In Which I Exhibit Personal Growth, or the Opposite
As I mentioned in my last post, my Sunrise Circle is finished. As proof, I offer up this mediocre photograph of it on my kitchen floor. It will not be getting the full tripod, auto-timer and lovingly crafted close ups.
She is way too big. I noticed it when I was seaming up in Chicago that it seemed kind of large. When I got all the seaming done, I tried it on and realized it was true. In an effort of rationalization (a great area of expertise for me), my brain whispered, "But you haven't sewn up the hems and you really need the buttons on to see how it will fit closed up." So I finished the finishing - hems all around, even the crochet loops to go on the perfectly spaced toggle buttons.
But how did this happen? I had spot-on gauge. The problem, my friends, is that I have no idea what size I actually am. When I started knitting, I was a first-time nursing mom. To say that 2 years more of nursing, one more pregnancy and re-lactating has changed my curves a bit is quite an understatement. My bust is a far cry from the milk-filled 40" that I got when I last measured in 2004. Gravity and repeat nursing have not been kind to the girls and when I measure now I am a solid 38". Seeing as I knit the 41" size, on this supposed to be somewhat fitted cardi, I am toast.
Back in those first knitting days, I would have crumpled up and cried and then lived in total denial. Relegating the sweater to the back shelf, trying it on hopefully every once and while, thinking things might have changed. Not this time. My brain tried to trick me - I even brought it to spin night last night, hoping someone would tell me it was OK to try and felt it a little, but Terry and the other sharp cookies there shook their heads sadly. She will be dismantled and reknit promptly in the proper size. I'm just glad it needs to be smaller, because I was about 5 inches away from needing to frog my swatch to finish this size.
She is way too big. I noticed it when I was seaming up in Chicago that it seemed kind of large. When I got all the seaming done, I tried it on and realized it was true. In an effort of rationalization (a great area of expertise for me), my brain whispered, "But you haven't sewn up the hems and you really need the buttons on to see how it will fit closed up." So I finished the finishing - hems all around, even the crochet loops to go on the perfectly spaced toggle buttons.
But how did this happen? I had spot-on gauge. The problem, my friends, is that I have no idea what size I actually am. When I started knitting, I was a first-time nursing mom. To say that 2 years more of nursing, one more pregnancy and re-lactating has changed my curves a bit is quite an understatement. My bust is a far cry from the milk-filled 40" that I got when I last measured in 2004. Gravity and repeat nursing have not been kind to the girls and when I measure now I am a solid 38". Seeing as I knit the 41" size, on this supposed to be somewhat fitted cardi, I am toast.
Back in those first knitting days, I would have crumpled up and cried and then lived in total denial. Relegating the sweater to the back shelf, trying it on hopefully every once and while, thinking things might have changed. Not this time. My brain tried to trick me - I even brought it to spin night last night, hoping someone would tell me it was OK to try and felt it a little, but Terry and the other sharp cookies there shook their heads sadly. She will be dismantled and reknit promptly in the proper size. I'm just glad it needs to be smaller, because I was about 5 inches away from needing to frog my swatch to finish this size.
posted by Pumpkinmama at Friday, September 19, 2008
14 Comments:
Ouch. A hard way to get that personal growth. It's a nice sweater, though, and you should definitely reknit. But, if you decide not to, I know someone *ahem* that it might fit :)
Hey, Danielle ... I'll fight you for it.
It's beautiful, Erin. I can see why you want to reknit.
I suppose you could always eat three inches' worth of chocolate. ;-)
Oh, what a disappointment. Any chance you have a dear friend or family member who would appreciate such a beautiful sweater in that size? It might be more fun to really make someone's day and start over with new yarn for yourself.
Personal growth is right! It will go quick -- think of driving home from somewhere, always faster!
That stinks! I am in the process of seaming Twist and I just tried it on with one sleeve and side seam done. I think it's going to be just right but I'm still anxious that it will be too small.
It's gorgeous, and totally worth reknitting. At least you'll have less to knit, not more, the second time around. And perhaps enough yarn leftover to make a nice hat to match.
Such a disappointment when that happens...ask me how I know :(...but you did a beautiful job on it.
It will knit that much faster in a smaller size :)
No sense in spending much time photographing it then, eh? I feel your frog-pond pain - but it will be beautiful and very very wearable in the smaller size, so forge on!
Good luck!!
Oh that stinks! That's disappointing. And such a thing of beauty. I do know your pain though- my KP&S pullover still sits awaiting the frog pond. 4 inches too big all the way around.
Smaller is definitely a better spot to be in, and knowing the ins and outs of the pattern will make working it over again faster!
Kathleen recently did a series of posts on cutting down a hand knit sweater....
http://kathleen-dakotadreams.blogspot.com/2008/09/department-of-unintended-consequences.html
This is just heartbreaking. I'm glad it found a good home.
I saw a woman at my local farmer's market today wearing a felted sunrise circle. It looked fabulous. It would depend on the yarn - but it's a thought... Meanwhile, what a great job you did.
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