Unsolved Mysteries.
February is for FIXIN'.
The fabulous Alison had the great idea of inspiring us to fix-up our messed up knits this month. I have a new fix to tell, but before that I give you a story of a recent fix that was SO WEIRD it will blow your knitting minds.
Oooh, drama.
Cue the X-files theme music...
So. Back a year or two ago (pre-blog) I made my sister the "Retro-prep" pullover from IK Fall 2002. Here's a pic of that cutie in the finished product:
This sweater was difficult from the very beginning, for a number of reasons:
1) The yarn, Rowan Rowanspun DK, was a bit fiddly and broke easily.
2) Despite using the yarn the pattern called for, I could NOT get my row gauge to be anywhere near theirs.
3) Since this is a raglan sweater, this was a huge problem. I had to rework all the math for the raglans. Several times. Bitching and moaning.
4) My husband told me to just stop making it, but it's for my SISTER. Yeah, ok, I'm just going to stop making it. When she was expecting it. For her birthday. Great idea, hon.
Bring us to NOW, please.
So, I did finish it, as you see above. And it turned out really well, and fit, and she really likes it, yadda yadda yadda.
So she comes to see us this last Christmas, and is wearing it. And I look it over, and there's a small hole in the front. I think, 'Oh, she must have caught it on something. I have the yarn, and I'll fix it."
Nonononononononono.
It's a DROPPED STITCH. Laddered down only two or three rows.
I KNOW.
Here's a pic of the bastard:
Now, we don't drop stitches over here at HEK. It's simply not allowed. Ever. SO:
I accuse her of never wearing it. There's no way that stitch could have only laddered a few rows if she wears it. Her boyfriend assures me she does wear it.
I accuse her of never washing it. In fact, she has. She's giggling uncontrollably now at me.
I make her remove it immediately and give it to me for further inspection. She's laughing so hard she can't breathe and remove the sweater at the same time.
I am aghast. I cannot believe it. I think: "It must have been a decrease or something." But there are no decreases there. It's just a plain ol' dropped stitch that STAYED essentially PUT for a YEAR.
Scully would be extremely skeptical. I am more like Mulder, though. I believe.
The end of the world may be near. Kiss your loved ones.
(For your enjoyment, here's a pop-up slide show of me fixing it.)
Comments
So much to comment on I must make a numbered list! (Plus, lawyers like numbered lists. Old habits die hard.)
1) Cuteness runs in your family, obviously. You two should come out in commercials together.
2) I like your glasses. Can I borrow your glasses?
3) I like sis's retro prep sweater. Can I borrow her retro prep sweater? I promise I won't drop any more stitches on it and I'll wash it.
4) Neat fix, worthy of the MMKU title! Crochet hooks are magical friends.
5) I notice that you're wearing the fabulous klaralund. Can I borrow your klaralund? I promise I won't drop any stitches on it and I'll wash it.
:-)
Posted by: Becky | February 21, 2005 07:52 AM
Becky, dear, you can borrow *anything* from me. I wish you lived next door! ;-)
Except if I lent you my glasses I might come to harm. If I lived in cavegirl times I'd have fallen off a cliff by now. ;-)
Posted by: Jenny | February 21, 2005 09:05 AM
Hee hee, everyone wants your Klaralund! I think I might have drooled on it when I saw it. And your sister is so cute! And so is her sweater ... I can't believe that about the dropped stitch! Freakin' hilarious.
Posted by: Carrie | February 21, 2005 10:16 AM
I love that green sweater. Gee, it would be great if someone's sister would make a cool green sweater like that for her...well, my sister makes me cool stuff, so I guess I can't be that jealous. But that sweater rocks.
I'm impressed that you went back and fixed it. I, being sort of knitting-impaired, would not have the slightest idea how to fix that OR even have noticed it, probably.
Posted by: Cathy | February 21, 2005 03:39 PM
Great story - you made nona's day, which is especially important since I'm cleaning my house today and am a bit grumpy! I love the picture of you two and your sweaters.
I bet your yarn had just enough friction to keep the dropped stitch reasonable in place - perhaps a sign that your sister loves the sweater and is treating it tenderly. nona has been known to find a dropped stitch in a finished garment, place a pin in it, and then declare that the pin is part of the overall design. I think your clever solution is perhaps a tad more "professional".
Posted by: nona | February 21, 2005 03:46 PM
I remember that yarn was very sticky when I used the Aran version so maybe that's why the stitch stayed put? Great job on fixing the dropped stitch!
Posted by: monica | February 21, 2005 04:39 PM
Those are two amazingly nice handknit sweaters you've got there! The green one looks great--it's a good thing you managed to save the stitch!
Posted by: molly | February 22, 2005 08:46 AM
WOW, HEJ at work in the knitting ER!
Impressed, oh heck yeah.
Plus I love that green.
Posted by: heather | February 22, 2005 10:26 AM
Darlin' - YOU are too funny! I love this tale of woe!
A
Posted by: Alex | February 22, 2005 09:23 PM
You are truly insane, and I love you! The sweater is gorgeous. And I would have done the same thing...meaning insoections and accusations, and then giving it to YOU to fix :)
Posted by: Anne Marie | February 24, 2005 10:49 AM
You are too funny. I'm so glad that you got to repair it before it got out of hand. I wish I could have been there to experience this situation! ;-)
I agree...it's a Beautiful green!
Posted by: Eilene | February 24, 2005 01:13 PM
Gosh, it's been a while since I've hopped over to HEK! Hey, what's the blog address linked to my name down there? Surely it cannot be MY blog, as I have not updated it in eons. But seriously, I had no idea you had such great taste in YARN! Oh, what am I saying? Of course, I did! But the green sweater just clinches it. That color is Kermit-worthy and the sweater is stupendous. Cute duo, you two!
Love the dropped stitch story. You're morphing into Becky. That is a good thing.
Will I ever get over to Athens to meet you? Hmm, the fates may have it in for us!
Posted by: Rachel | February 24, 2005 02:37 PM
Excellent!
(And your Klaralund is gorgeous!)
Posted by: alison | February 24, 2005 05:59 PM
Congratulations on winning Kate's contest! And this is my first time visiting - I think you have a great blog! Happy Knitting!!
Posted by: Anne-Caroline | February 24, 2005 07:53 PM
Heh - I decided to make the retro prep sweater as my first real sweater project a couple of years ago - went to the yarn store and asked for the Rowanspun DK. Yes, they had it. I then showed them the magazine and the pattern and they immediately roared with laughter - apparently someone else had just attempted that sweater in the Rowanspun DK and absolutely could not get gauge no matter how many needle sizes she went down. They steered me to Filatura di Crosa Zara, which worked wonderfully. I'll probably make it again, in fact!
Posted by: laurel | February 26, 2005 02:18 AM
Great job. Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Colleen | March 1, 2005 09:52 AM