This is the Manly Sweater. It may look perfectly harmless to you, but it has caused me great distress. It is the first sweater I tried after learning to knit. I knit it piece by piece over the course of several months and sewed it together during the day I took off from work to mourn Bob Hope's passing. I was watching Bob Hope movies and feeling a great sense of accomplishment, and it was a good day. Until Joe came home and put it on.It does not fit Joe. It might have fit two Joes in those early days. The shoulder seam was practically to his elbow. I took it to the Patron Saint of Helping a Knitter Feel Better (also known as Michelle), who helped me chop it up, cut some out, and stitch it back together. It still does not fit Joe. (He wears it. I don't know if that is a sign of love or a sign of the onset of dementia. Time will tell.) This failure is constantly in my mind as I look at sweater patterns that I like. I would love to be a sweater knitter. I can't get over this sweater to move ahead to other sweaters I might knit.
Last week, when summer camp was over, I decided it was time to cast on a "Summer Can Kiss My A**" project. It should be a sweater. I would celebrate the end of summer camp by conquering my woolly sweater demon. I got yarn from River Knits on my lunch break.
Here's what this triumphant sweater looked like on Saturday. Just as I had planned...it was looking wonderfully promising.
And here's what it looks like today. So far, so good. I cast on the correct number of stitches in only one try (the last sweater attempt took 11 tries before I quit). I joined, I was careful not to twist. I will keep you posted on my progress.
5 comments:
Okay, Heather, Please tell us what pattern you are following (if you are following one) and what yarn you are using! It looks sort of like Lamb's Pride. (If I'm right, do I get bonus points?) And, is it a sweater for you or someone else?
Also, if it makes you feel any better at all, I've finished several sweaters that didn't fit...and couple that probably wouldn't have fit anyone. Almost all of them have been ripped out, and the yarn re-used for something else. Here's hoping this is a big success for you!
Yep, it's Lamb's Pride. Sorry, I can't give you bonus points, because I'm running short.
I'm just using a basic raglan pattern from the Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns...
If only I had been blogging when the never ending Jack's Aran cardigan was finished...It took me 3 winters to finish. And when it was done--well I think perhaps THREE Brents might have fit in it. When he put it on I had a fit of hysterical laughter literally rolling on the floor. It was all I could do. If only I had consulted the patron saint of helping knitters feel better. Instead I consulted the dryer. Which sort of helped. But it's still too big and the buttons bands will be wonky forever now. I'm not even sure if I have the courage and moral fiber that you've shown to display it in full color. I admire you deeply.
But SOMETIMES it really does work.
Yah Heather! I love the color and am anxious to see what the "Summer Can Kiss My Ass" sweater ends up looking like!
You know, I'd love to throw some cables or something into it, but I think I'd better just keep it simple and plain. :)
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