Holy cats, readers. I am finally finishing a sweater I started in, oh, 2008. Here it is, languishing on the blocking board without a care like it always knew I would come back to it.
There were a few issues along the way.
First, I had never used moss stitch. It’s not hard. It’s like seed stitch’s taller sister. For some reason each piece came out really diagonal. I don’t know if this is just a characteristic of moss stitch, but I’m hoping it will all go away with blocking. I did some vigorous squishing of the yarn to get it mostly flat.
Next, I ran out of yarn. I don’t know what possessed me to fervently believe that 800 yards of Berocco Ultra Alpaca would make the smallest size. I’m a hopeless optimist. The lesson learned there is when purchasing vacation yarn that might become a sweater without the actual sweater in mind, always err on the side of too much. I was doing the sleeves two-at-a-time and realized that I would run out before I got to the shoulder shaping. Instead of facing up to this fact immediately, I shoved the cardigan in my UFO piles for a few years. Denial. Complete denial.
I got it out again in 2010 and decided I would try to find more yarn. Of course, I didn’t have the ball bands so I had no idea of the dyelot. The color is Yucca Mix. Luckily, Berocco seems to be pretty consistent. I don’t notice the change in the sleeve caps when the yarn is dry, and only slightly so when it’s wet. It looked close enough to the dye lot that I had so I didn’t even bother striping. Yeah, I’m that kind of knitting renegade.
I’m not a fan of really cropped stuff and I’m already long-waisted, so I know I added a couple of inches to the length. Had I not done this, I probably would have had plenty for the sleeve caps. So if you’re feeling ballsy, go ahead and make a 34″ size out of only 800 yards. I dare you.
Now, let’s see how long it takes me to sew this.
A Minimalist, yay! I’ve been wanting to make this for a long time…
You are hilarious. What possessed you to get this out again now? Desperate for a new sweater? Whatever the reason, I’m glad you did. The colour is lovely and I can’t wait to see it all made up!
I have no idea what possessed me! It just seemed to be sooooooo close to being done and I was getting tired of wearing my same three favorite sweaters over and over on cold days.
Without really making it a resolution for the New Year, I seem to be pulling out the UFOs anyway. If it was really a “resolution” I’d probably be avoiding it like it was homework. 🙂
love it! i have mannnny sweaters in a similar state. oy. hate blocking! where did you get your blocking boards??
I purchased the big one a long time ago, but i’m pretty sure it’s the same one available from Webs (yarn.com). It’s the 33″ x 51″ size. The smaller foam ones that snap together are from Knitpicks.
Wow! Way to attack a super-UFO! I’m excited to see this on you!
Congrats on getting the blocking done!
Wow–good for you! Don’t lose your momentum!
I hope the blocking got rid of those ”flaws” you mentioned! I’m gonna say you’ll be done sewing this by next weekend………
blegh blocking, good luck