It’s true. I have given up. Thrown it in. Divested myself. Moved on. Cut the thing loose.
Of what do I speak? The EZ Green Sweater! But why? One word: fit (or, more accurately, the lack thereof). I got to the neck and tried it on and it was abysmal. So, I will put it aside rather permanently I’m afraid.
The rating scale:
Pattern: high — scored high for style and historical significance
Motivation: high — I really wanted to make this sweater!!!
Yarn: low — the yarn quality was just not there for me
Fit: low — too narrow, too wide, too weird, too everything but right!
Sadness: low — I do not feel bad about this at all. It was a small moment in time that is over.
Edited to add:
Please do NOT be discouraged! If you have started this project or plan to…go ahead! The sweater did not fit ME, and believe me, that is nothing rare in my world! Many others are having success, so please do not write off the whole affair based on my experience!!
In memoriam
There is a chance I will try it again at a later date with different yarn. I’ll keep the original start (“What NOT to do!”) just in case.
So now what am I up to? It will be revealed in a few weeks when it is finished and ready to unveil!
Sometimes you just have to move on.
Would it fit me? *Ducks*
Comment by surly — January 27, 2010 @ 10:04 pm
Ah, I wonder if I am sadder for you than you are for yourself. Thanks for all the insights into knitting it. And I’m still taking it on sometime soon – just to learn some of the construction tricks as much as anything.
Comment by twinsetellen — January 27, 2010 @ 10:34 pm
I am so glad that you went through this before me. I so wanted to do this project but was worried that the same things would be issues for me. I was pretty sure about fit not being for my body type, was a little leery of the yarn given some of the things I had heard about it, including the looooooong disclaimer on the Schoolhouse Press website and now I can put my envy aside. You went through all the pain for me! Whew. and it didn’t even cost me a sweater’s worth of yarn. Thanks for sharing all that you learned. Knitters watch out for each other. I am sure you will figure something else out. You are a wonder. Best.
Comment by Claudine — January 27, 2010 @ 10:52 pm
All that stockinette = “a small moment in time”? Sorry, does not compute. But better to stop now than to finish and never wear it.
Comment by kmkat — January 28, 2010 @ 1:34 am
Oh dear! I have just started it and am a little worried. So far I have one about 2 inches, and it took me quite a while, surprisingly. I’ll pursue it anyway and hope for the best.
Comment by Joanna Ryan — January 28, 2010 @ 4:17 am
Hmmm . . . I too was hoping to see how this turned out as I’ve been quite tempted by this project. I’ll just set the idea aside for now since there are always too many great patterns to choose from anyhow.
Comment by GinkgoKnits — January 28, 2010 @ 4:34 am
You have great clarity in letting it go! I’m reminded of the Buddhist expression, some days a diamond, some days a stone. And I know you have a lot of diamond sweaters!
Comment by Ann McCauley — January 28, 2010 @ 11:27 am
Oh No. That is my knitting Olympics project. What exactly about the fit discourage you? was it the bat wing sleeves? The cropped length? Any hints would be appreciated before the opening ceremonies.
Comment by Brenda — January 28, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Oh no. All your project are fitted and finished so well. I thought that you could do magic. So sorry, as the sweater looks fabulous on the dummy. Can’t believe you admitted to yourself that you are setting this one aside. More power to you.
Comment by stonemoon — January 28, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
I too am working on this sweater but with the Ultra Alpaca which I think is lovely. Stupid question – how did you try it on with all those steeks? (This is my first steeked sweater and boy does it look weird as you go along.) Did you get it cut apart and then not like it? Inquiring minds want to know.
Comment by Valerie Van Cleave — January 28, 2010 @ 2:10 pm
I just caught up on your blog, and I wanted to tell you that when I was 20 I had a tib/fib spiral fracture and the very familiar-sounding orthopedic surgery to put a rod in (and later, take it out). It was really hard at the time and I did PT mostly to strenghten my leg and get it strong again from the non-weight-bearing time of the injury. It healed up great and over a decade later I hardly know the difference (except for those pesky scars from surgery). I hope your boy heals even better than I did!
Comment by Kim — January 28, 2010 @ 7:08 pm
It is a wise knitter who knows when to throw in the towel! Good for you.
Comment by Kym — January 29, 2010 @ 5:45 pm
Oh my goodness, I was so excited for you about this sweater. BUMMER! I knew I’D never attempt it but I was looking forward to following yours.
You’re taking this better than I am.. . !
Comment by Mary Lee — January 30, 2010 @ 11:47 am
You are so much wiser than I. Knitted a sweater. Blocked and have worn the sweater. Do not like the fit. It will be frogged and reknit.
Comment by 2muchfun — January 31, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
Well, I just got to the very top of the body/sleeves; about to machine sew the steeks and cut. I have seen other knitters do this, but I have never attempted it, so I’m excited to see how it plays out. I knit a bigger size than I might otherwise do because I am also worried about the fit. I guess my fascination with this project is the construction techniques, so I will keep moving forward on this particular journey!!
Comment by Karen Schneider — February 2, 2010 @ 11:27 am
Susan- It takes chutzpah to walk away from a project, and I salute you. I did the same with a project that I finished the body on, but found I was resenting every minute- so it’s in permanent time out.
It’s very freeing.
Comment by Lorraine — February 3, 2010 @ 12:16 pm