Now that eldest nephew's sweater is complete, it is time for me to start on my last project for last Christmas. (I mean, it's been in the planning stages since last summer. I even wrote about it. Once.)
Yeah, I've been avoiding it.
My sister-in-law requested a purple version of the eye sweater I made for her daughter. (This was my big project for 2024. This is the last post with links to all the posts I wrote about it.)
And... I just don't wanna do it. There. I said it.
I never felt fully comfortable with the eye sweater. Niece found a photo of what she wanted. I could not find a pattern to go with it. I found something close, but it didn't have the curve at the hem that Liv wanted. So, I faked it. And I hated faking it.
Was it close? Did I get the right colors? Is that two rounds or three? Should I make this bigger? Does it need more of a curve? Does it need less of a curve?
I still feel residual stress from the thing.
And now I have to do it again.
Only, this time, I'm basing it off the thing I made. Which I have the notes for. I wrote down what I did, just in case I had to replicate it.
I found those notes a few months ago. And I put them someplace to find easily. And now I can't find them. (Although, I typed them out in 2024. And then in January I turned them into a note that I put on my phone. So, I do have them.)
It's time to woman up and get this thing done. On Saturday (after two weeks of no knitting/crochet when I had time but just chose not to start) I pulled up the video (that I used to make the eye to start) and started crocheting. And...
I don't like it.
It's not coming out oval enough. It's curling. I'm going to redo it.
That's maybe an hour of work, so no big loss. Getting the oval to oval isn't quite working out. But I need to start with an oval so that the hem curves.
Deep sigh.
For me, getting started is the hardest part. I have the yarn. I have a project bag. I started the oval. I can do this.
Note: I know you all mean well and just want to encourage me, but "you can do it" or "it looks great" sort of thing in the comments is not going to encourage me at all. It's just going to make me feel worse. So, unless you want to trigger me, please avoid telling me how talented a crocheter I am. Because I am not.
Now, how do I make this fit Q for A to Z? I have no idea. (That's kind of a theme this week.) I mean, you already know, but I don't. Yet.
What color would you want this disaster of a sweater in? Have you ever had a project that you just did not want to do? What's the best Q-title you've done for A to Z? (My absolute favorite A to Z Q-post was "Quinceanera and Sweet Sixteen".)
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
Big fan of purple. Looking forward to seeing the final product.
ReplyDeleteJamie here: Always hard to find Q topics. It was a while before I got one for my post today.
ReplyDeleteComing up with titles is challenging for some letters. Although, Q isn't as hard as it might be. There are many good choices.
DeleteHow about you ask your sister-in-law what other item she would like instead of the eye sweater? and explain why you are asking :-)? I would choose an ecru or light beige color with a brown iris. I think my best Q was this one: https://milepebbles.wordpress.com/2024/04/19/q-is-for-quintilio/
ReplyDeleteYeah, I could do that. I won't do that, but I could do that.
DeleteI always like blues and purples. Can I say that I don’t really like the eye sweater though? Love the green cabled one, but eyes kind of squick me out. I totally understand why you are hesitant to do a big project that you aren’t thrilled about. It’s a lot of work!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it typical, the one you disliked creating the most you have to do again? It's hard to be enthusiastic about something your heart isn't in to.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
DeleteI'm glad you have your notes. And it's nice of you to do this. You've got this!
ReplyDeleteNice? I suppose...
DeleteI love 5be color, and I know you’re finding this difficult but I also know you will persevere.
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice color.
DeleteMy life philosophy, honed over years of living, is”life is too short “. Is your relationship with the gift recipient one where you can admit that the sweater just isn’t happening, you’ve tried your best (or leave that part out) and would something else make her equally happy? I hate not being able to keep promises and you don’t, eitherbut you may be pleasantly surprised that an alternative project may make both of you happy.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I suppose I could flake out. It's a consideration.
DeleteI love anything purple. My heart goes out to you having to make something so big that you'd not into making.
ReplyDeletePurple is my favorite color.
ReplyDeletePurple will look gorgeous! I checked back, and none of my Qs are really worth a "best." I guess if pressed, I like this year's, Queen Isabel because I like the artwork very much.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Q is an interesting letter. And at this point in the challenge, we're all losing steam.
DeleteWhy are these last letters so difficult in the A to Z Challenge? They are just letters after all. No wonder you posted for Q about this project you wish you could just Quit. I've been enjoying all the blogs I've visited during this Challenge, however, only not mine as much as everyone else's. I feel like I'm running out of steam for P.Q.R, etc etc etc. I'm glad I wrote most of my posts in March.
ReplyDeleteI love the colour. Maybe you need to set it aside and create something new so you can feel better about this project. I know you will do great.
ReplyDeleteMaybe. I mean, I've wanted to start it since last August, so it's been set aside for a while now.
DeleteQ is a difficult letter every time :-) @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
I don't knit or crochet but starting any difficult project that is a brain dread spot, yuk. Maybe take out a hammer and smash one finger? It is a good excuse to give your relative on why you won't be able to start that project for six months or maybe ever.
ReplyDeleteI already have an injured finger, or rather, thumb. My right thumb's been sore (like I sprained it sore) for more than a month now. So, no hammer. I can just tell the truth (although, I can knit fine with it; writing's another matter altogether).
DeleteI like to crochet, but sometimes it just makes you feel stabby. And the hook is right there, and everything is just grrrrr. Stabby.
ReplyDelete(I am not good at crocheting. Still learning and ages away from trying a sweater. Just no)
Hope the stabbiness is being kept to a minimum for you.
Lori
Of course, you could make something that utilizes the stabby. Lean into it.
DeleteI have zero talent in knitting or crochet. I love the colour, Liz.
ReplyDeleteI maintain this requires no talent. Just practice. Only if you enjoy it, though. It's no fun if you don't enjoy it.
DeleteI do floss instead of yarn; embroidery is my masochism of choice. (If you go to my site, you can find all the embroidery under "arts" in the menu.) And, yes, I've done projects I haven't liked, often tossing them in the corner and coming back to them months later. One I hated the most got stolen in a smash and grab - they thought they were getting my laptop - it was my embroidery, suckers. My present project I am so far off the stitch design and color scheme at this point, it may as well be a new project. Best Q is for ... Quorum.
ReplyDeleteDesign choices, amiright? If someone grabbed a project that I had been working hard on, like eldest nephew's sweater, I'd've been gutted. But a project you hate? Nice...
DeleteThe yarn is pretty, and the Q tittle sounds great ;)
ReplyDeleteI try not to get signed up for things I don't want to do. I mean, yeah, there were some horrible moments in childhood. But, overall, I try to live the life I want as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about knitting. I can weave a little, basic sewing, and I'm pretty good with animal skins. But that's not the same.
My best A to Z Q post? You'll like this:
https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2023/04/q-is-for-dr-quedlin-giveaway.html
I was also doing the WEP hop for that post, so the first part might be confusing. Then again, this month has been all about book 3, so a post mentioning book 2 might not confuse you. But it's the second half of the post which I think you'll enjoy.
If I don't wanna do it, it goes to my hall closet... I'm good at hiding stuff I don't wanna do :-)
ReplyDeleteRonel at Ronel the Mythmaker
If it was just for me...
Delete