Stymied
Here’s my Green Gable.
Blocked.
By which I mean, not only did I wash it and pin it, stretch it, lay it out to dry, but also that it still really doesn’t look good on me.
Maybe if I lost 10 lbs, or did an extra 100 stomach crunches a day for a month or something . . . because, you understand, my gauge was correct. It’s just that the yarn is clingy and it shows my, um, stomach curves just way too much. A real shame, because it’s a lovely sweater, and the color is great for me. (Trust me, I was really holding my breath for this photo! But hey, at least you can see my hair color/cut . . . kind of.)
But it’s my own fault. It’s obvious that this IS the kind of sweater that fits best on a fit body, and I knew from the start that it was probably a mistake for me (those darn convex stomach curves!), but I went ahead with it anyway because it was such a nice sweater and, well. Here we are. It’s beautiful, but it’s just really not for me.
Oh well! On to other things. Thank you Kate and Jessalu for pointing me toward the errata page for the Placket sweater in Last Minute Gifts. I printed that out this afternoon–I wouldn’t have thought to look, otherwise.
Speaking of blocked, here’s Chappy, staring longingly out the window with his new best friend . . . NOT, mind you, that he would have gotten out for a walk today in this heatwave anyway, but still. A boy can hope, right?
Oh, and I loved this post over at Creating Passionate Users, about the value of the “space between the notes,” the white space, the lack of cluttered busy-ness in designing things. I read a home-decorating book years ago, that talked about “zen space.” I think it was Living a Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard.. . . . Or, no, I looked it up. It was her “Creating a Beautiful Home.” . . . I’ve seen her in interviews and found her a little annoying, but I do
love these two books–and love that they are decorating books that work
on WORDS, rather than pictures that become outdated so quickly. Anyway, here:
“Space is a luxury and having pure space gives us a serene feeling. Covering up every inch of space is suffocating . Respect architecture as a background for your private world of retreat. Enjoy the play of light and shadow that space permits. You shouldn’t have to bruise your knee in a maze of overcrowding . . . Keep the four cornes of the room clean and clear. Great rooms have free corners. Remember, decorators and home furnishing stores don’t make money off bare space. However, you will feel less anxious and more at rest in a room that breathes with openness, like a refreshing walk in the country.”
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Tannenbaum.
House Calls
Bummer about the sweater! Do you have someone you can give it to?
Damn! I hate when that happens to a knit.
Hmm, would going outside save you the effort of doing the crunches? It hasn’t worked for me but you might have better luck.
Love that Stoddard passage. Great inspiration as I continue the battle to purge my little condo of all the extraneous stuff.
It’s still very lovely.
And your mom’s cross-stitch project is too.
Oh, that’s a real shame about the sweater. Poor l’il Chappy. I wish he’d get better. I just don’t like this.
i think it looks pretty good on you, myself (i know, flatterer).
as for the bit about great rooms have nothing in the corners, i have 2 bare corners. does that make it a “good” room?
i’m of the mindset that it’s good to fit your body. i know a man that thinks tummies are super sexy! it’s a womanly thing …. but if you are uncomfortable in the sweater, then rip or gift. what size is your tummy? will it fit my tummy?
you still did a wonderful knitting job. i printed that pattern months ago, and have yet to cast on.
Really lovely sweater! And yes, the red is very good on you. But if you don’t like the fit, that’s it. But I would still keep it at least for a few months to motivate myself into doing exercise.
I think it looks nice. I know what you mean though, if I don’t think it looks good on then it goes in the closet. I’m attempting to fight the bulge myself right now. Things are feeling slimmer, but the scale doesn’t agree.
It is a nice sweater, and I have to take your word on the tummy. It’s way too warm to think about it now, but could you wear it under a blazer? The color (and your hair) are great. (What are you using anyhow? A question from one curly gal to another.)
Dangit!
You know… you could have added a few short rows to the belly area… so there’s more fabric there and then it wouldn’t cling so much (this is something I learned from Big Girl Knits
).
Have you thought about video taping Chappy when he’s going through one of his rough moments? That way you can show it to the Vet next time you’re going!
Cheers Eva – PS the color of your sweater is indeed super gorgeous
Oh, I still like Green Gable and I don’t think it looks that bad in the photo. On the other hand, if you were holding your breath, then that doesn’t work. I wonder if you wore it with a different bottom that might do the trick — I have some shirts that look horrible with some pants but lovely with others, so it might be worth a try.
I’m sorry to read the blocking didn’t help. I really hope that Chappy gets well soon.
Thank you for sharing some Alexandra with us. I used to read and love all her books, before she got too philosophical on us.
Although I think the sweater is lovely, I understand totally when you aren’t comfortable in something, nothing matters. Still, I like it. Please give Chappy a hug for me. Poor kid. And, I agree about Stoddard. Love her books, she is entirely too pretentious.
Uh oh. I have no empty corners in my bedroom
Maybe after construction is over and I get a larger room. Er I shouldn’t hold my breath on that either.
Sorry about the fit on that sweater. It is lovely nonetheless. Maybe your niece would be a good recipient for it. I’d offer to be a tummy crunch pal but we know how the situps thing went
I guess we all live and learn about our knitting. On to bigger and better things (though for the record, I don’t see in stomach curves). Poor Chappy looks so sad looking out the window. I love that quote – so true.
Get well very soon, Chappy. Really. You must.
Bummer about the sweater. I’m definitely going to have to think on it before I knit it, due to those darn bodily curves…
Love the sweater!! I think it looks great! Bless Chappy’s heart, I’m thinking about him!
Isn’t it frustrating to have a perfectly good sweater that would look perfect…on someone else?
Still thinking good thoughts about Chappy…