Another Day Of Christmas, Another Day of Critique

Let's keep going forward, shall we? Reviewing the year's projects is a wonderful way to take up blog space when you don't have any real knitting or crochet progress to report. :::wink:::

Here's "Spring Flower Cardi":

Crocheted from some vintage cotton I'd gotten from eBay a couple of years earlier, this was fun to crochet and I've worn it a lot. My usual uniform for work is black slacks, black sleeveless top, and a brightly colored, fancy sweater over all. This certainly fits that bill. Unfortunately, "vintage" is just a really polite way of saying "old." And "older" isn't better with most yarns. The yarn in this has started to break from use. I've been tying it off as a quick fix and, since the pattern in this is so busy, there's no way to really tell what's going on unless you look very closely. Even then I doubt anyone but another crocheter could see the broken areas.

But I can and it's irritating. Sigh. But I'll keep wearing it until some yarn breaks & ravels somewhere irreparable. The yarn was so cheap (bought as part of a lot, so it probably cost 5 bucks) and I've gotten so much wear from the sweater, I put this one in the "complete success" category. :)

Ahhhh...My Seraphina:

Sounds like a Brooks & Dunn song, doesn't it? What can I say? I love the colors of the yarn, the shawl was incredibly quick to crochet once I understood the needlessly complicated instructions, and...

I don't wear shawls.  Oh - don't get me wrong - I love the idea of shawls & I keep thinking that if I just had the right shawl, I'd wear the heck out of the thing. (Guess I need to peruse Folk Shawls again, eh?) But this shawl doesn't do it for me...possibly because it's too short. My "wingspan" is 6" and this shawl finished at 34". I've heard that some people got two shawls from one skein of this Rainbow Boucle' from Jo-Ann. For the life of me, I don't see how. Perhaps shawls for Little People, not for 6' wingspan people!

What I should do is go buy another skein of Rainbow Boucle' and add on to it. But even then, I'm not sure I'd actually wear it. Sooooo...maybe I need to put this in my Xmas present pile for next year. Surely I can find someone to gift it to, eh? Someone I know must wear shawls! Someone with shorter arms than I have. :::grin:::

Here I am, making Waves:

This, as most of you know, was relegated to the frog pond almost immediately. I just couldn't stand that ridge waving directly across my bustline. I've pulled it down for this pic, but trust me - if I didn't constantly tug, the feather & fan would hit right across the center & fall from there. ick! So - Loved the pattern, should've knit the bust area with a couple more inches of plain stockinette. This one goes to the "oops - gotta frog" category.

What can I say about "Gretta":

I adored the yarn (Berroco's "Pronto"), I loved the pattern (Gretta - free on the Berroco site), the color was exceptionally pretty, and I enjoyed knitting this - about 4 days from start to finish. I loved it so much that when I put it on & looked like a stuffed sausage, I almost cried. (Another sweater that pushed me toward weightloss!) I tried it on again this summer & it fit. I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much I seriously thought I'd give it away to my best friend for Christmas. I had it in her Christmas pile for months. Then DH said, "What the hell? You love the sweater, it finally fits, & you're giving it away?"

He was right. I was channeling my elderly mother at that point, who always gave away her best & kept the stuff that "wasn't quite right" for herself. She had self-esteem issues her entire life - she didn't believe she was worth the best. Usually I can resist the programming I had as a child, but this time it snuck up on me.

Needless to say, Gretta is back in my closet and my best friend is getting a lovely silver & turquoise necklace instead.

The last item for today's entry:

Finished very recently, this has yet to be worn. I know why too - that damn hood! Waaaay to big & bulky, I don't know what I was thinking. I don't like hoodies under the best of circumstances and this certainly wasn't a good circumstance! I'm going to fix rather than frog, though. Sometime in January I'm going to unravel the edging & take off the hood. Then I'll do a basic single crochet front/neckline & re-attach the clasps. Once that's complete, I know I'd wear it 'cause I really like the lace pattern & color of the yarn. :)

What I've learned so far in my retrospective: Less is sometimes more (ie: the crocheted hoodie!), older yarn might not hold up to constant wear, so beware!, my favorite sweaters tend to be lacey ones so I can show off my fancy stitches and straight acrylic will never be a good choice for a next-to-the-skin sweater - always head for a blend!

Next time....the Creature From The Black Lagoon...

Honest!

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Your cardigan is beautiful! I may have to get that pattern. I like the waves tank top also. Where is that pattern from?

[Bron]

The cardi pattern is in "Family Circle Easy Crochet" (the book) and the waves pattern is from an issue of Cast On - summer, 2004 - called "Soft Cloud T-Shirt."

[Margaret]

Beautiful work Bron!

[Mia]

Who are you referring to as little people? Just because some of us are more closely related to the fairies than you are does not make us little people!!

[Amy Boogie]

I'm loving this retrospective. your work is gorgeous.

[Bron Green]

Actually, Mia, I was referring to honest-to-goodness little people. ;) I think that's the accepted term, rather than "midget." 'Cause there's no way you could EVER get two shawls from one skein for adult-sized people - even small adults!

Thanks Amy & Margaret - too bad looks aren't enough to carry some of these projects through!

[Vera]

I should try the Flower Cardi. It would get lots of use where I live, and Gretta is very nice.

I'm thinking about things I want to do for next year, and I'd like to make more sweaters.

[Bron]

Vera - You want to make more sweaters, I want to make fewer. :::grin::: I'm still going to try & make this the Year of the Vest!