Starting Over

I've finally managed to rewind the yarn I frogged from Audrey. So now comes the horrendous task of starting over. I'm sure you're well aware of how painful it is to knit almost an entire sweater (at least 70 percent!) only to find it doesn't fit. I ripped it out with the best intentions of completing a properly fitted sweater in the end but I've kind of lost the wind in my sails. After ripping it out I did the knitting equivalent of eating a pint of ice cream while watching a romantic comedy: I knit some instant gratification items. You know, like this and this. Oh yeah, and this, this, this and this.  Needless to say, October was a productive month.

 

It's probably time I just bite the bullet and get Audrey finished (again). But I have to knit those socks first.

Reskeining

 

I had some free, non-sample knitting moments this afternoon and decided to do some frogging. Remember the School Socks I started way back in January? I had gotten to about 2" before starting the toe and finally decided to try them on only to find they were a wee bit too tight. Since they're done in Malabrigo Sock, I wanted to make sure they are snug but not so snug that they rip when I try putting them on. That was back in March. They've been languishing around the house (first downstairs knitting basket, dining room table, guest/yarn room, bookshelf, now sewing table) since then. It really breaks my heart to frog a sock that's practically finished but I'd rather wear socks that fit than finish a sock that won't. So I ripped and found out the yarn was curly as heck. The old lazy Andrea would've just caked it up and knit on (I did that initially) but the new Andrea, who knows how yucky knitting with super kinky yarn can be (because the old Andrea already tried it), decided to wash and reskein the yarn.

So here's to socks that will fit!

Unworn

I had been thinking for some time about the February Lady Sweater that I finished knitting at this time last year.  Not only was it my first knitted garment, but it was one of the first things I had ever knit. I took a class on it, found some really lovely buttons, learned to increase and decrease, learned about life lines and counting (and counting and counting). Overall, I had invested a lot of time and energy into this sweater.

 

And do you want to know how many times I've worn this sweater? Once. There's always been something about it that I just don't love. The color is not exactly the brown I had hoped it would be and the sleeves are a bit too poofy for my liking. I think I prefer cardigans that close down the front, not just the top (or at least have the option to close down the front). I don't love the neckline and how the garter stitch leaves it looking somewhat unfinished. Looking at this photo, I don't think it looks terrible but again, I just don't love it. We all know how it is when you don't love something in your wardrobe. It sits in the back of the closet unworn. It's not bad enough to give to Goodwill but not enough to your liking to actually put on. Last week I tried this cardigan on again and made a decision. 

So now what? Do I attempt another sweater with the yarn? I can't really put my finger on if it was the yarn or the pattern (although I'm leaning more toward pattern) that I didn't really like. I did receive a copy of New England Knits for Christmas and I saw this project done in this yarn (Berroco Vintage) on Ravelry.  Or should I just make some house socks?