Thu Dec 1, 2005

Please tell me I didn’t just do that

I hate the VCC. Now that it is completely done and gorgeous, I can safely say that I hate it, without worrying about the adverse effects of making such a pronouncement. (Like, the possibility of never touching it again, and leaving it in a pathetic, unfinished heap forever).

I was hoping to get pictures this morning, but it didn’t happen.

The VCC is done. It is lovely. I spent FOUR hours (really) hand sewing in a zipper with clear (read, impossible to see) thread,

image

only to find that it curled up a little at the ends.

Hey, wait a minute. I took a picture of that.

image

And after all the time I’ve spent re-working this stupid sweater to make it right, I figured that letting the zipper curl wasn’t acceptable.

So I ripped out the bottom 5 inches to try less stretch and the sewing machine. It was disastrous.

Didn’t get a picture of that.

So, then I re-hand-sewed the bottom 5 inches of the zipper with clear (still completely impossible to see) thread, and it buckled at the join. So I ripped it again. And then I RE-re-hand-sewed the bottom 5 inches with clear (you know by now) thread, going the other direction to avoid a buckle at the meet-up of old vs. new hand stitches.

And it curls.

And I don’t freaking care.

I spent the ENTIRE day on it yesterday, neglected everything else, and I want to cry.

BUT, it’s pretty. Even if the right side of the zipper bottom doesn’t match up very well with the bottom of my sweater.

I don’t care.

My hand stitches are completely perfect and gorgeous, and I’m a hand-sewing novice.

Oh, and I’m in the last charted section of the Interlocking Balloons scarf. And the two evil projects, when complete, will look smashing together.

That’s the only thing keeping me going right now.

PS- be sure to email me with any Esther progress before tomorrow, so I can get you in the post.

11 Responses to “Please tell me I didn’t just do that”

  1. hayden Says:

    Oh, It looks lovely! Really, curled end and all. I’m sorry that you re-worked it so many times and it still curled. Still, I think it looks absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait to make my own!!

  2. Norah Says:

    Laura, it looks really beautiful, curl or no. Those cables are gorgeous, and you did a wonderful job.. I’m sure you already tried this, and I’ve never sewed a zipper in a sweater (yet) so I probably shouldn’t even mention it, but…you tried blocking that corner, right?

  3. Julie Says:

    Ooh, Norah’s idea seems good.

    I have a tailor’s ham somewhere at home that you could try to block it over, to get the bend to go the other direction. Or you could try the corner of a sofa or bed or something.

    Not that I know anything, of course.

    Just an idea…

  4. Tammie Says:

    I’ve purchased expensive sweaters from the overpriced department stores that do the same thing. Don’t feel to bad, the knitting is perfect 🙂

  5. Katie Says:

    It looks gorgeous! Try blocking it bent slightly the other way and see what happens (I know, you are so done, right?)

  6. Jenn Says:

    It’s gorgeous! Well, from what I can see 🙂 Don’t be a perfectionist. It gives it character to have flaws 🙂

  7. Jennifer Says:

    It’s beautiful! The curling sounds very annoying, but I wouldn’t care either if I’d worked on it that long.

  8. Maggie Says:

    Oh, how annoying. I can’t imagine why the corners are curling like that. The pattern is beautiful…do we get to see a full picture of you wearing it?

    Congratulations! Boy! Poor kid, growing up with three older sisters to torment him. 😉 I’m happy for all 5 of you. 😀

  9. Maggie Says:

    Whoops, 6! 6 of you!

  10. Lisa Says:

    I feel your pain. I have been concentrating on smaller projects because the big ones seem to disappoint. I would love to see a full picture to make a real opinion of the sweater.
    Think positive, no one else’s VC has a curl just like that! You are unique!

  11. FYRKRKR Says:

    As a person who HATES blocking, therefore avoiding it at all costs, hence knowing not much about it, I’ll venture out on this…
    Can you block the curl out of the bottom where the problem is because of the zipper?

    I think it looks beautiful on you and Roni did a great job as photographer!

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