I decided to make a sweater. It makes perfect sense, since it is, after all, 90+ degrees out right now. In my defense, however, it is getting down to the 60's at night and I am nearly always very cold by nature. So when I started waking up cold in the morning, and my husband applied for a relocation to Ohio, I decided it was high time to don that trusty crochet hook.
Unfortunately that trusty crochet hook deceived me. If you read about my yarn fiasco in a previous blog post, then you know this sweater was already off to a fuzzy start. Once I finally had the yarn I needed, I printed out the pattern. I knew I would have to modify it a little since it was too long for me. But shortening it isn't a big deal. I also didn't want a hood, but that was added after the sweater was finished. Again, nothing I couldn't handle.
I made my starting chain. Then came the actual pattern stitch. Why in the world they made the pattern the way they did was simply beyond me. I could think of at least two other methods to make it much easier to work up. I made a few inches, took it out, made a few inches, took it out...again and again until I finally got it the way they wanted. Then I realized I needed a bigger crochet hook to get it the size they wanted - it was going to be small. That was ok with me, though - I am a very small person and I did not want this sweater to be nearly as oversized as they did.
When I finally got the hang of the way they wanted me to do the pattern stitch, I was able to quite easily make the back. It took me about two days. Even though it was a complete aggravation, it did look pretty good. The yarn was nice.
Then I started on the front. Same problem, only worse! I had to take the front out almost 10 times before I got it going correctly. It was so frustrating! I managed to get a few inches done when my mom, with her years of crocheting experience, came over. I showed her my sweater project. She held up the completed back portion and crushed all my hopes and dreams by uttering three little words. "It's too small."
It was. Just barely, but enough. An inch or so more and it would have fit me. I turned it this way and that trying to make it work. I looked at her pleadingly. If only she could change her mind! I looked back at the partly completed sweater and tried to make it fit me. Her only response to my shenanigans was, "No, don't stretch it."
I was utterly defeated. I had to admit it. My mom was sympathetic.
"I had to take out that hat three times before I got it right," She told me.
I looked at her through my eyelashes, resentful. "That was this big." I held up my hands in a circle, fingers touching.
"Well," she said, defensively, "I've had to take out many a sweater and start over! Come on, now, you just have to take it out and start over!"
Helpful as always, my mother gave me a few more pointers and before she left I was in possession of a rather large and, amazingly, perfectly round ball of yarn that I never could have wound myself. I decided I didn't like that pattern nearly as much as I thought I did and decided to scrap the whole idea after all. Instead I found another that I like better and have started on it. Would you believe it? It is the same darn stitch, done the same darn way. Only this time, I am doing it how I want, and it is working out much better. What's more, so far, it even fits (but I must admit I have only done 1").
After all this, we will probably get relocated to Florida.
