Hello, Unraveler’s!
Well, it is a week where lots of unraveling is happening here. My sweater that was so close to having the body finished, has been ripped back again – good thing my yarn can take all this knitting and ripping back!
So, why am I ripping back? Simple aesthetics – I don’t like how it looks! The problem is centered around the very thing I liked about the sweater… the line of increases and decreases on the sides. The pattern for my size calls for completing them every 4 rows. However, imo, this was too rapid because I began to worry that the sides would be too big and the front would be too small. (Does this make sense?) So, I tried doing no more increases and decreases but that did not look right… at all. So, I ripped back and tried doing the increases/decreases every 8 rows (and I forgot to do them on one round and did not catch it until 5 or 6 rounds later – so that meant more ripping back.) So here I am ready to do the band at the bottom of the sweater and I look at my knitting and I am really not happy with how it looks. So, I am ripping back, again…all the way back to the point of picking up the stitches at the armholes. Yeah, that far back! It has taken me all week to get to this point, ripping out hours of work is never something to take lightly.
But, this time I have a plan. I will do the decreases less frequently, which I think will give me enough movement on the lines that I like but in a more gradual pace and hopefully the front will still be the front and the sides having some movement forward, but not too much. Does this make me happy? Honestly, no. But, I would be less happy with a sweater that I did not like (which would translate to something I would not wear). It is silly to put so much time into a project and not be happy with it. That is why, sometimes, unraveling is the best solution. It is not painless, but the finished product will be better.
My reading has been usurped by a new book, which I found via Bonny and her suggestion of Netgalley. I am reading The Mountain in My Shoe by Louise Beech. I have a deadline but I am about a third of the way though. I hope to have the book finished by the weekend (well in advance of the deadline!) I will be sharing my thoughts on the book when I have finished it – however, I can tell you this; it’s a mystery and I have no clue who “did it” yet… (which is usually a good thing!)
Some weeks the unraveling is painful – but somehow starting again never is. With determination I am moving forward, even if I had to take some pretty big steps backwards!
I hope your Wednesday will have nothing to unravel but your blog post! And, as always, I am so happy that you are joining us!
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Oh, Kat, I’m sorry that your unraveling this week was so literal. I am glad that you have a plan and it sounds like a good one. I hope it doesn’t sound too wrong to say that the pile of frogged yarn looks quite pretty! I’m glad you’re enjoying Netgalley.
So sorry about your “for real” unraveling, but as Bonny said, your unraveled yarn is really very pretty. I’ve been doing a bit of frogging myself and I am actually looking at it (or trying to) as a meditation session. And, bottom line, as you say it is not necessarily fun, but the end result will be much better than it would have been. Looking forward to your review of “The Mountain in my Shoe” — interesting title!!
on my current sweater in fingering weight wool I am decreasing every 8 rows five times. then 16 rows of steady, then increasing every 8 rows five times. I started the decreasing after 12 rows from the underarm.
sounds to me like the decreasing was way too fast!! I hope you like your re knitting. Lovely yarn!!
I dont’ know how I missed your introduction of Unraveled Wednesdays! Thank you — it’s such a nice thing for those of us who have been missing Yarnalong. I’ve linked up this week with a post I wrote last night about some verrrry longstanding UFOs, so lot’s of discussion of the possibility of literal unraveling. Looking forward to the Unraveled Wednesdays to come!
Thank goodness for sturdy yarn… and a plan! Good luck, Kat!!
Frustrating to say the least! But I do believe you’ve made the right choice. I love that pattern! (For some reason the link up isn’t working…)
That whole sweater modification thing sounds very complicated but I bet you’ll make it work. Hooray for books we love!
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later that someone would *actually* unravel something and show it on a Wednesday. I hope you don’t have to do it again after this. 🙂
It’s all part of the process, you know, something about taking the bad with the good and all that jazz? But, it’s true and time put into a project you would never like and never wear is just wasted time anyway. Good luck with your next step!
Oh no, I really hope the plan works and you have a sweater you are happy with and will wear.
This unraveling is contagious. I unraveled a sweater that was all sewen up! The armhole opening was just too big. I love everything else about this sweater. Fingers crossed it works!
Gah–I’m not brave enough to tackle sweaters! Hats, cowls, and small projects are my gig.
Your book is being added to my TBR!
well darn it – I can’t remember a time that ripping back has EVER felt “good”, but I’m not sure it’s ever been as painful as what you’ve experienced here. I do hope you end up loving the FO and wearing it forever … you deserve it! must admit, the yarn still looks fabulous!
I fully support your decision to unravel and reknit. If you aren’t happy with how it’s looking while you’re knitting, then you’re definitely not going to be happy with it when it’s time to wear the sweater. Why spend all that time to make something you won’t like, right?
Unraveling . . . never pleasant, but usually it brings the results we’re looking for! XO
I’m impressed with your determination. I’d have tossed that sweater in the corner by now. It’s going to be lovely when you finish it though. I’m also super impressed with the yarn’s sturdiness.