March: Amelia

Posted on | February 27, 2009 | 15 Comments

My March sweater for NaKnitSweMoDo is Amelia and she is a borderline fail.

She fits Maude pretty well.

And if Maude were who I made Amelia for, I’d be perfectly happy.

I can wear her, but she’s not very flattering.

Thanks to SB for taking pics this morning, but sweetie?  You should’ve told me I had crosshatch marks all over my pants from the glider. 

Yeah.  There’s your Friday morning chuckle!

Good things about Amelia: 

1.  I like the yarn.  It’s Lucia, a closeout by Adrienne Vittadini that was on my Webs xmas list and the 53% wool/43% cotton content was really nice to knit with.  I used a little over 11 skeins for this cardigan. 

2.  I love the 5″ garter stitch cuffs.  Actually, they’re what made me want to knit the sweater.

Things I don’t like about Amelia: 

1.  The fact that I forgot to put in buttonholes.  I figured I’d get past that by putting in snaps or just wearing it open.  In looking at the pictures though, I think I need the snaps to keep the fronts from bunching up.

2.  Too much negative ease.  The yarn I used did not fit the specified gauge, so I did the math and knit the small size, which worked pretty well.  I should note that I haven’t blocked Amelia yet, or given her a bath, so she may grow some and then she’ll probably fit perfectly.  Unless she shrinks and then I’m in trouble!

3.  Looking at these pictures, it appears that I screwed up a few stitches on the twisted row section in the back.  I’ll have to look at it closer when I get home and see if it’s a photo fluke or a true error.  I think it’s just a fluke.  I hope.

So, there’s my  March sweater.  I’d like to say that I’ve been working steadily on my February sweater, Amanda, but I haven’t touched her.  I guess I was cheating with Amelia – ha!  I’ve spun and finished the next skein of yarn and need to work on Amanda’s second sleeve and then finish the yoke and collar but I’ve had no desire to do so this week.  This week has been pretty useless, actually.  My mind won’t stop jumping from project to project and my hands have been left to their own devices.

That’s right, I’ve been crocheting.  It’s my sister’s fault.

She gave me these two lovelies for xmas 2007 and in comparing them to the few knit dishcloths that I have, I have to say that crochet is a better medium for cotton dishcloths.  The stitches are firmer and provide just enough bulk.  Plus, they’re fast as hell to make!

I’ve also cast on for at least three other projects – a half-knit sock, a new sweater and a mohair wrap/big scarf – all of which failed for various reasons.  I think this weekend I’ll spend some time with my wheel and if I do any knitting, it’ll be on Amanda’s sleeve.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Category: Finished Objects, March, NaKniSweMoDo

Comments

15 Responses to “March: Amelia”

  1. Paula
    February 27th, 2009 @ 9:51 am

    those dishcloths could tempt me to crochet some… Amelia looks good. I still have sleeves on Acer to go.

  2. Nora
    February 27th, 2009 @ 10:24 am

    I like Amelia. Plan for weekend? Catch my breath!!

  3. Cheryl S.
    February 27th, 2009 @ 10:50 am

    Sorry it’s a disappointment so far, but maybe you’ll be happier after it’s blocked. I’m sure you can come up with something for closing the front!

  4. Heather
    February 27th, 2009 @ 11:07 am

    I am going to take advantage of my SIL being in town and hide in an undisclosed location of town to knit the rest of the socks for my brother’s b-day, which is coming up all too quickly.

  5. crazy for yarn in alabama
    February 27th, 2009 @ 11:16 am

    Amelia is GORGEOUS……and I second Cheryl’s comment….I hope you can work it out, such a pretty sweater.

    I got tickled….why is it things that are so obvious to women just “glide” right over a a man’s head??? LOL!!

  6. Tami
    February 27th, 2009 @ 11:31 am

    I think another part of why you may not be happy with Amelia is something you didn’t list – The ribbing that hits at the wrong spot at your hips. I think if it were up a few inches it would show off your waistline.

    Showing you’re curvy is good – pointing to a wider area isn’t. Least ways that what the DH is always telling me.

    You get bonus points for showing off a backside!

    With dishcloths what I’ve found is that I do them on smaller than recommended needles, I like a US4 instead of US7 and I don’t make them a 9×9 inch, but more a 6×6. I have smaller hands I don’t NEED a whole bunch of cloth to wash dishes with.

  7. margene
    February 27th, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

    Blocking will make a big difference and my bet is that the fabric will grow. Snaps would look great and you could put faux buttons on top of them.

  8. Tina M.
    February 27th, 2009 @ 12:29 pm

    *snickers* Leave it to the hubs to gaze innocently back at you and “what?!” when you call him on the butt marks.

    I like you, so know that *I* would have told you your butt was hatched.

    I like Ameila very much, I’d say wash and block, then see what you end up with.

  9. Jen
    February 27th, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA – Your butt has a lattice print!!!

    I really like Amelia! I love the back of it especially. You have such patience; no way I could concentrate long enough to do such small stitches for an entire garment!

    Love your dishcloths, too!

  10. Diane
    February 27th, 2009 @ 10:34 pm

    I like Amelia, especially the pattern on the back. Don’t give up until you give her a bath and a block, you’ll be surprised what a difference that makes.

    Have a good weekend!

  11. Jessi
    February 28th, 2009 @ 9:13 am

    That’s something my husband would do. Although, usually it’s something stuck between my teeth. The irony there is that he’s a dentist, so you *know* he sees it. ::sigh:: Men.

    Love the sweater, but sorry you’re not happy with the fit. Maybe blocking will help. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. :-)

  12. Kai
    February 28th, 2009 @ 11:07 am

    *hugs* I love Amelia. It’s a shame you’re not happy with it, maybe blocking would help… Personally I think you’re stunning with or without the cardi. :)

  13. Jeanne
    February 28th, 2009 @ 4:04 pm

    Amelia looks very pretty – I hope you like it better once you block it. The yarn is gorgeous, and I think it looks very nice on you.

  14. Carrie
    March 1st, 2009 @ 1:12 pm

    I love the little pitcher freeform one. Must.resist.crocheted.dishcloths… Especially since I don’t use them…

  15. Laurie
    March 3rd, 2009 @ 8:21 am

    That yarn combo will grow with blocking. I think you will end up being happier. (I like the sweater a great deal.)