Friday, August 20, 2010

To Knit a Sweater Part 1


Every stitcher has one truly great ambition ... to knit a sweater. It is a brave undertaking of strict pattern following - which I don't usually enjoy, a huge time investment - where I often get impatient, and lots and lots of yarn - which can get really expensive. AND I MUCH prefer crochet over knitting.... to follow I knitting pattern, I must have The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square by my side.

So... I started last night... determined to make myself a sweater - a little back to school gift. I decided to do The Skating Sweater from Twinkle's Big City Knits by Wenlan Chia. Which is a truly amazing book... using super bulky yarn so that begins to wipe out my impatience problem... Someday I want to make every single thing in this book.

Often times, beginning is the most frustrating. Yes... yes it definitely is. I asked my mother (the fiber arts expert in town for the weekend) for her help with the pattern... and we may or may not have entered into a heated discussion about working in a round vs going back and forth. She tried, I tried it... twice... and now I actually have a decent start on my sweater after accidentally casting on the wrong number of stitches, working with round needles that refuse to untwist, starting over three different times, and staying up late into the night.

There is something magical about the adventure... and frustrations... that come with starting a totally new project... because life begins at the end of our comfort zones... even if that is only knitting a sweater.

4 comments:

PreemieProject said...

I have ALWAYS wanted to make a sweater. And socks. Really yummy socks. However I have done neither. Good luck I hope it turns out great!! And bulky yarn always seems to help my impatient problem as well. I'm knitting an afghan right now and its taken me.....oh I think I started it 3 years ago? I just get so frustrated because I feel like I'm getting no where!! Good luck!!

PreemieProject said...

Ps, what brand/kind of yarn are you using here? It looks really yummy.

Sans Limites Crochet said...

I'm using Bernat Roving Bulky, but doubled up to make it super bulky. I just discovered it and it comes in totally awesome colors and is much cheaper than other bulky yarns I've found!

I haven't forgotten the patterns for you... going to send you an email when I get back from class this afternoon if my internet is still working. Fingers crossed!!!

PreemieProject said...

I will have to look for it. It looks awesome. And I can't wait for the patterns!! I'm so excited!! Haha. You are very inspiring. I might even attempt a sweater....haha!