Sunday, July 30, 2006

Foshizzle my Sizzle!



Here you see two pics of Sizzle, which I finished knitting last week and finished this weekend. The knitting was a dream, loved the yarn--Cascade Pima Silk--and the pattern--Sizzle--is very well written and a pleasure to follow. My only gripe is with myself and my lack of mad finishing skills. No matter how careful I am, the end result is always somewhat of a letdown and it never looks as neat as I'd like. The seams seem to bubble and pucker and whereever I've picked up stitches it tends to look slightly raggedy. Simply put: I hate finishing! The moment I thread that needle for seaming an overwhelming feeling of dread overtakes me and I am instantly propelled back into 7th grade home ec class, which was basically my sewing primal scene, the place where I was humiliated beyond all belief by my teacher who told me that I didn't take pride in my work because my final project pillow looked like it had been stitched together in the dark by a one armed blind toddler. This pillow reflects very badly on you, she told me. You have limited potential. (So glad to have gotten the message sooner than later, thanks Miss Mitchell). Anyway, I wish to G-d that my LYS had a finisher because I would definitely utilize their services, without question and without asking the price! At least Sizzle is now in the FO column and thus no longer chipping away on my soul...

There is progress to report on the Blue Sky Alpaca Fitted Tank in Blue Sky Dyed Cotton, color #602 'Honeydew'. I am now finished with the ribbing, if that means anything to you, and am ready to make a dent in the stockinette portion of the pattern. This yarn is lovely, such a pleasure to work with and not at all like most cotton which tends to stretch and split like mad--I'm even doing this with Addis which tend to increase the whole stretching phenomenon, but I must say that this is not the case here, that's why we pay the big Blue $ky Alpaca buck$, right?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm with you when it comes to finishing.... I procrastinate because of my strong dislike of it. I knit most things in the round so I have limited finishing to do. And I do have a bag in my closet with a sweater in it just waiting to be finished. It can wait another 3 years.

Lauri said...

I like how the Sizzle turned out.

I also have a tough time with finishing...no wait, I rarely even get to that point!

Anonymous said...

I'm cracking up over the phrase "sewing primal scene."

Melissa said...

It looks great.
My finishing skills leave alot to be desired.

Cynthia said...

Your sweater is beautiful!

Anytime you want (and when I'm working), I'll gladly show you how to sew a smooth seam. It's easy--I promise. We can cast a spell while we're at it, and get rid of the trauma of old Miss Mitchell!

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

I am with you on the finishing. I am done my ribbon shell but having the worst time finishing it. Of course my Grade 9 Home Ec sewing teacher, Miss Yurich, passed me "on the condition that you NEVER take my class again". She induced a sewing phobia that haunts me to this day. My Mom use to mail all her knitting to my Aunt Betty to finish for her. God I wish I could do that!!!

Anonymous said...

Just wondering if you ever finished the tank?

Anonymous said...

I think Sizzle came out looking great, and I completely agree with you about finishing. I can't stand it either for the same reasons. It can literally take me weeks to sew something together. I think this is why I gravitate to projects that can be worked in the round with no seams. Shame on Miss Mitchell!! I hope she's not still teaching. That was a horrible thing to say. Aren't teachers supposed to be encouraging? My LYS doesn't have a finisher either, but I'm still looking.