Sunday, October 28, 2007

I can't get no satisfaction

I have become a terrible perfectionist. I've always had such tendencies, but - I must admit - they've intensified the last few years. Especially as it pertains to my completed knitting projects. The Tangled Yoke Cardigan is their latest victim.

As mentioned in the last post, I wasn't happy with the neck and the button bands. I felt that they ruffled out a bit too much, so I took them out and knit them with fewer stitches. Fresh off the needles, I was much happier with the result...until I donned it on Saturday for its debut. They still ruffled out. Truly, not nearly as obvious as before, but I just wasn't comfortable with the sweater all day, despite appreciated assurances by the DH, friends, customers, and customers who are becoming friends. Sadly, though, as soon as they left the store, so did my feeling good about the Tangled Yoke.

The bands and the yoke itself are going in for a more intense blocking tomorrow and my truly wonderful boss thinks that that will do the trick. I hope so. At this point, I am very seriously considering redoing the whole sweater, this time as a pullover a la The Rainey Sisters (can we say "brilliant!"). I should just not do cardigans. I am rarely satisfied with the bands and do reach for pullovers more often, anyway. We'll see...

I'm feeling pretty down on myself as a knitter yesterday and today. I had high hopes for this project and I'm so awfully sad that I'm not thrilled with it.

In other knitting news, I'm making slowish progress on the High Neck Cable sweater. The body is complete up to the armholes. Just like the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, the sleeves are knit, then attached to the body and the whole sweater then knit in the round to the end. I LOVE not having to set in sleeves. I can't tell you how often I have to deal with those Terrible Perfectionist Tendencies when setting in sleeves!


Washington and Madison came to live with us yesterday. This is Washington - watching me type this post. Apologies for the blurry photo...he doesn't sit still for long!

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Almost there...

Sorry, but I haven't had a chance yet to personalize the new blog, but I wanted to start posting to it so that I have less to eventually migrate from the old one.

With forecast highs in the 50s this week, I thought it a good time for the Tangled Yoke Cardigan to make its official debut and that meant sewing on the buttons and weaving the ends. I picked up the specified number of stitches on the button bands but had a sneaking suspicion that there were just too many and I would end up with some puckering. I shoulda listened to the damned knitting instincts!

Do pardon the weird angle of the ubiquitous bathroom mirror shot. It fits and looks a heckuva lot better in the real world. Even DH was effusive in the praise saying that, of all my sweaters, this is one of his favorites. Yeah!

I took back the bands and instead of 136 stitches, I picked up just 120 and already I can tell that it's going to be much better. I think I'll wear it on Saturday after it has had a good last steaming to settle in the new bands.

I did break one of my knitting rules this week. I casted on a second project, because I just had to. More on that in the next post!

In my blog reading this week, I'm simply amazed by how many go to the NY Sheep & Wool festival in Rhinebeck, including a knitter from the Appleton area. I haven't read anything but amazing things about it. I think I'll make it one of my goals to be able to attend it next year, but that does mean finding a better paying job. Where oh where should I go?

A warm but blustery day allowed DH another 30 mile ride today, which brings my season mileage to 2080. Perhaps, with a few commutes to work, I could potentially crack 2100 but I'm not going to get my hopes up. It is, after all, getting on towards the end of October and it is certainly time for it to get downright chilly. I'm ready and waiting...