In my LIFE has it never taken me 3 years to make anything. Occasionally I turn my attention to the completed pieces - which merely require seaming - and then I shut it down.
Why haven't I finished something that was painstaking to create the fabric for - like, 1500 yards of fingering-weight yarn - when all I need to do is a bit of sewing?
Well, I've got some reasons:
- I have no idea if it's going to fit at this point, and I really don't want to deal with yet another disappointment that focuses my attention on how I weigh a different amount now and my shape is not as it once was. I'm not being all self-loathing. But to be reminded of the current landscape, when I was pretty happy with the former one, is still not fun.
- I went off road with the pattern, Lord help me, and I know I take great notes, but how long is it going to take me to remember exactly HOW I went off road. I believe I opted not to make the buttonholes because I wanted to use petersham ribbon on the inside edges of the sweater and then to machine in the buttonholes. Now I'm not so sure I want to do this, but the die is cast.
- I went through this whole phase when I had to seam things using mattress stitch, under all circumstances, regardless of how difficult that might be (i.e. fingering-weight yarn stitches, circular seaming) and when it didn't look as good as I felt it should, I undid my seaming and just put everything into little ziploc bags. Perfectionism is so pointless. I think I'm going to seam with a back stitch, like 98% of the rest of the world's knitters, and call it a day. I mean, sure, that's how the perfectionist in 1952 would have done it, but she probably didn't have my career to worry about.
I'm not quite ready to take this project to the finish line, but I'm giving it some serious consideration, especially given that, if it does fit in the end, this garment would be worn frequently under most circumstances. What called my attention to it most recently - though I keep it in my knitting bag and force myself to reflect upon it every freakin' time I go into that bag (aka all the time) is the new Sweet Georgia yarn I bought in "Rip Tide". It is the EXACT same shade as the Quince and Co. Finch in "Peacock" that I used to knit the jacket pieces. Seems I'm in the mood to wear that colour, one way or another.
But what about you? Have you ever left a knitting project (or any other kind) to languish for nigh on 3 years? How do you / would you feel about such an outcome? Let's talk!
But what about you? Have you ever left a knitting project (or any other kind) to languish for nigh on 3 years? How do you / would you feel about such an outcome? Let's talk!
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I had a project like that, a pattern from Vogue Knitting that had a cool cable-wrapping thing at the front centre that then opened out from about the navel. I found the directions really confusing, had a hard time picturing the architecture, and, like you, had all the pieces knit, blocked, even some partially seamed, forever. And ever. Finally, I asked at my knitting shop where one of the women is brilliant at finishing. Loves it almost more than the knitting itself, teaches classes in finishing, wears garments that testify to her perfectionism. I got a quote for her and decided it was worth every penny to get a wearable sweater out of some otherwise worthless scraps of fabric I'd invested time and yarn money into creating.... Perhaps her cousin or sister or clone works at your yarn store....
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea! I never even thought of that. Hmmmm... off to call some peeps.
DeleteAfter I wrote this I remembered another project, a Fair Isle Pingouin pattern made with cotton (about a worsted weight, if I remember properly). Very early 90s, and I cringe now to think of it although I did love the cool summer colours (SO not a fan of knitting with cotton). I completed quite a bit of it, perhaps the sides, back, and part of a sleeve, but it languished and languished and languished. Until I realized I would never finish it and couldn't stand having it around testifying to my poor planning, profligacy, laziness, whatever. So I bundled it all up, stitches still on needles, included the pattern, and dumped it into the Thrift Store bin. Perhaps a knitter bought it for a song, and finished it happily??? More likely someone was happy enough to frog it and profit from the expensive yarn. Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission. In the end I justified it by thinking of the entertainment/recreation value of the knitting process itself, even if the final product didn't justify the expense.
DeleteWow - I don't think I could do that (though I think it's great that you did because someone else might have finished and loved it and, even if no, why should you be the one to have to rip back a zillion hours of work).
DeleteYou have described my lingering WIPs to a T -- shape shifting bod and absolutely no notes as to what I intended, plus perfection paralysis. My only solution has been to "just do it" -- forget perfection and make my best guess as to forgotten details. And if it doesn't suit my current shape -- well, I have three daughters. Surely one of them would want one of their mother's elegant creations? (Severe eye roll) ��
ReplyDeleteSo glad I'm not alone Karen! And how great that you have 3 daughters. I've only got one and she's SO not into my elegant creations.
DeleteWell, you did ask. In 1993 I saw a lovely sweater in Canadian Living mag, and madly went out and bought the exact yarn to make it. 19 years later, I finished it :-) It is now fairly dated with its batwing type sleeves and loose turtle neck, but it has a beautiful set of cables up the centre front (first I ever attempted). So I wear it camping- at least it fits...even if I look like a refugee from the 90's.
ReplyDeleteBarb
Barb
Hilarious! And it makes me feel like I've got time on my hands with this one :-)
DeleteI have one thought about the front closure - snaps. I sometimes can't stomach a potential disaster with buttonholes, so I go to snaps. Some are quite fancy these days. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm all over the snap option if it seems like that's the safest way to go. I have to get to the point where I can try it on and see whether the fit will mandate it. Sometimes I do buttons with concealed snaps - just for extra security and no pulling.
DeleteOh dear. I'm half way to a post like this, myself. Only, at least in my case it's a blanket and I'm more than 2/3 done.
ReplyDeleteHey - at least you don't have to worry that it won't fit :-)
DeleteI'm the proud owner of not one but TWO four-year sweaters. The first was a lovely British pattern in all over cables, unfortunately rendered in fine, fine Scandinavian yarn, or rather thread. When I finally got it done, it spent a year at the bottom of the closet, being pouted at, I was sooo sick of it. But in all fairness I'm still wearing it 20 years later :-). The second one was because of fit problems and the long-term denial thereof, it finished its short life at the thrift shop too.
ReplyDeleteCan I give a bit of unsollicited advice about your current WIP? Get a big, big tin of safety pins, and safety-pin-baste it. You'll either be so fired up about how lovely it really looks that you'll just pull out a crochet and finish those seams in an hour. Or you'll finally be able to take it out of the bag and do something about it. I'm not so in favor of giving it away, unles you already cut through a steek - you could consider it as a present of fresh new yarn, and just rip it and use it. Be sure to ravelry yourself a fresh new pattern before you rip :-)