I have learned that the process of knitting does not end when a garment is bound off the needles and put in a drawer. What is more important than how your knitted garment wears? We all want our knits to last the test of time, but does that really happen? All of the work that goes into knitting an item only for it to be relegated to the back of your closet? This kind of information needs to be shared in the knitting community–there is great worth in telling your fellow knitters how a pattern shapes up after a few outings, as well as how the yarn washes and wears on a daily basis.
Purly did it last week. Lolly does it this week. Who is next week?
I encourage you to let your fellow knitters know!!
(Compliments to Rachael for "inventing" this fun finished knit pose)
Rhapsody in Blue was completed this past summer while I was at the beach. I have worn it about three or four times, and initially was very happy with how it turned out. I liked the wide boatneck and the bell sleeves. However, with each wear, I found it stretching width-wise. I washed and reblocked, and it was good again. I am concerned that it will stretch out width-wise again, and I guess I will just repeat the blocking process. Have others had this problem with Cotton Ease? Do you always have to reblock?
The yarn itself looks as good as it did the day I finished. No pilling, no fading, and no stray fibers sticking out from the woven ends. I had a few problems in the beginning (pictures in this May entry) with the way the reverse side looked–it could only be described as "wonky". However, these patches have smoothed out very well with the washing. I continue to be very happy with this yarn–I think it is my favorite yarn I have ever used–and sure enough, it is discontined now! However, I do have a little reserve in the ol’ stash–at least enough for two more garments and an accessory or two 
VERDICT: Love it — even if it takes a little more maintainence to reblock it!
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This is Tempting, from Knitty.com. I completed this sweater in the beginning of May after a few problems with the pattern. However, once I got it down, I was pretty pleased with the result. I was determined to show that even if this sweater was designed for smaller girls, I could wear it too. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. It was really wonderful to work with while I was knitting this garment. However, I really am not very pleased with how it has worn. I have worn this garment only twice in public. I am not entirely sure how the off-the-shoulder look would go over at the office, or at a Catholic school… So, I wore it to a festival last spring, and have worn it to dinner once. After only one wear, I began to notice fuzziness and the beginnings of pills on the sides of the sweater. |
I picked some pills off, but more appeared almost immediately.
It may be hard to make out in the photo–but they are there, trust me.
The other major problem with this knit is how much it has stretched. The yarn is quite heavy in the knitted fabric–and in my opinion, may not be the right weight for this particular project (although that is what the pattern calls for) The stretching has caused this figure-shaping feminine sweater to look boxy and droopy… and that is not flattering at all.
Plus, I am not happy with the sleeves. I would make them longer–they are a weird lengh–either a cap sleeve, or a 3/4 sleeve would be a better fit for this garment. Another mishap, entirely my own fault, is the hole in the sleeve–this happened when I slipped it over my head, and the yarn got caught on a piece of jewelry.
All of these factors make me like this sweater less and less. I am willing to give the yarn "another life" in a new garment if I can reduce the pilling. (It is such a great color!) Any ideas? Has anyone made a garment with Cashmerino Aran and LOVED it? Please tell. In the meantime, I am thinking of another garment that this yarn is better suited for–Tempting was a fun knit, but if I ever did it again, I would choose a different fiber, and knit a size (or two) smaller.
VERDICT: This one will be swimming in the frog pond shortly.
Yesterday, I celebrated my 25th birthday. I guess it was not so much of a celebration as it was more of an observance… The high point of the day was definitely a nice lunch with my mom at our favorite French cafe. Unfortunately, I had to cut the afternoon short because I was getting some major cold symptoms–but I had to get to class that night to turn in a paper. A nap and some medicine helped me through the rest of the evening, but I sure was ready to hit the sack once I got home…
We did get the chance to have a little fun on the weekend before the school and work schedules started up again. We met my parents on Sunday for an early birthday dinner at a favorite Mexican place.
When it is your birthday, you get to wear a sombrero.
A big thank you for the lovely cards and birthday wishes that filled my inbox! This community is full of amazing people!
You know what I want for my birthday? I want YOU to place a pin in my KnitBlogger Geography map! This is a new project that I heard about through Bonne Marie. Other knitters have maps too–make sure to sign theirs as well!
I had a great time compiling the pomegranate post. Thank you for your interest and comments on it! I so enjoyed seeing your experiences with pomegranates, as well as your stories of your own personal treasures. Cathi shared her extensive city mug collection and some information about her travels past and future, and Cathy shared her adorable panda collection and more information on how to help these endangered animals.
If you share information about your own collection in a blog entry, I would love to know about it!
Socktoberfest news will be in the next entry, so stay tuned!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLLY!!! I love the sombrero!
I made “Under the Hoodie” from Stitch and Bitch from cashmerino aran, and it pills like mad! Which makes me mad!!
