12.03.05
Finished Object: Ruffles Scarf
Well, finished except for the blocking that is, which I’m hoping is going to make a world of difference in this scarf. The rows where I knit all the short-row wraps are so bumpy and ugly! I tried everything I could think of to try to reduce the bumpiness: SSK instead of knitting the wrap and stitch together, wrapping more loosely, wrapping more tightly, swearing more loudly…nothing seemed to make a difference. So now I can look forward to blocking each of the 300 short-row sections with special, loving care. Yippee.
The other problem is the yarn. While wonderfully soft and a beautiful color, it definitely has a bit of a fuzziness problem. I mean, I’m sure part of the problem is that the air in my house is 35 percent cat hair, but even so, there’s a kind of hairy look to this scarf that makes it look, well, not new. I’m even a little hesitant to give it to my boss because I think it looks more dumpy than anything.
So yeah, I’m not thrilled with this finished object. I’ll see what happens when I block it. (Matt is so cute — he knows very little about knitting but always reassures me that blocking will fix anything. Any time I moan about a mistake or a disappointing result he says, with complete sincerity, “Well, you’ll block it!”)
Amy said,
December 4, 2005 at 9:13 am
I’m assuming your boss isn’t a knitter. She probably won’t realize there is a bump problem. Don’t sweat it.
Amy
blossom said,
December 4, 2005 at 11:28 am
that is gorgeous!! your boss will love it.
i’d definitely steam block it to flatten the ruffles out a bit. i did that to mine and the result was really great.
SF Knitter said,
December 4, 2005 at 1:20 pm
I had no idea blocking was that great… I’ve blocked, but apparently i’m doing it all wrong. Is there a manual? man pages maybe?
I like the scarf. I might make one myself now.
And Seattle is wonderful – of course I only spend a few days at a time there, in a lovely boutique hotel paid for by my company, eating at great restaurants (paid for by my company), and the folks at the Seattle site are fantastic, so I have a perhaps unrealistic experience of Seattle. I’ve never had to live through a winter there.
I still think I’d be willing to try, though.
Laura said,
December 4, 2005 at 1:32 pm
How are you planning to block it? Or do you just mean that you are going to wash it?
If you have a high enough animal fiber content, getting it wet and allowing the stitches to relax should resolve some of the bumpy issues.
I’m surprised swearing louder didn’t work. It seems to work for me. Next time, try swearing louder and throwing the project across the room. That helps A LOT!
Carry said,
December 4, 2005 at 1:37 pm
Seattle IS the best!!! (hint, hint, nudge, nudge)
Sorry to break into your separate conversation, but anything to get Rachel to move this direction… ;)
Love the scarf, and I agree with everyone else, steam it and if there are any residual bumps it’s doubtful that the boss will notice. :)
Suzanne said,
December 4, 2005 at 7:45 pm
Scarf look super to me. Very pretty…it looks good on you too.
Mothhair said,
December 5, 2005 at 4:38 pm
I was just launching into this scarf myself, but if it gives YOU problems, Rachel, then I’m sure to be a goner. I’ll wait and see whether you resolve your issues with it, and then, as always, I will do exactly what you do! Good luck. It looks nice in the pictures, but your standards are high, I know.
By the way, I hear that Seattle is really just a big scary black hole that lures in unsuspecting victims and then rains on them nonstop for ever and ever.
Signed,
Rachel’s East Coast Mom
Emily said,
December 5, 2005 at 7:00 pm
I just found your blog thru the percentage bars page. I think the scarf is beautiful. Yes, I think you should try steam blocking it, and I don’t think your boss will know or care about the bumps. (I know how this happens…)
SF Knitter said,
December 5, 2005 at 9:33 pm
Rachel, your mom posts here? You must have a great mom.
I have heard from a friend of a friend who moved to Seattle that it *is* sort of as your mom describes. You visit, and it’s all wine and roses, and when you move there it’s just wet all the time. I dunno, because I have several friends who live there and say those are all lies invented to keep more people from moving there — just like San Franciscans tell everyone that the earthquakes are HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! Heh.
Mothhair said,
December 6, 2005 at 10:14 am
Yes, SF Knitter, I am an extremely cool goddess-like mom, which is why Rachel should not move to Seattle (along with the aforementioned black-hole issue). Seriously, I’ve heard that Seattle is a fine place to live, but it’s very far away from Rachel’s Future Babysitting Corps.
And since this blog is technically about knitting (as opposed to clinging mothers), I will say that I have learned to love diagonal scarf patterns. They are easy (unlike my courageous daughter, I do quite well without facing constant knitting challenges), and they show off hand-painted yarn (and other yarn) beautifully. I’m just finishing one in Pine Needle by Mountain Colors, and I think it’s gorgeous.
Rachel said,
December 6, 2005 at 10:23 am
If you would just make a knitting blog as I keep urging you to do, Future Babysitter…I mean Mother…then we wouldn’t have to take your word for it that your diagonal scarf is gorgeous!
P.S. It’s true, you are an extremely cool gooddess-like mom. There’s no denying it!
Emily said,
December 7, 2005 at 6:14 pm
Those tiny sweaters are the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Cute enough to eat, that’s for sure. Except that they are made of wool…
Alex said,
December 10, 2005 at 11:50 am
You’re right, Rachel, moms who post on your blog are super cool. :) I love the color on your Ruffles! And I have no opinion on Seattle, though I am fond of Portland, where it also rains a lot. The real question is, does it get cold enough to wear wool sweaters???
Lickety Knit » Belated Christmas Wrap-Up said,
December 28, 2005 at 9:34 pm
[...] f scarves as Christmas gifts, I was absolutely thrilled by my boss’s reaction to the Ruffles scarf I gave her. I had such misgivings about it, to the point where I came very close to giving the sc [...]