tuesday night knitting and ripping out the same three rows over and over and finally frogged. it's all about the proces, right?

    you're knitting looks beautiful - your girls are lucky to have such beautiful sweaters!

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