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death of a sweater
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | 21 Comments
Remember the Abstract Jacket? I knew going into it that it would be a problem project. I mean, a pattern without a schematic requires a lot of faith! Faith that I gathered, and knit on. The pattern became more of a guideline when I realized it’d end up a dress rather than a jacket if I knit as directed. I loved the yarn, I loved the abstract nature of the design, but one thing I didn’t love, and couldn’t get past, were the gaping holes in the eight stitch cables.
Oh, I told myself and I told Laurie that I was going to try to do some crazy behind-the-scenes weaving to make the holes disappear but the reality that I don’t know what I’m talking about, much less how to do it, finally set in.
It doesn’t look too bad stretched out over my hand. However, this is a loose-fitting jacket that will hang more than stretch (at least, one would hope).
Ugh. This is what it looks like, just hanging.
Nifty idea of a pattern, but not so nifty in real life. Probably has a lot to do with my yarn choice (the pattern calls for a merino/linen blend) but I’m doubtful even the sproingyness of merino would keep those cables from gaping.
Never fear, a new sweater has been born!
I loved the seed stitch bottom on the last sweater so much, I decided to knit an entire seed stitch sweater! Because I’m crazy, that’s why. I’m making the Minimalist Cardigan from IK Fall 2007. (Can I just lament here how IK’s designs have fallen off in the past two years? Take the Fall 2007 IK for example. THERE is a knitting magazine. There are so many good patterns in that issue. Placed Cable Aran, Tangled Yoke Cardigan, Dickinson Pullover, Cobblestone Pullover – so many patterns that I would actually KNIT and WEAR! Not so much anymore. I let my sub lapse and will buy an issue if there is a pattern I absolutely have to have. It’s not like I don’t have a million things to knit in my queue already.)
btw- this is not the yarn whose swatches are eluding me. I’m ignoring that yarn until it decides to show itself and then I will pounce!
That’s what I’m up to. What’re you knitting?
Comments
21 Responses to “death of a sweater”
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July 23rd, 2009 @ 9:39 am
wow, you are very good-natured about all that, me i’d be whining…….Yarn is preety, tho.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 9:39 am
I have the minimalist cardigan in my queue as well so I’ll be looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. If the Abstract Jacket is meant to be, one of these days you’ll find just the right yarn for it.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:32 am
A smart knitter knows when to end a relationship. You’ve made a good choice in changing. You’re also so right about IK. Fall 2007 was the last great issue!
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:36 am
I couldn’t get past the holes either. Good for you for moving on to another pattern.
I agree with you about IK. It’s quite lacking these days and I still hate the new layout.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:39 am
Knowing when to cut your losses and move on is a great thing! And now you’ll have a sweater you’ll actually wear – which is ALSO a great thing. :)
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:39 am
The holes that result from cables bug me sometimes, too. Those were quite large! IK has gone down hill, I agree.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:42 am
I don’t know if know is the time to tell you that I had my doubts about that pattern from the beginning….
I think I’m going to cast on for the Minimalist as well. I have some Rowan Felted Tweed in “Herb” that’s calling my name!
July 23rd, 2009 @ 10:47 am
The minimalist cadigan will be great in that yarn. I LOVE that sweater — it’s so cute and functional.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Good luck with the new sweater!
Regarding IK, I too let my sub lapse. I have recently found that my local county library system has the magazines for checkout through various branches. I’ve been checking them out and find that I only really really like one pattern on average. So scan it for future use.
If your library system doesn’t have a subscription, ask. The way the economy is the libraries are finding more people knitting – so they are buying more knitting books for people to check out. Why not also a magazine?
July 23rd, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Oh dear! But at least you have another project for it. The seed stitch does look lovely in that yarn.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 11:40 am
So agree on the holes. Not worth it to have to do Every Single One of Them and then still watch them hang, then skew.
I agree about IK. Alas.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 11:55 am
Purty! Good choice for a sweater-to-love! I’m getting ready to start knitting Cobblestone. And, I stopped subbing to IK because of the same thing. The sweaters they are publishing are not what I would wear at all.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
I think you made a good choice.
I am knitting a stole with lots of holes, but they are supposed to be there!
July 23rd, 2009 @ 1:47 pm
It sucks to have to lose all that effort, but you’re right, it would have bugged you forever. I’m proud of you for doing the deed and frogging it!
July 23rd, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
I agree with LiT – I wasn’t crazy about that sweater to begin with. The minimalist cardigan, though – a beautiful, wearable sweater. I think you’ll be happy you switched.
July 23rd, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
I’m in between knits and it’s the worst feeling. Of course, there’s many things I could pick up that I already have half finished…
Love the look of seed stitch, not so much the knitting of it. :)
July 23rd, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
your lovely photography actually makes it look quite amazing, but I can see how it wouldn’t look as good hanging loose. good luck with the rework :)
- peppernys
July 23rd, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
I love seed stitch and the minimalist. I’ve seen two of them in person and they are just lovely. Cable holes do suck. And I let my IK sub lapse sometime during 2007, too.
July 24th, 2009 @ 11:24 am
Yeah, I let my subscription lapse, too. Now I go to the LYS or BAM and check out the patterns first. I get that they want to be on the cutting edge of design, but don’t they realize that most of us live in Main Street, USA and not bebopping around with Paris Hilton?
July 25th, 2009 @ 7:01 am
Aside from a plain pair of socks, I’ve nothing else on the needles at the moment. I’m still spinning the yarn for a shawl that’s currently only in my head. That minimalist cardigan is very pretty although I’d have to make the sleeves full length. 3/4 sleeves make me either want to push them up or tug them down.
July 27th, 2009 @ 7:29 am
Sorry about the sweater. I agree about IK – I see maybe one or two things per issue that I’d think about knitting. I do love the minimalist, though – if you can hack the seed stitch, you rock!