I'm almost there... I can see the end in sight! The Petal Top is nearly finished!! I can't wait to get it off the needles and see how this girl blocks out. I know she'll grow a bit... which is a good thing. She needs to RELAX. :) Of course it's very, very fitted on me at the moment and my husband would prefer that I didn't block it. haha. I swear he's disappointed every time I block something. Before blocking: "Ahhhh, I like that one!" After blocking: "what happened to it? Why is it all big now?" Boys. They never grow up! :)
So of course you can tell I have a double meaning with my post title. The home stretch of my project... seeing the end. And also the 'stretch' of the blocking! heehee. I know... I'm easily entertained!
Question for all you knitters (and crocheters) -- Do you ever have issues with blocking a garment? Like a sweater. Shawls and scarfs, etc are easy. No real fit required. But for a sweater, do you have that moment of panic before submerging your carefully and painstakingly knitted finished garment into the water? With a thought of "is it going to work? or am I ruining it as we speak?"
I have had SEVERAL mishaps with garments. I have a cardigan that would (very literally) fit TWO of me inside it. It's CRAZY too big. And while I was knitting it, I was concerned about how SMALL it looked. I didn't think it would fit me! Little did I know that when I wetted that particular yarn down it would react like the Grinch's heart... and grow THREE sizes! It also permanently fused together the yarn (those seams are NEVER coming out)... so no re-do on that one. I still wear it and it is my go-to around the house snuggler. It's seriously like wearing a blanket! My hubs says I look like a homeless person in it. Which is ironic since the yarn in the sweater totaled up to approx. $150. YEAHHHHHH... I'm wearing that bad boy! :)
What did I learn from that experience?? ALWAYS block your swatch. Don't 'eyeball' how big you think the sweater should be - believe your math! And the bigger you size up on your needles the more that puppy will grow when wet! Keeping your stitches smaller and tighter greatly reduces growth during blocking.
All good knitting life lessons.
I STILL have trouble believing my math. I have to fight the urge to 'eyeball' sizing as I go. I am ALWAYS thinking that the finished garment will be too small. And then I put in scrap yarn, take it off the needles, and test fit it.... and it's REALLY BIG! What is it with me and thinking everything looks small??? Weird. But now I know that about myself, so I just go with it and hope for the best. And you know when it turns out pretty darn perfect?? When I - TRUST - THE - MATH! Crazy notion, huh?
So to return to the Petal Sweater... right now it fits... but snug. So I am thinking after washing and blocking it should be perfect? I'm taking a deep breath and taking the plunge... or rather IT is taking the plunge! :) Happy Blocking To All!
Question for all you knitters (and crocheters) -- Do you ever have issues with blocking a garment? Like a sweater. Shawls and scarfs, etc are easy. No real fit required. But for a sweater, do you have that moment of panic before submerging your carefully and painstakingly knitted finished garment into the water? With a thought of "is it going to work? or am I ruining it as we speak?"
I have had SEVERAL mishaps with garments. I have a cardigan that would (very literally) fit TWO of me inside it. It's CRAZY too big. And while I was knitting it, I was concerned about how SMALL it looked. I didn't think it would fit me! Little did I know that when I wetted that particular yarn down it would react like the Grinch's heart... and grow THREE sizes! It also permanently fused together the yarn (those seams are NEVER coming out)... so no re-do on that one. I still wear it and it is my go-to around the house snuggler. It's seriously like wearing a blanket! My hubs says I look like a homeless person in it. Which is ironic since the yarn in the sweater totaled up to approx. $150. YEAHHHHHH... I'm wearing that bad boy! :)
What did I learn from that experience?? ALWAYS block your swatch. Don't 'eyeball' how big you think the sweater should be - believe your math! And the bigger you size up on your needles the more that puppy will grow when wet! Keeping your stitches smaller and tighter greatly reduces growth during blocking.
All good knitting life lessons.
I STILL have trouble believing my math. I have to fight the urge to 'eyeball' sizing as I go. I am ALWAYS thinking that the finished garment will be too small. And then I put in scrap yarn, take it off the needles, and test fit it.... and it's REALLY BIG! What is it with me and thinking everything looks small??? Weird. But now I know that about myself, so I just go with it and hope for the best. And you know when it turns out pretty darn perfect?? When I - TRUST - THE - MATH! Crazy notion, huh?
So to return to the Petal Sweater... right now it fits... but snug. So I am thinking after washing and blocking it should be perfect? I'm taking a deep breath and taking the plunge... or rather IT is taking the plunge! :) Happy Blocking To All!
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