As part of thinking about the best things I've made (in the knitting sense), I was also forced to admit today that there are some things which are less than best. In fact, there are three sweaters I've made over the last 5 years or so which didn't even get fully sewn-up because I was already aware that they were All Wrong.
One was going to be a long-forgotten dark blue All Seasons Cotton sweater (having already been a failed jacket); one a Ragna in cardigan version in Wendy Aran, and one a She Gansey in red All Seasons Cotton. In all cases they were too big, or the wrong shape, or I'd just completely fallen out of love with the pattern by the time I'd got to the end. Here they are in their awful glory.
And here they were a couple of hours later. Back left, 776 grammes/1550 metres of Wendy Aran with Wool in a nice green/grey tweed. Back right, 764 grammes/1400 metres of Rowan All Seasons Cotton in dark Air Force blue. Front, 490 grammes/880 metres of Rowan All Seasons Cotton in Paprika (orangey red); I do have another unopened 500 gramme bag of that one having bought two packs in Liberty's sale a few years ago.
Half of me is happy to have reclaimed three sweaters' worth of yarns. The other half of me looks at 2030 grammes and 3,830 metres of unravelled, never-worn sweater, with all the time, effort and hope involved, and marvels What was I thinking?? Knitters' denial - it's an amazing thing.
Just a reminder of the blog giveaway from the last post. Leave a comment over there about the best thing you've made over the last 5 years for a chance of a prize.
I've a couple of things OTN that are going to get the same treatment. I think it's very satisfying to get rid of mistakes, not to mention all that yarn you're freeing up for future projects....
ReplyDeleteI've two garments which I intend to frog as thehy're too big (I will get photos soon) - one's Jaeger EFM aran in an olive green and the other is a huge gansey in 5ply. The good things about bigger garments is that there's plenty of yarn! Did you wash the yarn or just wind? (The skeining asn washing is putting me off)
ReplyDeleteI was wondering about the washing/winding too. When I've reclaimed yarn in the past, I haven't bothered to wash it before re-winding...
ReplyDeleteI have re-knit a silly number of jumpers, or given away the finished objects. I have reknit straight from the old knitting even without bothering re-winding!
ReplyDeleteRachel