theraineysisters knitting and so much more

…not you!  Unless you received a congratulatory email ;)!

The winners of the yarn are:

Cindy M. won the Nature’s Palette Fingering Weight yarn in Dark Teal,

Nancy H. won the Nature’s Palette Fingering Weight yarn in Clover,

and Delores S. won two skeins of Fortissima Cotton Colori sock yarn.

 

Michelle M. is the lucky winner of our signature mug.  Now who would mind waking up to these young, pretty knitters??!!

But even Michelle is envious of Esther S., grand prize winner of The Rainey Sisters high-quality canvas tote.

Congratulations to all the winners.  We really appreciated all of your entries — we laughed , we cried, and we shrieked in horror.  We also noted several themes. Many of you chose an Elizabeth Zimmerman book as a favorite that you couldn’t do without on a desert island. Many of you wanted a good, basic wool (despite being trapped in the tropics). And many of you had tales of woe based upon troubles with gauge. However, the following story of a knitting disaster certainly struck a chord — especially since we had both mentioned Henry VIII as one of our favorite projects. 

From Jewel’s Purls

*What was your biggest knitting disaster?  
(Submitted from her blog post, dated August 20, 2006 –Jewel’s Purls):

“I’ve debated all weekend how I was going to write this or even if I should.   As you recall, my last post showed I was starting the sleeves on Hank.   I checked my gauge when I started Hank about a year ago, however, for some unknown reason I didn’t pay close attention to my gauge when I picked him up again.  I have no clue where my common sense was let alone my brain.  I was so captured by paying close attention to the charts and watching the design magically appear before me.   The size of Hank probably would have fit Henry VIII himself.  It was large.  Humongous Hank.

Really upset with myself I put him aside (in a clear plastic box with a tight-fitting lid) and decided to think about what I should do.  I had already cut the steeks and was picking up the sleeve stitches.  I consulted my fellow knit buddies and decided I was going to frog Hank.  After all, it’s about the process and the end result, right?  There was no way I could ever look at Hank again knowing he wasn’t done correctly.   I spent a lot of $ on the yarn and it was going to be done right!

The following day after work I decided my decision was the right one but I wasn’t in the mood for frogging.  I took Hank’s charts and was going to put it in with the yarn and unfinished sweater.  I should have immediately suspected something was wrong when I noticed the lid wasn’t on.  When I picked up the box it didn’t take long for me to realize that Poppy, our male cat, had decided that the half-off lid was an invitation for him to use the box as a litter box.   Hank was the recipient of Poppy’s business and did it smell!   Cat pee is one of the things that immediately makes me want to lose my lunch.  I put Hank outside and sat in my chair and cried.  And cried.   And cried.

Again, my knit buddies were a source of support.   This weekend I tried several techniques and products to try to get the smell out.  It may be somewhat better, but it has felted in some places.   I may continue to felt Hank all the way and use him for something – what, I don’t know – or I may just throw him out.  It’s difficut to spend so much time and money on something and then have it end like this.  I learned several things:  check your gauge again and again and even if you think you’re right-on-the-money – check your gauge again!   Also, I learned that the projects I knit not only have a lot of money invested, but emotion as well.  I am surprised how the demise of Hank affected me.”

Postscript:   I did manage to get the smell out of Henry VIII and over time I meticulously frogged what parts hadn’t felted.  I managed to find several hanks of the discontinued autumn and marjoram and now have a full kit to start it again if I feel inclined to do so.

We were shocked to hear about the tortures perpetrated upon poor Henry and hope for his/its recovery!!  This story was so makes-you-want-to-gasp awful that we decided to compound her misery reward her with one of our signature mugs.

Finally, Sally’s daughter and her little assistant (who helped with the random drawing), really wanted us to reward the very first person who entered the contest for her enthusiasm. To keep the results from being tampered with or chewed up, we agreed. Therefore, a mug will also be going to Valerie B.

Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you again to everyone who entered!