the blue blog archives: sweater over

Yes, I am officially done with the lace leaf pullover. It's not finished, but I'm done. I did actually knit every single piece at least once, some multiple times, and still only one of them is a keeper. So there's that. What really put the nail in the coffin though was seeing how the shoulders and sleeves fit together.

If you look closely, you'll see that there are smooth raglan-style decreases at the top of the body to make the shoulders. At this point the sweater is knit in the round. Then the body is divided into front and back sections and the sleeves are later sewn in with one or one half stitch going into the seam. After I sewed in the sleeve, I took a look at that little pucker where the stitches that were part of the body are brought into the seam and thought, "you know, sweater, I'm just not that into you." And I was done with it.

The same day, I happened to see fellow Knitsmith, Shireen, in one of my favorite of her knits, the cowl pullover from Stitch and Bitch. It took about five seconds for me to decide to rip everything and try to turn it into that.

Of course, I don't have enough of the Cork (that garter stitch is a yarn-hungry little beast!), but I found some more in a different dyelot at the semi-annual Wild & Wooly clearance sale that I'll probably use on the back. And I think I'll do the cowl neck in a different yarn entirely.

posted by alison at 9:16 am | in cork

Comments

i actually think that the cork makes a better fabric in garter stitch than stockinette! :) sorry to hear that lace leaf didn't work out. maybe with a different yarn?

Posted by: gleek at January 19, 2006 9:42 AM

Hey Gleek, that's great to hear! I was thinking that the sleeve had a funny stiff/crumply kind of feel to it and had hoped that the garter stitch would be a better fabric for the Cork.

And no, no Lace Leaf in other yarn for me. I'm really over it.

Posted by: alison at January 19, 2006 9:52 AM

Good luck.
I never cared much for that leaf thing anyhow!

Posted by: helene at January 19, 2006 9:59 AM

Good luck.
I never cared much for that leaf thing anyhow!

Posted by: helene at January 19, 2006 9:59 AM

Thanks, Helene! ;0)

Posted by: alison at January 19, 2006 10:00 AM

I have one lonely skein of Rowan Cork in navy that would happily come to live with you if it could be of any help? Trim perhaps?

I used the sister skeins of navy in an Irish Hiking Scarf and loved how the Cork worked up in that.

Posted by: Bliss at January 19, 2006 10:38 AM

ohhh, the cork does look fantastic in garter st. Amazing! Sorry the leaf pullover didn't work out, but I can't wait to see the cowl pullover! ;)

Posted by: jess at January 19, 2006 10:43 AM

it's a crying shame...would you do the sweater in a different yarn? or is the pattern a done deal

Posted by: lisa b at January 19, 2006 1:02 PM

The sleeves are interesting on this piece. Mine don't pucker that way, but they are constructed in such a way that you feel encouraged to keep your arms down. I ended up liking the whole thing once I wore it, but I did have doubts along the way. In the end, you have to enjoy the process and the product. Let's hope that the next sweater is more fun - I'm sure it will be!

Posted by: Julia at January 19, 2006 1:36 PM

Hi -- Sorry the hear about the lace leaf...you had actually inspired me to knit one out of cork too (but I tweaked it into a top down cardi)! But that cork is such a lovely yarn...glad you found another great sweater to knit up!

Posted by: quenna at January 19, 2006 2:03 PM

I saw the lace leaf pullover on Mason Dixon and it looked the same way as far as the shoulders go...apparently the sweater was designed for people who don't have shoulders. They're so slopey! Good for you to be strong and know when to abandon a sinking project. If it doesn't make you happy, there's no reason to stick with it.

Posted by: katie at January 19, 2006 2:03 PM

i'm honored to have provided some inspiration! I don't know what cork feels like but make sure it feels nice around the neck- that's the part that (literally) rubs me the wrong way sometimes.

Posted by: shireen at January 19, 2006 2:11 PM

Ugh, I am so sorry the pullover didn't work for you. I hate it when a project doesn't come together like you'd expected. I'm sure the cowl will work much better:)

Posted by: beth at January 19, 2006 2:22 PM

I hope that the cork makes up its mind this time! I have some yarn that I've slated to be four different sweaters at least, and I just can't get it to work in any of them. Fingers crossed for you!

Posted by: Johanna at January 19, 2006 2:31 PM

Too bad for the lace leaf pullover. I wasn't meant to be.

Posted by: Karen at January 19, 2006 6:26 PM

Hooray for you! It takes a brave person to rip out all that knitting and admit that a project just isn't right. I think it is the mark of an accomplished knitter.

Posted by: Katherine at January 19, 2006 11:31 PM

Hey Julia, I can totally imagine a yarn with more variegation or more drape or less body not showing off that little pucker as much. But for me, in this yarn, it was the last straw.

It's so funny, I'm not even mad, upset, even disappointed. I am just totally over it. No Lisa, I can't imagine making the sweater (as written) in any other yarn. But maybe if I wanted to rewrite all the shoulder/sleeve business.... ;0)

Posted by: alison at January 20, 2006 9:37 AM

bummer about the other.. but can't wait to see the cowl :)

Posted by: rebecca at January 20, 2006 10:06 AM

You are a brave woman...if I had an experience like this, I don't know when I'd knit a sweater again! I have some Cork in what appears to be the same colorway--I can check the dyelot if you are interested. Let me know!

Posted by: Cristina (CrissyPo) at January 20, 2006 12:00 PM

Is it wrong that I find it comforting to see that even a fantastic knitter like you hits the occasional roadblock? Brings you down off the pedestal for me, I guess, and standing alongside us common folk....

But you know, one of the things I love about knitting is that you can frog something and get all the yarn back and what was once a so-so item (in your opinion) can be turned into something else that you feel is fantastic. All with just a couple of sticks and some string. So cool.

Posted by: Mary at January 20, 2006 7:25 PM

aRGH. Well, I'm glad you're not giving up on the yarn, 'cause I loves the Cork. Maybe my Cork yarn should have a little talk with your Cork yarn, lol...

Posted by: Eklectika! at January 21, 2006 7:48 PM

Aw, I am sad to see your lace leaf didn't turn out. I knitted this piece too, and I wear it everyday as my winter coat. I love mine. I tell everyone who will listen to knit one for themselves...

My lace leaf bubble is burst just a little now.

Posted by: Krista at January 23, 2006 6:53 PM