Posted under sweaters
Yesterday I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had gotten about 14″ done on the Ariann and I thought I was progressing at a pretty good clip. Then I realized that I forgot to put in a button hole about an inch down.
“No problem”, I thought. “I can rip down an inch.”
So I took the sweater off the needles and then I took the sweater off the needles. Then I took the sweater off the needles.
Yeah. This thing kept coming and coming. It was too big. About 51″ across truth be told. Now I’m big, but I ain’t that big.
I’m not sure what went wrong, but there really was only one thing I could really do.
I would just like to say I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of my friend Shelly. She held my hand and she convinced me that there’s no way I’d be happy with a sweater that fit like a tent.
So after much gnashing of the teeth, I have restarted the Ariann. Let me tell you, the second time around just isn’t as fun. Yes, I know all the ins and outs of the design at this point.
Only, I feel like I’m knitting at a snail’s pace and I’m seething with resentment at having to reknit such a huge chunk of sweater. Plus, I just can’t seem to get my Zen on with this yarn. I miss soft squishy wool that doesn’t fight the needles.
And after having 14″ of lovely sweater goodness falling from my needles, a measly 2″ or so after a day’s work just doesn’t satisfy me the way that 14″ of lovely sweater goodness did.
To keep my head above water, I keep picturing the lovely sweater that Kim made with the same yarn. It’s soft. It’s cozy. It’s just the thing I want to wrap around me when I get chilled.
I know I can make nice with this yarn and eventually we’ll get to be friends. I just need to try and try again.
Debi on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:20 am #
You knit so fast, you’ll be back at 14″ in no time!! :)
nova on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:21 am #
I started a kid’s sweater with TLC Cotton PLus last night. I think it will be too small. Argh. I hope you and CE make nice and that you learn to resent it less. But it was a good call to rip. You would have never worn the sweater if it was a sack.
kyle kunnecke on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:23 am #
I’m always really happy when I rip back and fix mistakes… while it’s a pain, we’re all so much happier having fixed them… it’s our ability to recognize and correct problems in our knitting that makes us good - and the ways we “make it work” highlight the “artist” in each of us!
congrats on the hard choice - and keep knittin away on it - you’ll be back to where you were in no time (and you’ll be so proud!)
hugs
Kyle
Bethany on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:25 am #
Ripping out a project can be the worst feeling. But hopefully by the end of this one, you’ll love the result so much you’ll forget about having to do it over.
loribird on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:43 am #
Oh wow. That’s a shame about the ripping, but think how disappointed you’d be if you hadn’t missed that buttonhole and finished it too big… Good luck “feeling” it again!
Peggy on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:46 am #
I am proud of you for continuing. I usually become so annoyed I sent it to time out until it bows in submission.
Barb on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:50 am #
You’ll have this done in now time.
knitnana on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:50 am #
OUCH. I’m so sorry…but I agree, you wouldn’t be happy. So now you can be happy with the results.
(It looks gorgeous…even if it’s only 2 inches!)
((((hugs))))
Roseann on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:56 am #
My jaw dropped as I read your blog, I am so sorry you had to unknit so much! I do love your little shell markers, they are very cute. You are brave to start knitting it already, I may have needed a waiting period. It looks great so far and now you know it will fit.
Dee on 07 Nov 2007 at 11:27 am #
Sorry to hear about the frogging. I hope your yarn behaves better this time. But, your friend is right … you really do want the sweater to fit nicely after you put in all that work.
Sending good knitting vibes your way.
Meredith on 07 Nov 2007 at 11:51 am #
OMG! Are those little Maneko Nekki stitch markers????? Itty Kitties? I love them and the saliva is pooling up on my desk as a result. Where in the world did you find them?????
hugssssssssssss
mer
Cookie on 07 Nov 2007 at 12:37 pm #
At least, you found out it was too big when you only had 14 inches done rather than knitting the whole thing and then finding out.
Yeah, I know. Small comfort.
Hang in there. It will get better.
Sue J. on 07 Nov 2007 at 12:59 pm #
Not to worry, Opal. You’ll be on a roll in no time. I agree that it’s a good thing you found out now before completing the entire sweater. When a door closes, a window opens.
Jeanne on 07 Nov 2007 at 1:18 pm #
That’s a serious bummer, but it sounds like it had to be done. Think about how nice it is to finish a project, and have it fit like it’s supposed to.
Jeanne (the other one) on 07 Nov 2007 at 2:53 pm #
I’m so sorry - wow - you must have caught it from me. But you will be glad when its all done and it fits you! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get back into the groove fast….
hopalong682003 on 07 Nov 2007 at 3:46 pm #
Think how much faster it will go now that you don’t have to knit 51″ across. ;-)
textillian on 07 Nov 2007 at 4:04 pm #
Well, as Cookie said, better now than later. Doesn’t make it suck any less at the moment, though. The previous sweater I was working is still sitting in the closet because I realized that the sleeves were going to be too narrow for Paul. At least you have forged ahead!
Veronica on 07 Nov 2007 at 6:34 pm #
Now THAT is some froggin!
Janelle on 07 Nov 2007 at 7:29 pm #
Oh no! I also agree with Cookie in that it would be SO much worse if you had finished the whole thing before realizing it would be too big. Sorry that you had to do it, though, I know it’s hard to do!
fleegle on 07 Nov 2007 at 10:33 pm #
I am so sorry…perhaps you could put it aside for a bit before reknitting it? At least you caught the goofs before you finished it. Not much compensation, I know…
Shelly on 08 Nov 2007 at 3:08 am #
So Sorry you had to frog and restart- but you know you really would not have been happy to have it a tent. It looks great - now all you need is a big sign saying “Don’t forget to do a buttonhole!”
Love the stitch Markers!!
Keep Knitting!!
Jenny Raye on 08 Nov 2007 at 7:19 am #
You made the right decision. Better to have the delayed gratification of a sweater you will wear and love than one that is relegated to the back of the closet or drawer. You’ll be wearing your beautiful Ariann before you know it.
Peggy on 08 Nov 2007 at 5:24 pm #
Wow, what a bummer!!!! However, it is better to find before you had completely finished it. Right? Just think of the thrill you will have when you can look that ole cotton straight in the face and say, “I WON!!!!”
Jane on 08 Nov 2007 at 8:23 pm #
Oh! The Horror! You made the right choice but ripping it out had to be right up there with the pain of childbirth. I have worn out most of my hand knit sweaters but I can’t get myself to cast-on to knit a replacement. I’m just not into sweaters right now but you have the satisfaction of knowing you will be warm and cozy once that sweater is done.
tiennie on 08 Nov 2007 at 9:54 pm #
Oh no! You’ll be right back where you were in no time though!
chris on 09 Nov 2007 at 11:07 am #
ripping is terrible, but now you will have a sweater you will be so happy with - just keep knitting!
Lisa on 11 Nov 2007 at 4:33 am #
Oh bummer about the ripping. But Shel is right. You would have never been happy with an ill-fitting sweater.
You’re fast. You will be back to those 14″ soon!
Dipsy D. on 13 Nov 2007 at 11:13 pm #
Oh no, no, no! I *so* feel with you - ripping so much work is just a nightmare, even if you know that it was the right thing to do! The fact that you sat down right afterwards and began to knit it again is something I’m absolutely impressed with! Kudos to you, your determination and patience is something I/we can learn a lot from!