Thursday, February 7, 2008

To frog or not to frog, that is the question

Today I marked a project on Ravelry -- the Unseamly Sweater from SnB: The Happy Hooker -- "hibernating." I don't think I've worked on it since last August, and technically it's wearable; I think I weaved in the ends and all that's left to do is the lacy edging, which I could leave off anyway.

But you know that feeling you get when you realize that something is just never going to happen? Yeah. While theoretically I could knock out that lace edging in one evening, I just don't think I ever will.

I was so excited when I started that sweater. I picked it out of The Happy Hooker as my first "real" garment, as opposed to hats and scarves. And that was right around the time I started going to Knitch, and I was so excited because they had the recommended yarn, Cascade Sierra, in dozens of gorgeous colors. And it was the most I'd ever spent for one project, but that was okay because it kinda felt like my first real project, with sleeves and everything! I was so proud when I brought that yarn home. I felt like I was finally becoming a real crocheter.

And I learned a whole lot from that sweater. The initial chain stitch was way too small, and I did the seed stitch in the middle section all wrong and had to take the sweater to Needle Nook and ask Beth for help. I had to frog that thing so many times.

And back then, I thought I just couldn't figure it out and it was my problem, but now that I'm on Ravelry and can look at other versions of the sweater other crocheters have made and posted, I can see that a lot of people had some of the same issues I did. So later on this sweater helped me learn about design flaws, and trusting myself and finding workarounds (or, actually, begging on the internet for workarounds).

So the Unseamly Sweater is a bit of a nostalgia item for me, but it's also a sweater that I doubt I'll ever wear because I don't think the tight-fitting seed stitch middle is particularly flattering on me. And now that I've admitted I'll probably never finish it, I find myself thinking about what I could do with 1300 yards of Cascade Sierra in ruby.

It'll probably take a while for me to take the leap and actually frog the sweater, but I'm something of a packrat (actually, a huge packrat would be more accurate) and the fact that I'm willing to tear up something with sentimental meaning to get at the yarn really speaks to the depths of my yarn addiction.

3 comments:

Tracie said...

You should have your group do what we're going to do soon. We have a "bonus" meeting in April so we're going to meet here at my house and have snacks and very likely drinks. Because everyone is bringing things that need to be frogged or finished. I have a ball winder and we're just going to frog it and put it right through the winder. Those projects that just need some ends woven in or seamed that are actually going to be used will be cheered on to completion.

We're calling it "Frog and Finish Night". You're welcome to borrow my title if you want. :)

Sally said...

Well, poo. That stinks. I've made several garments like that.

Make the Cupcake. It's the only sweater I've made thus far that I wear on a regular basis, it's super easy, and I think it's flattering on every body.

Yarn or Death said...

Oh Sally, I'm with you on the Cupcake. I actually enjoyed that one so much that I'm planning on making another in a different yarn!