Prequel | Part One | Part Two | Part Three
I’ve added this post to the Unraveled Wednesday linkup, with thanks to Kat for hosting.
So despite considering leaving off the body, and making the sleeves and neckband before finishing it, I got into a groove and now I’m almost at the end of the pattern rows! Still humming and hawing about how long to make it – I want a cropped finish, and I know it will stretch with blocking. I don’t want to overshoot, but in this instance over is probably better than under.
I showed it to a colleague today, along with a photo of the reference, and she said ‘if I’d asked for something like that jumper, and got this one, I’d be delighted’. So that was super validating and reassuring. You know when you’re close to a project and can’t be objective any more? Well, that. I was busy thinking ‘it’s not exactly right – it’s missing a couple of rows/ an extra twist, it’s not as sharp as the reference pic, it’s a bit wobbly…’. But I was looking at it as a maker, or even just as a knitter, forgetting that others will only be looking as people who like jumpers and/or are grateful when someone makes them a present.
Not you blog readers, of course, but you’re all so warm and encouraging, I have no fear that you’d ever offer anything but constructive advice and support. Or commiserations, should the situation call for it.
The remaining concern I have is sleeve related. I made the arm holes nice and big, as directed in the oversized pattern I’m following, and also to avoid any stretch when actual arms are put through them. No point spending a month figuring out a pattern only to have it distort any time it’s worn. The difficulty is that I have voluminous upper arms, and the recipient does not, so it’ll be tricky to judge.
I wrote that sentence, then paused to text my pal and ask for her arm measurement. It felt like a weird question? But it’s not, at least not in this context… I think?
All in all, I remain in a positive frame of mind regarding this jumper – and I have a whole solo weekend coming up to work on it. Could be a finish by this time next week! At the very least I expect to have the body done, plus ribbing at the hem and collar.
Thank you all for cheering me on, it really does help and is precisely why I started a blog! Every comment is treasured.
The Crafty Yarnster 