Dear Sister,
It’s a spud, I mean, dud. I have finished the Tot Surprise. Surprise it did, in that it is not cute like I remembered the pattern to be. The cotton is way too saggy with blocking - maybe I’ll be wild and run it through the washing machine and dryer and see if we can tighten things up. The colors, which I can blame only myself for, are not working together. I see now that the hot yellow and orange just aren’t right with the cool, grey tones of the green and grey. Well, at least I gained some intarsia experience on it and reminded myself that I really don’t like knitting with cotton, except for dishcloths.
I hope your knitting is going better. This sweater is going to charity. I can’t even bring myself to give it as a gift, but at least it is soft cotton and will keep some baby warm with good intentions.
Happy Vernal Equinox,
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 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 am
It doesn’t look that bad in the pictures! The colors go together in a sort of retro, early seventies kind of way. No? I’m definitely voting for the washing machine — cotton is very forgiving that way, and sometimes it works miracles. Happy equinox (and a lovely full moon tonight to go with it!).
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I thought the colors went together when I picked them. Maybe I’m suffering PTSD - post tulip sweater disorder. Those colors were so great, and these just are blah to me.
The full moon will make up for a lot - if we see it through the snow clouds.
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Okay, I’m not a real fan of the color combo myself, but it’s not horrid. And I do see some elements of the sweater that are, indeed, cute and could be worked into something adorable later. I’d chalk this one up to process knitting for future design work. And I’m certain someone will be thrilled to have a handknit for their youngster. A great thing about it is that it’s gender neutral!
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 am
Yeah, I don’t really love the colors. But they might look better on someone who didn’t look like me, so there is that…
But, hey, I was wearing the Ice Princess you knit for me today and I got a compliment from a stranger! Yay!