~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~
This week I’m reading something I’ve read once before, and knitting something I’ve had to rip out twice now. So kind of a re-run week for me. I read The Betrothed about a year ago, and it’s been long enough that I want to refresh my memory a bit before we discuss it at my book club next month. (I’ve been a book club drop out for the past several months, so I am excited to be going back next month.) One thing that I haven’t forgotten about this book is that it was one of my favorite reads ever. I am actually looking forward to rereading parts of it, although I won’t reread the whole thing because it’s on the long side.
It’s a little painful to talk about my knitting. I finished the bodice of Little Ancolie last week, divided for the sleeves, and started knitting the body. Then I got this wild idea that maybe I ought to try it on Beatrix. I’d knit a gauge swatch and did lots of measuring and thinking, so I wasn’t too worried about it fitting, but really just wanted to see it on her. It fit, but very snugly. I had chosen to knit the size four based on all that careful measuring, but realized that the size six would be much better. So, I ripped it back to row two or so, trying to be brave. Then I plunged forward with new motivation, wanting to get back to where I was, and so glad that I had decided to make it bigger, because obviously I don’t want to knit a sweater that will only fit for a couple of months. About halfway through the bodice the second time I realized that in all my eagerness to catch back up to where I was before, I had left out the neck shaping. Ripping it back for the second time, was even worse. I’m almost halfway through the bodice now for the third time. Please…no more mistakes. Surely I will have it right this time around.
I hope your knitting is going better than mine this week!
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Thanks for hosting another yarn along Ginny. Sorry you had to pull out! 🙂
Oh I’ve wanted to read The Betrothed for awhile now, so excited to hear it’s one of your favourites. And good luck with that gorgeous knitting!
what a to do, to re knit and re knit. Glad you found the sizing wrong and I’ve done that-but I forget to make button holes usually 🙂 Lovely sweater 🙂
Oh dear. Um, does it help to hear that I love the yarn that you’re knitting it (for the third time) with? No, I guess it doesn’t. I hear you on the pain of many-rippings in a single project. I know it well. Surely it develops character.
Every time my husband seems me rip something out (knit, crochet, sewn) he asks if it’s really worth it. And of course I always say yes! As an advanced ripper, I do feel your pain though. But knitting frustrations aside it will be lovely once you finish!
A big week for frogging knitting here as well. Sigh. At least I caught my mistake before I ended up with two sweater sleeves of very different sizes!
Oh, I empathize with you! Those are moments when my husband will ask incredulously, “You’re knitting to RELAX?!” Ah, but knitting is more than just relaxing; it’s often a puzzle we must solve as we go which makes our “thinkers” happy and is so gratifying when we’ve finished. Press on to victory! 🙂
My husband asks how many times I’ve begun a project. If I tell him this is my first go, he sighs and says I haven’t started yet. Not until I’ve ripped it out at least once. I’m on my third round with some cable socks. Maybe this one will be right!
Good luck with the re-run week!
Thanks for hosting.
How frustrating! Hopefully third time’s a charm for you.
So sorry you had to rip out your sweater, but better to have it fit longer, as you said! Thanks as always for hosting, Ginny. 🙂
~Lisa
Oh I hope the sweater comes along. I just bought the pattern and am hoping I can do it too!
I bought The Betrothed years ago and still have not read it. I need to start making more time for reading as my to be read pile is very likely to topple on top of me and I fear they will never find me.
this would be hard! but on the other hand, thank God that you realized before it was done! I am sure it will turn out to be so lovely! the colour sure is! 🙂
This is why I hate knitting sweaters for small children (though I also really love it). Even if I get gauge with my swatch, I never get gauge when I actually knit the project…so I always go up at least two sizes (if I’m making it for someone specific). I’m making a 4T sweater for Little Man and it’s just a little big…it’ll stretch a bit and he’s got some growing to do. I’m also working on a Baby Surprise Jacket but that’s not for anyone in particular so I don’t feel bad about making the original size.
Also, I hate ripping projects out.
As you knit, so shall ye rip!
Sheila
http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2013/08/state-fair-blue-ribbon-yarny-goodness.html
You are so brave and wise, never fun to rip things. Hopefully it will go smoothly from now on, I really love the color you chose.
Have a great week!
Oh my, ripping is no fun. Although, it IS better to do it now, than to just finish the project and then be angry that you hadn’t ripped out when you had the chance!
I love the colour you’re using, so soft and delicate.
Oh Ginny, sending you a big hug! I know how heart sinking it is to rip out the same project numerous times. When I started my Abigail Cardigan I ended up ripping it back four times before I got it right, in the end it was worth it, but at the time I was in tears.
I had to rip my current sweater back twice as well. Such a bummer! You’re going to be that much happier with the end result, even with all of the strife it caused.
Oh no! Ripping out once is hard enough, twice can be debilitating. I’m glad you tried it on her and discovered the size issue before finishing the project!