Knitting blahs
>> Thursday, November 12, 2009
My clasica coat is in knitting death throes, aka being frogged. Oh clasica coat how did I love thee? Well so much that this is killing my love of knitting, momentarily of course. The sleeves are waaaay to long. The front hangs a bit cockeyed and the whole thing weighs close to one hundred pounds. One of these by itself could probably be fixed but after painstakingly seaming it together and then being almost done and having this many problems, well it is too much for me to take and it is being frogged and hopefully forgotten.
After so many problems with knitting sweaters for myself I am a bit depressed. Here is a link for the first sweater I knit for myself and a little problem I had with gauge. If you want a good giggle click and check it out. My neckdown hooded cardigan turned out well enough but just didn't fit right. It too has been frogged and is awaiting a reincarnation.My knitting seems to be fine it is just the fit that eludes me. The knits for my children turn out great. My daughter is wearing this dress for the third time this week and has requested a winter version, long sleeves and the bottom of the dress needs to touch her toes
So back to the drawing board. I am going to take the yarn from my clasica coat and cast on for the ubiquitous Fireside Cardigan inspired by The Holiday. I have pulled out all the design books I have and my tape measure in the hopes that I'll finally get it right.
After all of this knitting heartache a little fall sweetness was in order. Gingerbread cookies with dark chocolate chunks. Seriously delicious. I have dug out cookie recipes from all corners of the house and with my children snuggled up next to me on the sofa we have poured over them. Picking this one and that one to make. Queuing up baking recipes much like my knitting in Ravelry. Holiday baking is in order for this weekend. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend too!
P.S. I have one knee sock knit for my daughter and the other one started. Hopefully I'll finish it this weekend.
25 comments:
aww, shucks. But I have a feeling it may not be all you. I got the had heebie jeebies looking at that pattern earlier this fall.
Oh - I can't wait to see the Fireside - that's one good thing about frogging at least...
oh I just love her little dress and those cookies sound divine! Care to share the recipe?
Hope this weekend has some happier knitting moments for you!
The important things first - your cookies sound wonderful!!!!
I too have a cardigan giving me fits. It's the Cabled Riding Jacket.... I do have another sweater I'm seaming and had better luck with it. Still haven't frogged the Cabled Riding Jacket - but it's a strong possibility.
BTW - I *LOVE* your new blog header. Beautiful.
Fit eludes me, too.
Wow ~ your new blog header is gorgeous!!! I need to learn how to do something like that. :)
The cookies look delicious. And the knitting? I'm one to avoid frogging if I can help it - I stick my head in the sand in denial and yet can't stop thinking about knits gone wrong. Maybe why I knit so many shawls and scarves??? They fit. lol Hope your knitting fit goes better. Fireside looks gorgeous.
I totally sympathize about ill-fitting sweaters. I have very few I've made for myself that I actually enjoy wearing. You will LOVE Fireside, though. I need to finish mine; it's been sitting for about 6 months, but not for lack of love - that's just how I work.:)
Well, that sucks and I'm so sorry!
About fit: measure yourself. I know you know what size you are, but you don't. I made probably 30 sweaters that were all too big for me. When I finally forced myself to knit to my measurements, not to my "size"--as I understood it--I started getting sweaters that actually fit!
Oh, yuck. I'm sorry to hear about the Clasica, but will look forward to the Fireside, instead. :o) The cookies sound fabulous!
have you tried Stephanie Japel's patterns? I really like her "Fitted Knits" book, and so far, I have not gone wrong with her patterns - at least in regard to fit. I did frog a few that just weren't me. But they did fit! One of my favourite jumpers to this day is her cosy v-neck. Also there's a pattern called "Bliss" (http://www.french-kit.com/en/patterns/bliss) which might work.
oh darn! I'm STILL knitting my February Lady and am hoping that I like the fit when I'm finished. keep up the great work...you're one great knitter!!
I never tried knitting anything for myself. I am just too afraid to spend the time and effort and end up with an ill fitting garment. One of my friends said i should try knitting from the top down because you can try it on and adjust accordingly. She recommended the "custom knits" book of patterne
I too fell in love with the sight of the clasica coat. However, hadn't casted on - and now I think I'm glad I didn't attempt it. Sorry for your frogging though, that stinks.
Fit is hard - knit garments tend to stretch (a lot!) so I tend to knit smaller. That twirly dress looks beautiful on your daughter! good for you for not giving up. I experienced the knitting blahs myself this week - used too a bulky yarn. your cookies look so yummy with those chocolate chunks. Have fun with the fireside cardi but remember to go small because it has lots of bulk with all those cables.
oh andrea...I feel your pain. I was looking at my Interweave knits the other day and it registered in my mind that the classica coat on the front was the one you were working on. That's one massive handknit! I'm so sorry it didn't turn out...don't give up, you'll find that perfect pattern! In the mean time, I'm sure you're family is happy with all the baking. Those cookies look delish!
Sorry to hear about that. The fireside sweater is really gorgeous though, so maybe it'll turn about for the best after all? Good luck with the next project!
There's nothing worse than when knitting goes wrong. Still it's often the process of knitting which gives the greatest enjoyment and now you've had double pleasure from the same amount of yarn.
That dress is so beautiful! I just love it.
You know, I have to say that knitting sweaters has never been much of my thing either. Not really sure what that is about, but I feel your pain.
Cookies always makes everything so much better, and you had the perfect excuse to enjoy them :)
oh! i love the idea of cuddling up with the kids talking about cookies. we do that, too! it makes it fun when they are part of it.
okay... i did get a little giggle out of seeing your first sweater. :) those photos are priceless.
we have all had one similar. i seem to have felted one too many by accident!!!
LOVE the fireside cardi.... that one always sits in my mind.... maybe one day.
I've run into the same problem with knitting for myself. Hang in there.
I've been in a knitting funk as well. I knit a couple of rows then frog a bit, knit a bit, frog a bit. I'm really not getting anywhere fast! However, gingerbread + chocolate is genius!!!
I had the hardest time knitting sweaters that ever actually worked. Then, suddenly something clicked. But a lot had to do with picking the right patterns, and yarn for them, and researching them well on ravelry, to make sure there weren't problems with the pattern, etc. Also? I usually just let Leslie pick 'em for me... ;)
I have a problem making actual sweaters too!!! It is so frustrating isn't it? So much work and money invested. I made a turtleneck with lovely faireisle (think complicated and painstaking.) It ended up being too tight in some places and too big in others. Not flattering and I don't think I have the heart to start again. UGH!
Good luck on the next project!
oh, stick with it. i think you will love fireside. really. i can't wait to see it!
See this is why I like to knit for Lily! The whole boobs and hips thing just complicates things. :D I'm always fairly sure that anything I knit for Lily will look good on her (a sack even?)but me? - not so much.
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