Did she do it??
Well, even with only one project being worked on, and doing so good in the beginning with keeping up on blogging about it, I have managed to let 2 weeks go by without a post. *sigh* I guess I'm just not much of a blogger. I do much better with the finished project photo posts than anything else, but hopefully I'm getting a bit better about it.
The night after my last post (Dec 13) was our 3rd wedding anniversary, and also our company Christmas party. It was the perfect occassion to break out one of the projects I finished this past summer, but hadn't been able to wear yet. This is the lace poncho from Wrap Style, knit in sage Zephyr. It was just the right thing to wear over the sleeveless dress.
Now back to the question posed in the subject of this post. Did I actually manage to get Trondheim completely finished in time for Christmas?
I spent about 3 days on each sleeve and had them done on Wednesday (Dec 20).
Thursday evening was set aside for the steeking. Let me tell you, my first experience was not a good one. I followed the instructions for a crocheted steek as written by Eunny Jang in the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. It seemed fairly straight forward, but I had some doubts. I should have listened to that niggling voice in my head telling me that doing the crochet steek as the instructions said wasn't going to work with this sweater, but I had faith in the experts.
Crocheted steeks before cutting:
Cutting the steeks:
Just as I feared, this steeking method didn't work well with this sweater. Quite a few of the ends came out of the crocheted bit and were hanging there taunting me. I thought Paul was going to have a heart attack when I said it didn't work. I didn't panic, but was annoyed to no end. I wanted to finish the steeking and start sewing in the sleeves. It was apparent that I was going to have to revert to a sewn steek and take out the crochet. That wasn't a problem, but I just didn't feel like getting the sewing machine out and setting it up that night. I carefully folded the sweater, put it back in the knitting bag, and went to get another project to work on. That lasted all of about 30 minutes. The failed crochet steek was now a bone to gnaw on, and it wouldn't quit bothering me until I fixed it. Downstairs I went to dig out the sewing machine, set it up, and clean the dust off it. I was a tad worried that my knitting was going to get sucked down into the black hole of the bobbin case, but I worried for nothing. The sewing went without a hitch and my steeks held. I even managed after that to get both sleeves sewn in.
Friday I knit the neckband, Saturday I wove in all the ends, and Sunday I blocked it.
Trondheim preblocking:
This morning, Trondheim was proudly modeled by Paul ...... who keeps repeating "This is one pretty sweater. You're awesome." Awwwwwww
While Tronheim blocked, I even managed to knit Sheldon (from Knitty) to put in Paul's stocking. Isn't he cute?? I am going to make one for myself now. It will be a good use for the silk I have left over from the tie I did for Paul last year. This will prove to be one frivolous turtle!!
The night after my last post (Dec 13) was our 3rd wedding anniversary, and also our company Christmas party. It was the perfect occassion to break out one of the projects I finished this past summer, but hadn't been able to wear yet. This is the lace poncho from Wrap Style, knit in sage Zephyr. It was just the right thing to wear over the sleeveless dress.
Now back to the question posed in the subject of this post. Did I actually manage to get Trondheim completely finished in time for Christmas?
I spent about 3 days on each sleeve and had them done on Wednesday (Dec 20).
Thursday evening was set aside for the steeking. Let me tell you, my first experience was not a good one. I followed the instructions for a crocheted steek as written by Eunny Jang in the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits. It seemed fairly straight forward, but I had some doubts. I should have listened to that niggling voice in my head telling me that doing the crochet steek as the instructions said wasn't going to work with this sweater, but I had faith in the experts.
Crocheted steeks before cutting:
Cutting the steeks:
Just as I feared, this steeking method didn't work well with this sweater. Quite a few of the ends came out of the crocheted bit and were hanging there taunting me. I thought Paul was going to have a heart attack when I said it didn't work. I didn't panic, but was annoyed to no end. I wanted to finish the steeking and start sewing in the sleeves. It was apparent that I was going to have to revert to a sewn steek and take out the crochet. That wasn't a problem, but I just didn't feel like getting the sewing machine out and setting it up that night. I carefully folded the sweater, put it back in the knitting bag, and went to get another project to work on. That lasted all of about 30 minutes. The failed crochet steek was now a bone to gnaw on, and it wouldn't quit bothering me until I fixed it. Downstairs I went to dig out the sewing machine, set it up, and clean the dust off it. I was a tad worried that my knitting was going to get sucked down into the black hole of the bobbin case, but I worried for nothing. The sewing went without a hitch and my steeks held. I even managed after that to get both sleeves sewn in.
Friday I knit the neckband, Saturday I wove in all the ends, and Sunday I blocked it.
Trondheim preblocking:
This morning, Trondheim was proudly modeled by Paul ...... who keeps repeating "This is one pretty sweater. You're awesome." Awwwwwww
While Tronheim blocked, I even managed to knit Sheldon (from Knitty) to put in Paul's stocking. Isn't he cute?? I am going to make one for myself now. It will be a good use for the silk I have left over from the tie I did for Paul last year. This will prove to be one frivolous turtle!!