Closure

The bulk of the knitting of my Rambling Rows blanket is done.  Making those 55 assorted squares and rectangles proved addictive; I could never stop at just one, and so I made faster progress than on my other repetitive garter stitch project, the log cabin blanket.  Now I need to add on a border. Still deciding on the color between these two possibilities:

The rust brown offers more of a contrast to every yarn used in the blanket, but it is very red while the earthy browns in the blanket tend to have a bit of grey-ish brown in them. The basic brown will blend in better, but may not offer enough of a contrast when it borders the darkest brown squares in the blanket. All this obessive questioning is allowing me to take a break from the actual task of knitting the border, which will probably take the form of i-cord. Not my favorite knitting activity -- but worth the effort, I feel.  Based on my exhaustive study of Rambling Rows blankets on Ravelry, I can confidently say that a thin but visible border works very nicely with this pattern (although I have also spotted two other lovely options: a wide garter stitch border and a multi-row, multi-color crochet one).

The semi-mindless connected blocks have been the perfect project while I pondered my disappointment with knits that need to fit the human body more closely than afghans or shawls. I tossed and turned, thought and thought (and read your comments) and I am pretty sure I will frog the cabled jacket, and re-knit it to my actual size this time. All the neat tricks I learned in class with Lily Chin will be put to good use, and I will re-draft the armholes and focus on fit, fit and fit.

But first, a goodbye.
 

Goodbye, twice-frogged shoulders and collar.

Goodbye, lovely V-cabled pattern at the bottom edges

 

and on the sleeves, growing organically from the wrist ribbing (color more accurate on this last photo). You made me happy even if our affair turned sour. We'll meet again soon, when the time is right.

Comments

[Barbara]

Oh my gosh...what a gorgeous sweater. You DO want to wear that, so it will be worth the reknit. But oh the pain of it all...

[Luni]

Having looked at the afghans on Rav, I think any border looks better than no border. But then, that's going by small photos rather than the reality you see.
I sympathize with your reluctance to frog that beautiful sweater. I have trouble frogging an inch or so, let alone an entire project.

[marjorie]

I think the sweater pattern is a good one, and you might want to fiddle with it so that when the ribs are tight (unblocked) they get you negative ease. The knitting looks beautiful, and I'm sure it is heart breaking to rip, but the yarn is lovely also and it will have a better life as a sweater you really like from it.

It has taken me several sweaters to develop a shape that works for a slightly fitted body, and now that I have those measurements, it is almost a bit dull to use them over and over. But if the knitting is the right measure, I know the sweater will fit well.

[Ann in SF]

I have to intervene. I hope it's not too late. Just put the gorgeous sweater down and walk away for the time being. Let it sit. Tuck it away. Let it be. Surely, you must have a sweater's worth of yarn in your stash to try again? Oh, Scarlet Knitter, do reconsider!

[Meredith]

I just found your blog and love your afghan and sweater. I am in a knitting slump maybe your beautiful knits will help me out of it.