I have been diligently working through the Ariann. I completed two sleeves since we last talked and I was near the end of the raglan shaping, but something was nagging at me. So I tried it on. And guess what?
Yeah, you guessed it. The sweater was too big on the top. Way too big. Phooey is just too mild an expletive.
I didn’t take into account that even though I may be wide, I am not as long as the designer assumes for the size I was knitting. At the point where I stopped knitting the sleeves came down to my knuckles. This was supposed to be a 3/4 length sleeves. Not good.
So I ripped back and I shall reknit the sleeves to a more appropriate size. I shall also adjust the raglan decreases so that it will fit my shorter body. I remain hopeful as I continue on my pursuit of a perfect fitting sweater. (There are no pictures as I just couldn’t take the heartache of documenting the carnage.)
Shelly suggested I take a break from the Ariann, so I did and I managed to finish a pair of socks.
Idle Love
Pattern: Pomatomus by Cookie A.
Yarn: Socks That Rock in the colorway For Love In Idleness
Needles: size 1US/2.25mm and size 0US/2.00mm
Started: October 25, 2007
Finished: November 15, 2007
If you remember, I had some concerns about whether or not I’d have enough yarn to finish the pair. As it turns out, those concerns were completely justified. Do you see any difference in the toes?
I had to stop short on the second sock because I did indeed run out of yarn. In fact, this is exactly how much yarn I had left.
Can you say “too close for comfort”? My heart went through a series of palpitations that were rather uncomfortable as I was kitchenering the toe together. Luckily, these are for my mother and she says they’re perfect. If they were for me, I’d probably have to fix the other toe to match. I’m just that picky. :-P
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of reknitting to do. I only have 2 more weeks of November and I really want to have Ariann done before December for NaKniSweMo (Ravelry link).
I think I can do it. I have a ton of football coming up, which means lots of knitting time, and some new Harmony needles to make the experience all the more enjoyable.
Have a great weekend and wish me luck!
ETA: I forgot to say thank you for all your opinions on whether or not to give the shawl to my great-aunt. I’m going to be sending it to her for her Christmas present. I think it’ll be in very good hands. I’ll knit another one for myself as soon as I can figure out what color I’d like it in. That could take awhile though. ;-)
fleegle on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:52 am #
What carnage! I am so sorry about the sweater…guess you don’t want to have a growth spurt so it will fit, huh?
I am impressed at the amount of yarn you didn’t have left on your socks. They came out beautifully, and on the hoof, as it were, nobody will notice the difference.
Jeanne on 16 Nov 2007 at 12:55 pm #
I find STR to be shorter than I would like it to be, so I’ve given up knitting fancy, yarn swallowing patterns with it. I have to say that you win the prize for having the smallest amount of yarn left over EVER.
Roseann on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:10 pm #
Your great-aunt is going to be thrilled with her new shawl! As for your unknitting, I feel your pain. As you know, I re-knit Silky STR and I have a pair from A Good Sock yarn to re-knit as well. Pomatomus is gorgeous! I would have bet $ that you had enough yarn, I guess I would have lost!
loribird on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:47 pm #
Eeek, sorry about the sweater. The socks look great - non knitters never seem to mind the details that drive us crazy (it’s a blessing!)
Hattie on 16 Nov 2007 at 2:50 pm #
Oh figures about the sock. I’d have to fix the toe too, even if I was giving it away, it would bug the crap out of me. They are still gorgeous though!
As least you caught the sizing thing now. I’m paranoid about that stuff so I usually check it pretty often.
Lucky Aunt! You know she’ll love it though. I want to knit that shawl too, maybe if I can get my pink yarn re-plied correctly so I can see if I have enough to knit it…
Agnes on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:06 pm #
Yeah, that’s certainly too close for comfort … I’d be sweating big time! LOL!
Great-Aunt Eleanor is going to have a very Happy Christmas. :)
Jeanne (the other one) on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:13 pm #
Holy crap - that is amazing - I can’t believe how much you had left. I would have had a stroke. The socks are gorgeous - too beautiful. I really need to make those socks. Sorry to hear about Ariann, but I’m sure it will be worth it in the end.
lobstah on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:26 pm #
Oh, you poor thing…I’ve been following the Ariann saga and my heart is just bleeding for you! I hope all the trouble is worth it and you have a fantastic piece at the end.
I missed your last post, but good for you for gifting the Peacock Feathers shawl. I bet it will get lots of love :)
Shelly on 16 Nov 2007 at 4:23 pm #
I know you will get that Ariann pattern under control soon! Honest!!
Just keep on knitting - those socks are wonderful!
*karen on 16 Nov 2007 at 6:04 pm #
Aw, your aunt is going to be so touched. Those socks look perfect to me. And I’m curious: What are the harmony needles like? I’ve heard they’re not as garish as they look in the photos, but they look so gaudy…
Dee on 16 Nov 2007 at 6:33 pm #
Arrgh — running out of yarn is the pits. But, the socks are gorgeous anyways and those toes will be hidden in shoes.
