Sunday, July 15, 2012

Revving up for the Ravellenic Games

The world's biggest Knit-a-long is less than two weeks away!  It's time to get ready. 

My challenge for the Ravellenic Games is to reknit a UFO that I put aside because it was miserably huge.  Like, would have had 8 inches of positive ease huge!  The pattern is the Wood Hollow Vest by Kirsten Kapur, one of my favorite designers. 


I started this about six months after my daughter was born, so I hadn't quite returned to pre-baby measurements yet.  That was problem number one.  Problem number two is that the pattern runs large to begin with.  You might expect me to say that problem number three is that I wasn't getting gauge, but here's the crazy thing.  My gauge was spot on.  I was making the size 40, and the front of my vest was exactly 20 inches.  With all the cabling, though, that 20 inches stretches to about 26 inches.  


Based on the portion that I've already knit, I'm thinking that I'll reknit it in a 32.  A 32!  I usually make between a 37 and 39.  This thing is so stretchy that I don't think a 32 will be a problem.  Other Ravelers have had problems with the vest coming out too big, and Kirsten does say that she intended the vest to be worn with positive ease.  I just like my vests to be a bit snug. 

The first step is to frog!  I should really wash the yarn, too, and hang it to get rid of the crimp.  After that, it will need a few days to rest and get some of the sproingyness back.  I better get busy!

6 comments:

  1. Oooh, that's a really beautiful pattern!

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    1. It is, and some of the FOs on Ravelry are great. It's discouraging to have to rip something out, but with the challenge of the Ravellenic Games, I have some renewed motivation for it.

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  2. that looks like a really lovely pattern. man the frogging bit would have been enough for me to just finish the knit and settle with whatever size it was going for. kudos for having the guts to start over and make sure it's just how you want it!

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    1. Thank you! I don't think I'd do it if it weren't for the challenge of the Olympic knit-along!

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  3. Oh no! That pattern is beautiful, such a shame you have to start over! All will be worth it in the end though , to have a gorgeous snug fitting jumper :)

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