I was very excited to make something in my favorite sky blue. I was very excited to knit something that beautiful! I was very excited to knit a garment!
I used Berkshire bulky with alpaca (omgsofluffy). First, I made a swatch, and of course I had to go down a size of my needles. I had to buy needles too. I didn't have my awesome interchangeable set. So I just got required fixed circulars from Addi.
But I did not wash it .... That was my big big mistake. I don't know how I overlooked it because in the pattern it is very clearly stated "Seed stitch pattern is very stretchy, so be
careful with gauge and wash and block
the swatch before measuring". I did not. My thoughts were "I won't block it like I block shawls. Why would I wash it" Measured my swatch and started knitting. Piece was coming out beautifully. I loved it. I loved fluffiness of the yarn. The size was right when I tried it. Until I washed it.
It stretched. It stretched!
I tried it on. Sleeves were almost right length but the whole piece looked like a housecoat. I hated it! Not the pattern itself. Pattern is gorgeous. I hated my version. I hated it so much that I tried it on and packed it in a space bag immediately.
My mom was begging for pictures. (She is very big fan of my knitting craziness) I did not have any. My friend was looking forward seeing it. But I hid it. From myself and from everybody. I hoped that I was just tired of it. It happens to me sometimes when I work on the piece for few weeks - I get tired of the yarn size, yarn color and everything else. So I hid it. It was hidden for about few months. Until this Saturday, until cold attacked South Carolina suddenly. I took it out, tried it on and hated it again.
Dont get me wrong - it was not oversized twice my size with the sleeves to the floor. But it was stretched enough to remind me of a housecoat. Again. I did not wear it that night. I took it off and left in my closet.
On Sunday morning my first thoughts were" I hate it enough, It won't be worse. I have to do something with it"
I did not have a heart to rip the whole thing off. So I threw it in washing machine. In hot water. I thought if it will shrink a lot I will give it to my daughter.
Ohhh the magic of hot water and natural wool!!! It shrank just enough to become right length. Stitches became more tight and fabric became sturdy. Sturdy enough to be more like wear-it-outside-coat. I absolutely love it! I am so excited to wear it. It needs to dry. But I tried it on while it was wet and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
But lesson learned. Read the pattern carefully. Wash and block your swatches. And Viva the wool!
