Dear Jan,
At last it is done, my bronze colored gansey. Just under the wire for a WIPs Dancing medal.
I am so thankful for the loophole in the rules that let us knit until midnight PST instead of stopping with closing ceremonies. I decided to reknit the neck because it was way too sloppy, and I had plenty of time to do it, having finished the last sleeve Saturday evening. I carefully redesigned, added some short rows to better fit the nape of my neck and got well into the ribbing. Upon trying it on, I discovered that the initials worked into the lower front left had disappeared. Except they hadn’t - they were now on the lower back right, as I had knit the neck on backwards. Bum initials are not considered traditional.
I ripped it all out, reknit it again, and finished the neck ribbing a bit after the Olympic flame had been extinguished. Weaving in ends took a few more minutes, so I finished up as the late night show with more closing ceremonies came on, well before the deadline, though later than I’d intended.
I even got it blocked before going to bed so I could wear it to work today. I really enjoyed it - this yarn is dynamite. Green Mountain Spinnery Sylvan Spirit is a blend of tencel and wool and it results in a hand that is drapey but resilient, with great stitch definition. I am much happier with the new neckline (and am happy that the initials are in the front).
I originally planned to write this up as a pattern, but I got very creative in places. Describing some of my acrobatics is just a bit too daunting. The next one I’ll go about planning a bit differently and that will be the one I write up.
I think I’ll head to bed and start dreaming up that next design.
Love,
Ellen
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Definitely a winner. great fit!
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:54 pm
But you did it!
Bum initials. I hope you don’t mind my laughing. I thought I was the only one who did things like that! (Usually, twice.)
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:44 am
Oh, ELLEN! It’s beautiful!!! Congratulations!
(((hugs)))
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Well it’s lovely, creative spots and all. It would make a fabulous pattern, so if you ever change your mind I’ll be first in line for it.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:23 pm
For you, in your fisherman gansey, I quote the poet Robert Lowell, from “Near the Ocean”:
I. Waking Early Sunday Morning
O to break loose, like the chinook
salmon jumping and falling back,
nosing up to the impossible
stone and bone-crushing waterfall -
raw-jawed, weak-fleshed there, stopped by ten
steps of the roaring ladder, and then
to clear the top on the last try,
alive enough to spawn and die.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:11 pm
It looks great! Those “creative” moments are hard to describe, aren’t they? But knitting is so much more interesting with some creative solutions here and there. =)
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:54 pm
It is absolutely gorgeous and fits like a dream. I am jealous — no FOs for me for a while and you are cranking them out. Beautiful!
March 4th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Lovely!
March 5th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Bronze gansey??? I’d definitely call it a GOLD!! It is fabulous…and I do hope you do another and keep track of the pattern notes. We’ll never get our design business off the ground if we keep winging it and don’t keep track!
March 6th, 2010 at 9:37 am
That is one great sweater, Ellen! Thanks for the heads-up on the yarn, I will be shopping shopping shopping today!