Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Enid Finis

Well, here she is. I have mixed feelings about this project. I learned so much through the process and gained a lot of confidence. I am interested in knitting more sweaters in the round, and trying steeking some more. However, I have a few disappointments as well.


The only way to wear this sweater is completely buttoned up. Otherwise it opens into some kind of unrecognizable, and unattractive flag. Sometimes I like to wear a cardi with just the top button fastened, but even that is impossible with this sweater.

If the whole point of steeking is to reduce the amount of seaming, the button band and buttonhole band negated that. What a pain! You can clearly see where the bands overlaps the wrong side of the sweater. The crochet edge is pretty when you put it on, but for me it's not really functional. It's difficult to tell just where the button HOLES are.


I was hoping the puckering would lay down after blocking, but it's still there. I swear I was carrying my floats loosely, but not loosely enough, apparently. Hopefully, with time, this will ease out.

I think there are places where the pattern is a little vague. Two examples: there is no mention of how to join the sleeve seams and there is no indication of exactly how many stitches the knitter should initially crochet across the button band. Strangely enough, it all works out in the end. It's comfortable to wear and fits better than expected and is pretty.

Would I ever make it again, or recommend it to someone? No way. Am I glad I made it? Absolutely. Things I'd do differently if I made it again:

No provisional cast on. I'd either let it roll or use some non-rolling stitch border.
More stitches in the steeking area. There was too little selvage for a beginner steeker like myself.
Different button holes.
Higher neckline.


And just to toot my own horn a little, it's my birthday! I'm twice 21, and I guess that's officially middle aged, if I make it to 84. For the first time I feel like I'm actually old enough to be my students' mom. That's really weird because my own kids are so young. I'm in a good place, and frankly I'm just grateful for my family, friends and health.

I hope everyone has a great day!

5 comments:

vtwopoint5 said...

Happy Birthday!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy b-day, honey!
And why that gloomy face! Enis is such great sweater! And why on earth you wanna wear it unbuttoned up - it is so perfect the way you are showing it now! Cheer up!

Anonymous said...

Oh, happy happy birthday!! And you don't look twice 21 at all!

Thanks for showing us Enid--I think it's great! You were very brave for knitting it. I hope time smooths out the puckering & you're happier with it because it's a lovely cardi.

Susan said...

Happy Birthday!!!
I never would have guessed you were even over twice 20. Lookin' good!

The Enid looks lovely. Your colors are great! I hope it relaxes a little over time so you enjoy it more. I'm glad to hear your comments- I finally cast on last night, and I think I'll take your advice and add some extra stitches. Last night I had decided I was just a little too foggy to make any changes, but now I think I will.

Beth said...

Happy B-day. I just turned thirty twelve myself on the 19th.

I think I owe you an email too.

I like the sweater but I have knit things that I never wear because I don't love how they turned out. One was a Vittadini sweater out of Rowan yarn. I love the yarn but it was quite wrong for the pattern.

That is all beside the point. Your problems were the pattern. Mine were my idiocy.