The colorway is BEAUTIFUL in that pattern. Doesn’t Cookie A. make the nicest patterns?
Veronica on 16 Nov 2007 at 6:47 pm #
I
LOVE
THOSE
SOCKS….
drool….
tiennie on 16 Nov 2007 at 8:15 pm #
Beautiful job and wow that is close on the socks!
Robbyn on 17 Nov 2007 at 4:03 am #
I have to say that I admire your determination to pursue Ariann until it fits the way you want. If I had had your adventures with it though, I’d be buring the whole shebang at midnight!
The Pomotamous (Pomotami?) are truly gorgeous - that’s an amazing colorway and I’m glad your mom is happy with them. Gosh, if I had been knitting them, and worried about whether or not there’d be enough yarn, I have had to stop between round to bite my nails!
Knitnana on 17 Nov 2007 at 3:07 pm #
Socks are gorgeous…love love love them.
And I’m soooooooo sorry about the sweater - what perseverance you have! (I’d have given up)
Oh…btw. I’m tagging you for a meme. See my blog?
((((hugs))))
Jane on 17 Nov 2007 at 8:38 pm #
That sweater has it in for you! The socks, however, are beautiful even if they were trying to scare the stuffing out of you! Your aunt is going to be very very happy and touched by your gift :-)
Charles "The Knitter" on 18 Nov 2007 at 12:59 am #
OH MY GODsh~
LOOK at does socks! Lovely~~
You did fine job on your lace socks!
And I really like blog so much! I use to live Honolulu for six years!
Great to see blogger from Hawaii!
ALSO CAN I ASK YOUR FLOAVOR!
Visit my knitting blog.. see what you think and comment me!
Thanks~~
Charles
textillian on 18 Nov 2007 at 1:03 pm #
Oh, Opal. I am sorry. It is such a pain to have to rip out. You are so diligent for doing it though and not throwing in the towel.
I LOVE the socks. The colorway is great. Your mother must be thrilled.
Kim on 18 Nov 2007 at 2:12 pm #
Ugh, I’m sick about Ariann, your courage to rip and re-knit is inspiring. Lucky for you the socks came through; they are beautiful, in spite of the roller-coaster ride of the toe grafting, or maybe because of all that? Your mom is like my mom; thrilled by whatever her daughters make, no matter how sketchy the project ends up…
Have a good Thanksgiving!!
Lisa on 18 Nov 2007 at 2:22 pm #
Good decision! She will love that shawl!
Dipsy D. on 19 Nov 2007 at 1:10 am #
Heaven help, this was indeed a close call with the yarn! I have to say I’m quite relieved that it’s not only me who’s going through all kinds of palpitations and heart attacks when knitting - I’m usually always short of yarn and if I’m not, then I’m still worrying - but I’m obviously not alone with that fortunately ;)
Anyways, your socks turned out gorgeous - this pattern just rocks big time and the yarn you chose once more seems to be the perfect one, it brings out the pattern so beautifully!
As for Ariann, I think a bit of a break from it was the best decision - I’m sorry that it doesn’t go as smoothly as it should and that you had to frog and modify. But - in the end it’ll be so worth it and you’ll have a perfectly fitting Ariann - now, how great will that be?!
debbie on 19 Nov 2007 at 5:27 pm #
you sure do knit dangerously with those p-socks, but they are beautiful! lucky mom! that’s a nice idea to give great-aunt the shawl - though sentimental (the “first” anything would be special), knowing it’ll be loved and worn and appreciated lessens the pain - you really should feel honored she loves it so much!
Carin on 20 Nov 2007 at 7:25 am #
You are a very generous and considerate to give the shawl to your great-aunt. I am sorry to hear that Ariann will had to be frogged and hope this project will give you less grief.
LOVE the socks, beautiful colorway!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Peggy on 20 Nov 2007 at 1:29 pm #
Yep, way to close for my comfort. Those socks are gorgeous!!!! I need to put those in my queue. About the comment you left on my blog that you admire my ability to keep up with all these KALs? I don’t know where you ever got that idea.
Aim on 23 Nov 2007 at 5:03 am #
Opal, you are going to do it. I can tell! And you will be soooo pleased with the end result. Sometimes perfectionism can be annoying, but mostly it results in great work!!! You go, girl! Your stick-to-it-iveness is inspiring :)
BTW, I love love love the socks in that colorway! Awesome!!! (Good save, BTW!)
Aim
chris on 25 Nov 2007 at 2:45 am #
AAAAAAHHHHH! No. I just feel so bad for you. I know i always have problems with the sleeves being too long. But I know once you get it done - you’ll love it. Have I said that more than once!
Those socks are to die for. To DIE FOR! Love the color. Love the pattern. Wouldn’t have noticed the toes if you wanted to give them to me.
Carol on 25 Nov 2007 at 2:51 pm #
Holy cow! Too short socks and too long sleves? Poor thing, just remember keep your right toes curled up. The socks are gorgeous! Best of luck with Ariann!