January 14, 2008
On Stubbornness
Merriam-Webster's definition: (1) unreasonably or perversely unyielding; mulish, (2) justifiably unyielding; resolute.
Not saying that I don't have my mulish moments, but this time I think that being stubborn was a good thing, so call me resolute.
I had a spindling mishap. I guess I overloaded the spindle and as I was spindling happily away, the cop fell off the spindle and began to unwind from the centre. I stuck a knitting needle into the centre as the singles began to curl in every direction.
Ugly, eh?
This gorgeous silk fiber was hand dyed by Heidi, The Artful Ewe. Heidi spent a lot of time dyeing this fiber, and I spent a lot of time spindling it. Here's where the resolute part comes in. Two hours later, rescued silk.
Somewhere in early autumn, I seem to have lost my focus. I was working on the Katherine Hepburn cardigan from Lace Style, which I have come to think of as my twice knit sweater. I cast on and mulishly knit 11" of the back before admitting that it just wasn't going to be wide enough. Begin again.
I cast on the sleeves with one less multiple than the pattern called for because I wanted full length sleeves instead of three-quarter length, and the sleeve circumference would be narrower at the wrist. I knit blithely on, following the pattern to the armholes. There I had the forehead-slapping "d'oh!" moment when I realized that I had failed to add back the 13 fewer stitches I had cast on. The sleeves weren't wide enough. Begin again.
Stubbornness prevailed, however, and the cardigan is done.
It is very drapey and very comfortable to wear. It's wide enough that I can wear it buttoned up if I want to.
Yarn: Emu Superwash DK, black, 12.5 x 50 g. / 119 m. balls.
Size: 40 1/2
Needles: 4.5 mm.
Modifications: I knit the body longer than the pattern's long version. It's 15" to the armhole. I lengthened the sleeves, as mentioned above.
I knit a few small things to tide me over the Katherine Hepburn blues.
This sweet little sweater is Caire, designed by Kerry Palm of Knitty fame. Go see Kerry's baby patterns, they're adorable. I love the lace collar on this one.
Yarn: Louet Gems fingering weight, colour 21, cloud grey, 2 x 50 g. / 187 m. skeins.
Size: 12 months.
Needles: 3.25 mm.
I also finshed a couple of hats and a Multidirectional Scarf
The navy hat was made with just a few yards more than one 50 g. ball of Jo Sharp Silk Road DK Tweed in shade 402, serpentine, using 4.5 mm. needles. I've been wearing this hat a lot. The fold up double layer brim keeps my ears toasty warm.
The garter rib hat and the scarf are knit with Noro Silk Garden, colour 249, using 4.5 mm. needles. The set took just over three 50 g. balls.
And finally, here are a couple of little beaded sachets knit with leftover bits of merino/silk yarn. The pattern is One of Susanna's. These were fun to knit and only took just over an hour each, not counting the bead stringing.
Wow! I need to be as stubborn as you! Maybe then I'd get back at my Katherine Hepburn. Your knitting is gorgeous!
Posted by: Maria on January 14, 2008 03:45 AMHaha. This is what I try to keep in mind when Emily is stubborn.
I like your KH cardigan a lot, that one is someplace in the mid-list for me.
So glad to see pictures that prove the KH is REALLY DONE!! It looks great on you and I think it's well worth the extra-extra-effort you put into it!
Posted by: Kerry on January 14, 2008 08:23 AMOh - and that silk! What a nightmare! Glad that's straightened out. I'm not sure I would have had the patience.
Posted by: Kerry on January 14, 2008 08:24 AMOh Mel, my heart goes out to you on that silk mess. I would have tried to salvage it as well. That stuff is gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing your story about the KH cardi. It looks great on you. I have half a sweater complete that is raglan from the bottom up, and I just decided to restart the knitting from the top down as I know I will not like seaming the thing. Second time is the charm, I hope.
The sachets are adorable. What do you stuff them with?
See you soon!
Posted by: Jen on January 14, 2008 12:08 PMI caught my breath when I saw the silk tangle. Good job getting it unsnarled!!! (And of course, beautiful work on everything else, too. :D )
Posted by: June on January 14, 2008 12:54 PMOh, beautiful as always, Mel! I love the lace cardigan...and stubborn isn't always a bad thing! Whenever these things happen, I think, "but I LIKE knitting, right?" (I have to say that a lot.) The silk untangled is a miracle, though. I would have lost patience and given up. Impressive!
Posted by: Joanne on January 14, 2008 01:55 PMgood rescue on the silk! And the cardi is lovely.
Posted by: Carol on January 14, 2008 04:40 PMStubborn might not be the right word. How about elegant perseverance?
Big hug.
Posted by: Angela on January 14, 2008 08:15 PMHoly cow, the cop fell off the spindle??? You'd have heard the cussing from there if that had happened to me.
The sweater is lovely, as are the smaller pieces.
And I'm stubborn too. I consider it a feature, not a bug. :)
Nice save on the yarn! And the cardigan turned out very pretty! Your stubborness definitely paid off. :) I've considered doing the exact same thing, knitting the Katherine Hepburn cardigan with a longer body. Now that I see it done, I'll probably just have to go and do it!
Posted by: Lotta on January 15, 2008 04:54 PMWow, Mel! Gorgeous stuff as usual. That silk is exquisite.
Posted by: Romi on January 18, 2008 01:26 AMI LOVE your Blog!! Good to see, as usual all that you have been up to.....& There's a Special Award waiting for you all on my blog!!
Posted by: Sheila E on January 19, 2008 07:09 PMWow! You HAVE been busy, and every bit of it is great work! That silk is beautiful, beautiful stuff.
Posted by: Lynn on January 20, 2008 10:05 AMI stumbled upon your blog this afternoon and I've got to say I am in awe of your beautiful knitting. All those patterned mittens are lovely. T.
Posted by: Tina T-P on January 20, 2008 09:55 PMas always, your knitting is divine. katherine hepburn is GORgeous. nice save on the silk.
see you soon :-)
The silk is lovely. I'm so glad you could save it. That must have been traumatic! All of your knitting is beautiful. I think you caught the sweet essence of Claire.
Posted by: Jan on January 22, 2008 01:29 AMI like the word perseverance. ;-) Everything looks simply gorgeous, Mel, and you continue to be a complete and total inspiration to me. Amazing, beautiful work!
Posted by: Sam on January 22, 2008 11:54 AMWow, You've been productive. Great looking things. You did a beautiful spinning (and rescue)job on that silk.
Posted by: Tracy J on January 25, 2008 11:43 PMMel, Everything is absolutely gorgeous as usual! Love the KH Cardi, I will have to look into that one!
Posted by: June P on February 2, 2008 09:16 AMI prefer 'persistence'. :-)
Wow, that was a daunting task! Congratulations for your quick thinking in sticking the singles on the knitting needle before it got any worse.
Love the sweaters!
Can't wait to see you at Madrona!
Posted by: Denise on February 5, 2008 10:51 PM