I’ve got nothing against frogs. In fact, I’m quite fond of them.
And yet… Sigh. I picked up Rosy Saturday, thinking to finish the back, which had been only ten or so rows away from casting off for well over a month now. I finished it, draped it across my back to test the fit, and had quite a surprise. Because it’s knit side to side and formed by short rows, I really didn’t have a solid grasp of how it would look or fit once finished.
Well…
You may recall that I swapped out the DB Cotton Angora the pattern calls for in favor of a lovely cashmere merino blend bought on cone from School Products. The gauge was different, but I’d accounted (I’d thought) for that by choosing to knit two sizes down from my desired finished product. There were other aspects I should have taken into account and didn’t. Like the fact that a much heavier yarn would create a much heavier garment. That it wouldn’t drape the same way. The back was so heavy and pulled so much I knew that I would hate to wear the finished jacket. It would hang heavy off my shoulders and pull and stretch out and generally be…well…significantly less fabulous than I’d hoped it would be.
I feel rather foolish. I mean, I know this, and what’s worse I kind of thought this the whole time I was knitting this ginormous back and stuffed the thought down and kept knitting away, knitting away.
So now I’m frogging it. Frogging the whole damn thing. I’ll find a more suitable yarn to make Rosy, though not the cotton angora because I don’t like the way angora sheds. Maybe the DB cotton cashmere I have in my stash, if the gauge works and I have enough yardage. And the lovely cashmere merino that I still adore, I’ll find a proper pattern for it that calls for a bulky yarn or make something up…
But tonight I’m ripping and winding, ripping and winding…
…and kind of disappointed to be that much farther away from having this baby finished.
But onward and…well…onward. Got the latest Interweave Knits today. I MUST MUST MUST make the Tartan Jacket. Teva Durham strikes again. I love so many of her designs. This is a great issue. The Classic Slant Cardigan also caught my eye, as did Syncopated Ribs, Sideways Spencer, the Floral Felted Bag (and I don’t even carry purses! Maybe as a gift…), the Flower Basket Shawl, and the Lace and Tuck Ensemble.
I think the Tartan Jacket is going to jump the line of projects waiting in the wings. I want to concentrate on finishing up my WIPs in the next month or so, and then I’ll get that jacket going. I think I may even use the suggested colorway from the pattern. Maybe.
Oh, so *that’s* the ripping sound I hear.
I’m digging the Tartan jacket, too.
Posted by: Iris
What a sad knitting tale. Why do we do that? When I started Retro Prep I *knew* it wasn’t big enough, yet I didn’t actually check until I’d knit 12 inches of the body — sure enough, riiiippp! I guess it’s about the process as much as the FO, and we just really like to knit.
I’m off to find the latest IK online! A tartan jacket sounds intriguing…
Posted by: alison
Flower Basket, huh? Whattayaknow…..we stock that very yarn, and it’s softer than buttah and twice as inexpensive (that’s an under-$12-project..as the yarn is $5.17 per ball from us).
Posted by: Rob
i am liking a lot of things in the new IK as well. i can totally picture you in the tartan!
Posted by: carolyn
oh man! And I was looking forward to seeing how yours came out–I’m starting Rosy (with substituted yarn; uh oh) once I receive my pattern book.
The new IK is really good!
Posted by: sharon
I *heart* the tartan, though I think i’m going to make it with a black base, instead of the spice, for that classic Jackie O look…
😉
I’m making Rosy for my mom out of a cotton acryl blend, so it’s pretty light, though you were my inspiration to look at the pattern (and decide she’d like it) so I wish you luck in finding a substitute!!
Posted by: Amber
Oh, so *that’s* the ripping sound I hear.
I’m digging the Tartan jacket, too.
Posted by: Iris
What a sad knitting tale. Why do we do that? When I started Retro Prep I *knew* it wasn’t big enough, yet I didn’t actually check until I’d knit 12 inches of the body — sure enough, riiiippp! I guess it’s about the process as much as the FO, and we just really like to knit.
I’m off to find the latest IK online! A tartan jacket sounds intriguing…
Posted by: alison
Flower Basket, huh? Whattayaknow…..we stock that very yarn, and it’s softer than buttah and twice as inexpensive (that’s an under-$12-project..as the yarn is $5.17 per ball from us).
Posted by: Rob
i am liking a lot of things in the new IK as well. i can totally picture you in the tartan!
Posted by: carolyn
oh man! And I was looking forward to seeing how yours came out–I’m starting Rosy (with substituted yarn; uh oh) once I receive my pattern book.
The new IK is really good!
Posted by: sharon
I *heart* the tartan, though I think i’m going to make it with a black base, instead of the spice, for that classic Jackie O look…
😉
I’m making Rosy for my mom out of a cotton acryl blend, so it’s pretty light, though you were my inspiration to look at the pattern (and decide she’d like it) so I wish you luck in finding a substitute!!
Posted by: Amber
Gack! I’m sorry about the froggin’, doll. Makes me think twice about what I’m going to sub mine for…. Oh, don’t you hate being a good example? xo
Posted by: Rachael
What a horrible story! I feel your pain! Isn’t it terrible when you’re your own worst enemy?
Posted by: Mush
Gack! I’m sorry about the froggin’, doll. Makes me think twice about what I’m going to sub mine for…. Oh, don’t you hate being a good example? xo
Posted by: Rachael
What a horrible story! I feel your pain! Isn’t it terrible when you’re your own worst enemy?
Posted by: Mush