Despite Iain arriving last weekend (finally! hooray!) I was able to finish up my Goodale cardigan (the reincarnation of an earlier, doomed February Lady) yesterday afternoon, not long after we left Los Angeles for my mother's house in Oakland.
Why yes, those are home grown apples behind me!
Anyway, Goodale ... sigh. There are so many gorgeous versions of this sweater on Ravelry that I had really high hopes when I began. It definitely turned out better than the February Lady sweater this yarn could have been, but I'm a bit dissatisfied with the end result. The sweater seems really fussy to me, in that everything last to be lying exactly right so as to prevent the pockets from flopping open and looking all weird - as the sweater currently is, I can't really see myself wearing it out much, because I'd never be able to stop worrying that it was all askew. I think what I'll have to do is eventually forgo the pockets, block the thing really carefully and sew the whole thing up so the front lies flat, but I'm just too discouraged by the whole thing to mess with it anymore at the moment.
The yarn I used was Madelinetosh Pashmina, which, despite coming in very tangly skeins and being rather splitty, is still one of my favorite yarns ever. I used size seven needles here, and the fabric has a beautiful drape to it (which may explain why the pockets won't stay put?)
So, that's Goodale for now - I may try and fix up the pockets when I'm in a more problem solving mood, but for now I'm going to put it aside. Just last night I was trying to explain to my mom that I love knitting because it's more forgiving and doesn't demand perfection the way sewing does (much like, to my mind anyway, the way cooking forgives mistakes in ways that baking doesn't - so, knitting is to sewing as cooking is to baking!) - not so much with this sweater, I'm afraid.
I hope you can find a way to fix it because it looks gorgeous overall!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started reading this post and saw your gorgeous photos, I felt so happy for your accomplishment. While I can understand why you aren't completely satisfied with this cardi, I think it's really stunning -- your color and yarn choice are perfect! And I think it looks really pretty on you. Live with it for a little while longer before you make any adjustments. I think it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful! Just think: it'll be so worth the fussing. :)
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me... It seems that nearly every project I have made this summer has some element of disappointment and I threaten to frog and begin again! I would urge you to give it a good blocking and wear it a bit before discarding it to the "I don't like you" pile. The one rationalization I chant as a mantra lately is that "I am gaining skills and learning new techniques".
ReplyDelete