Oh Alison, I'm so jealous you're starting on your Banff. I'm really eager, but the yarn order hasn't come in yet. Oh well, it'll give me a chance to finish something before I start something new -- that's always a good thing. It's already looking beautiful, BTW.

Looks great, Alison. You are FAST. My Banff has been started 3 times with 3 different yarns (Manos, Lopi, and now 2 strands of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted in Roasted Coffee). Third time's a charm. :) Now if I just had fewer than 4 sweaters going on at the same time, I could probably finish one!

Did you wash your yarn after ripping it out? I never do.

I love the photo with your arms all wrapped up in the yarn, it looks fab. How do you feel now you're all ripped out, relieved?

Good morning, everyone! I am all done ripping the ribby and yes, Kerrie, I feel great! I'm so excited about Banff and knitting with this yarn again. Linda, I did give the skeins a wash and hung them up to straighten.

Larissa, I loved the Manos yarn you were using before. Why exactly did you decide not to go with it? It looked so good.

brave girl. I chickened out. I did not rip a thing. I would sit there with it in my hands, and just stare. "Maybe I really do like this project." and "Maybe I really will finish this one day" danced through my head until I finally just said enough and became at ease with my pack-rat-idy.

Alison, you can count me in on the rip-along. In fact, I've already begun :). My beautiful Plaid poncho just keeps growing (lengthwise) with every wear...so, it had to go. I'm shocked that you're ripping your ribby but congratulations! Ripping is not an easy thing to do.

Nice wrist warmers there!

Congrats on finishing - I'm done too! Talk about instant gratification, what a great project for that. I'd love to do the Banff, but don't know if it's right for me. Have to think about that some more, while I finish the mohair duster.

I have the back and one sleeve done on Banff and I'm going to love it. My wool isn't the softest, but with the weather we're having right now all I want is this big warm cozy sweater.

Glad to see the ripping went well and you got a start on it!

I have a poncho I've been meaning to rip for about 3 years now--maybe this winter I'll finally get to it.

alison, good work! i've had to rip out finished sweaters before and it's sucky. much easier to rip before you seam it up (like my clara cardigan that made it to the collar before i realized the yarn i'd chosen was completly wrong.)

meanwhile, banff sleeves, back and 3/4 of front is done! just waiting for my pattern assistant to help with the last part of the pattern and i can probably be done in three days. :-) i'm doing mine in artful yarns "fable", which explains why i need a little extra help.

ah, who am i kidding? i always need a little extra help. :-)

The second to last picture looks like cookie monster arm warmers, wow!

I do love that color, can't wait to see banff :)

Banff is looking good. It goes really quick once as you start the shaping. I have the back done but haven't started the front yet, probably Sunday if I don't have to work. The Rowan I am using sheds and makes me itchy so I have been spacing out the days that I knit on it.

Since I finished the back during the week, I finished up the Bea Ellis Skier hat that I had started months ago and ordered more yarn to make another. I really need to practice my fair isle knitting so I can someday make a sweater.

alison-
thanks for inspiring me. yesterday read your blog and realized YES I CAN RIP! and went home and ripped out the back of a sweater I started a year ago and know I will never finish. The best part is it is beautiful jo sharp yarm in amethyst which i love and i never would have worn the sweater... too many unflattering cables. Washed and hung the skeins and it's ready to go! One less thing to feel bad about. Thanks for leading the way for me!
I'm in Boston - hope to make it the the Knitsmiths one of these days- that is my FAV book store - sunday afternoons are just so busy.
b

Banff is flying for me. I've got the back, front and a good part of a sleeve. Depending on my schedule I might finish it this weekend. This is a really simple, fun sweater to knit.

Aaah - as good as I'm getting with ripping stuff, it's still painful to look at! I hope it's enough for Banff! Have a great time with the gals this weekend! :)

Ooohh! Nice ripping! Mine is currently hanging dry in the tub, oozing it's extra purple/black dye over the exteme whiteness of the tub. If you decide to make the Banff a bit smaller to fit you, it looks like you'd have enough yarn. Why not make the sleeves first and see how much you've got left for the body. You can always shorten it a wee bit...

Aaaack! How did it get to be *Friday* without my having started to rip yet?!

Realistically, I will be ripping Poppy's Peach Cardigan on Sunday (the last day of the week, yes?).

I will want to rip, wash and hang for straightening all in the same day, otherwise another half-completed project will decorate the house; and I really have got to get the half-completeds in hand.

Though I suffer from Chronic Startitis (it's a terminal case, I'm afraid), there's really quite a gratifying feeling one gets from completing a project, or even a tangible stage of a project.

Which is really what this rip-along is all about, isn't it: knowing when to cut your losses and regroup.

BTW I won't have any pictures as I only got halfway up the back of this beast, so really nothing to show but acres of peach stocking stitch... I will let you visualise... !

Cheers, and happy ripping!

Miranda II

I'm breathlessly checking the mail every day, but my Banff-bound Manos hasn't arrived yet! I'm consoling myself by working on Rosedale United. Believe me, I won't be able to keep my hands off Banff once the yarn gets here!

look what i found:
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/yarns_home.asp?WCI=yarn_Display&itemid=5030133

right on gauge for banff and non-wool, for those who need it. AND on sale, even.

You have inspired me to rip down my step daughter's skirt. Thanks. By the way, how do I become part of a _____-along? I look forward to hearing from you.

I finished ripping and am knitting a sweater now. My design, I figure anything is better than the (non)pattern I followed for the first one! *grin* no new pics yet, will probably update tomorrow (not tonight- cloudy, awful lighting for pictures).

You go girl! I'm impressed!

I really love the curliness of the yarn just after ripping. Almost seems a shame to wash and straighten it... but I did. I thought of making Banff out of the Prism, but I don't think I have enough. But- I do have lots of copper Manos...