the blue blog archives: seam-stress

I can see it coming - too many sweaters approaching finishing at the same time. Teeny-tiny gauged baby sweater only needs one more sleeve and it's ready to seam. The bumpy blue sweater only needs one more sleeve and it's ready to seam. And at my current pace Banff could be all knit up by next week. Yikes! Three sweaters to finish in the next few weeks. Time for another February finishing fiesta. Anyone else in seam-stress that I can commiserate with?

I did some seaming already this weekend. I did the finishing on a child's sweater for a fellow Knitsmith. I seamed up this sweater for her a while ago and she's followed it up with another basic raglan for another grandchild. Very pretty color. Great yarn (Cascade 220!). Lovely knitting. Raglan sleeves. Truly, a pleasure to seam. If only they could all be like this!

Note to all ponch-o-longers, Elizabeth's looking for some clarification on the Rowan Zephyr poncho pattern. Check the comments from yesterday for her question and her contact info. Thanks!

posted by alison at 8:44 am | in just blogging 04

Comments

You just need to learn to knit seamless sweaters from the top down! You have to read Knitting from the Top. I finally got my copy from the library and I'm so excited about that pink bubblegum yarn I'm working with for the spring. Its practically knitting itself.

Posted by: Gina at February 3, 2004 8:59 AM

Ha! I was waiting for a repeat of F^3!

I've been working on finishing CPS. I fiddled with a shoulder seam last night and I still have two button bands to knits and sew on. What was I thinking, actually following the pattern?! Ah well, poor planning on my part. Now, I plan on turning the entire experience into a zen meditation.

Posted by: michelle at February 3, 2004 9:46 AM

Pardon me, but your seam is showing! :)
I seamed Inishmaan until I thought my fingers were going to fall off. Really!

Posted by: Sandy at February 3, 2004 9:49 AM

I would commiserate with you, but I enjoy the sewing them together part. Maybe because I like sewing, too. Just surrender to it!

Posted by: Sonja at February 3, 2004 9:50 AM

I am feeling your pain. I have yet to complete my niece's Christmas sweater because I got sick of it as finishing time came around. I'm trying to force myself to get it done this week, but it feels like torture!
Problem is, I won't let myself move on to something else until its done!

Posted by: Sarah at February 3, 2004 10:25 AM

I certainly can commiserate with you. I seamed and did the collar on my vintage knits top this weekend. It was 240 stitches to pick up and tiny 4-ply yarn on size 2 needles to seam up. My hands were cramping by the end of it all. ouch!

Posted by: Amy at February 3, 2004 10:32 AM

Wow -- you are a knitting maniac! I only wish I had four sweaters ready to be seamed. Actually, I have a Dale of Norway Salt Lake Olympic sweater that I knit for my son. All the knitting has been done for over a year, but I can't bring myself to do the finishing. I just don't wanna, in spite of the son's whining. Gosh, maybe I should commit to complete it along with your Feb. frenzy.

Posted by: Kristy at February 3, 2004 11:34 AM

I am one sleeve away from a finished CB Camp Jacket - that is 28 inches long, so will have some mega matress stitchin' to do!

Posted by: Lisa at February 3, 2004 1:03 PM

I was on a big finishing roll last month, but I seriously need to finish my sister's poncho. Count me in for the fiesta!

P.S. Aren't raglan seams so much fun to join? I always whistle while I do it.

Posted by: Becky at February 3, 2004 3:49 PM

Alright, the February Finishing Fiesta is on! I'm so glad to see that I've got company - finishing loves company! I'm not complaining about the finishing. Like you Sonja, I like seaming and I really do prefer the look of sweaters that have been seamed. (Sorry, Gina! ;0)) But three projects to sew up at the same time and chickie right behind is making me feel a little overwhelmed. I should have stuck with Sarah's policy of not starting anything new until current projects were finished. But now I've knit a bit here and a bit there and they're all coming to the finishing line together.

Sandy, bravo to you for finishing Inishmaan. And Michelle, I can't wait to see CPS. Hang in there! You too, Lisa! Ooh, Amy, 240 stitches. I would have nixed that project in a second. No way! Now a Dale sweater I would do. Good luck, Kristy, with yours! When I finally finished mine for my boys I was so pleased with them. It was a lot of work, but man those are the best looking sweaters!

And speaking of the best looking sweater, I hope you have all checked out Becky's finished Elfin. Now there's a girl who deserves a fiesta!

Posted by: alison at February 3, 2004 4:42 PM

I totally understand what you mean about finishing. I've been procrastinating on finishing the teddy bear coat from one of the debbie bliss books. Why do I find the thought of sewing ears on so daunting? In an effort to avoid the seaming, I've made matching booties and mittens from the leftover yarn.
I wish you good luck with all the seaming that you have to do!

Posted by: karen at February 3, 2004 5:18 PM

I need to join you. I have to block and seam Banff (I've been saying that for two weeks now). Also, while moving, I found two projects from a knitting frenzy four years ago that never got finished. A DB toddler cardigan and a Vogue purse. I ordered handles for the purse (finally!) and for my latest felted tote. I've got a lot of sewing to do.

Posted by: Jessica at February 3, 2004 9:15 PM

I've been actively avoiding looking at the Wannabe pieces. Ooooo...seaming with stretchy yarn....I wonder why?

Posted by: claudia at February 3, 2004 9:33 PM

You're too kind, my friend, too kind. Thanks for the mention re my Elfin :-)

Very excited you're hosting a finishing fiesta. Just the nudge I need to get this poncho done. Arriba, arriba!

[Claudia, sew that stretchy sweater UP. Before you know it, it'll be spring!]

Posted by: Becky at February 4, 2004 3:18 AM