Happy birthday! You’re adorable!
(PS. I lived in Clovis, NM, not too awful far from Roswell.)
I was thinking that the pink sweater I made from Cotton Ease was getting shorter–and now it seems that fear is confirmed. I was considering reknitting the bottom hem anyways. As for Tempting, mine ist still on the needles. I am trying to decide between a) ripping just a bit and adding longer sleeves or b) finishing it as quickly as possible to free up the needles, since several folks seem to agree with you that it doesn’t hold up so well.
Happy, happy birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOLLY!!!!!!!! I’m sorry to be late with the birthday wishes – sure hope you have had a wonderful time turning 25 – despite the cold! (Hint: If more symptoms or more schoolwork impinges on birthday celebrating… have one more sombrero and several more margaritas!!)
PS – Thanks for a great post – I always heard the DB pilled like that, now I know for sure. Thanks for saving me the money!
Happy Birthday to you! Mine was yesterday (Nov 16th) and one full year older than you. 26. Welcome late twenties. Kind of! Hope your day was wonderful.
Happy Birthday!
I’ve been enjoying your blog since finding it through Socktoberfest. I actually knitted 2 or 3 pairs of socks on October.
I was at our local Art Museum the other day and saw something about pomegrantates and it made me think of you. How odd am I that random things in Art Museum shops make me think of people I have never met?
Happy birthday Lolly! My boyfriend’s birthday was yesterday. He’s not close to 25 anymore, which amuses me to no end to tell him (of course I’m not 25 anymore either but I’m closer than he is!).
I’m glad I heeded other warnings about a Cashmerino garment, and your Tempting just tells me I made the right decision to do a scarf and hat and return the other balls instead. I did Tempting in Cotton Ease, and I never wore it outside the house. It was way too big and shapeless on me.
Lolly! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! That sombrero looks fab on you.
I hate that your rhapsody is stretching like that. I’m having a similar problem with Rowan’s summer tweed. I need to reblock that baby. Big hugs!
Happy (late) Birthday!!! I’m so glad you did this review, it was very informative! I’ve had similiar problems with cotton yarn growing with each wash, but the blocking didn’t help, so at least you’ve got that going for the sweater. And I think pilling is the nature of cashmere. All my cashmere sweaters pill like crazy and I just use a little electric de-fuzzer on them on a regular basis. You might try a scarf, maybe backyard leaves, for the cashmerino aran. Maybe it wouldn’t pill so much and it would be gorgeous in that pink.
happy happy happy birthday to the nicest lady in the blogosphere! hope you are feeling better and had a great day.
Belated Happy Birthday Lolly! I hope you had a great one.
Thanx for the sweet condolances
Happy Birthday! I’m glad that you found your way over to my blog. Welcome back!
Oh, I love the idea of later telling others about wear and tear on patterns, yarns and knits. I will have to do an entry on that…Oh yes, and I will agree that cotton ease is one of my ost favorite yarns too. I am making a sweater out of cotton ease as I type. It is too bad that it is discontinued. *sniff* Happy Belated Bday to you too. HUGS!
Happy Birthday! That was a really informative post! Thanks! Now I am not so tempted to make tempting! On to something that will hold up better…
Oh my…how did I not comment here! Happy Birthday!! You look great in a sombrero! LOL
You indeed to GET the idea of the process. It does go on and on as you wear the garment. You’ve made some good choices and, like me, you’ve learned what works best.
Thank you Lolly for being such a great pal;-)
Y’know, despite the problems with the yarns, those FOs look absolutely darling on you. P.S. Happy Birthday.
Congrats! It sounds like you had a great birthday! I started to knit Tempting – but I frog(ed)(?) it! Perhaps I will try again, I liked yours!
Thanks for the yarn reviews, wearing well is one of my biggest concerns when I shop for yarn. Happy Birthday, the sombrero really works for you!
thanks for the advice about the yarn… i have never used the cashmerino aran, and i will think twice before i start an project with it
happy birthda lauren 
Unfortunately, that is the nature of Debbie Bliss yarns, to pill and not stand up so well. I have a hat made from cashmerino aran, and I wouldn’t make anything larger than that or anything that rubs against itself (like a sweater does) with it. If I remember correctly, the gauge is 18sts/4″, and knitpicks.com makes a peruvian highland wool that wears VERY well & is VERY soft and is only $1.79 for 110yds that knits to that gauge. I’m, eventually, going to make a Tempting for myself out of the Knit Picks yarn (I think they call it “Wool of the Andes”).
As for the cotton, not sure about that brand, but cotton stretches pretty badly, yes, that’s the nature of cotton, unfortunately.
Happy Birthday, even if I’m coming to the wishes late. My brother’s was the 17th, and my son’s will be sometime this month, if he ever decides to leave my body.