Ding dong, Darth* is dead – er – finished, I mean. Ellen from Spinners With Altitude did the math, and estimates there are almost a quarter of a million garter stitches in this behemoth:
Hanne Falkernberg Ballerina Project Notes:
First off, I used a size 2 needle, and should have used a 1. (My regular readers will notice a pattern here . . .) I thought I was getting close-enough-for-me gauge. I hoped. When the last stitch was bound off, I tossed on Miss Ballerina, and the fit seemed okay. Then I made an error in judgment: I decided to wet block the ballerina on Mitzy.
I had good reasons for doing so: Since Mitzy is a double of my figure; I could block my jacket precisely to my measurements. I thought I would experiment with string blocking the hem, to make sure the drape was right. On Mitzy, I could fuss with the hem length so that it was ‘just right.”
What I didn’t think about is: Water makes wool heavy. Garter stitch likes to stretch, and all that water weight made my ballerina grow to alarming proportions. I did not take pictures, but the sleeves gained at least 4 inches. A 6’2” Amazon warrior would look great in this jacket: I looked like little bunny foo-foo dressed in Mommy’s clothes.
At this point I retired to the davenport to gather my thoughts with a cool rag on my forehead and three fingers of Bushmills in my clenched fist. (We knit to relax, right?)
The next day I re-soaked the amazing expanding Ballerina, and attempted to flat block it back into shape with wires and about 200 blocking pins. Let it dry. (I’m in Colorado, things dry fast.) Unpinned, flung it on: ARGGH. Sleeves at least 2” too long STILL. I tried tacking them up, which looked like crap. And the fabric was way too flimsy – it looked as stretched and tired as last year’s underpants. I untacked the sleeves and considered my options. These included:
1.) Frogging the whole damn thing. Which brings to mind:
2.) Impaling myself on my Addi Turbo laceweights (messy).
3.) Seeing if I could find a VW bug that needed a cozy (unlikely).
4.) Throwing the beast in the washer and praying for mercy.
Well. Based on my experience working with raw Cotswold, wool from the harrier breeds of sheep doesn’t felt too easily. And while I know there’s a fair amount of difference, fiber-wise, between Cotswold and Shetland (what the Ballerina is made of), I was willing to risk it. I stuffed the acres of ballerina in a big mesh bag, and put it through a wash cycle. I did not hover, I was beyond hovering. I went and cleaned the kitchen and tried not to think about what wooly horror I might be birthing. I was feeling a little dramatic.
I pulled open the mesh bag, grabbed Darth, and saw that he had hardly changed at all! The fabric had tightened up some, but not enough. I returned him to the bag, and washed him again. After this wash, the size seemed about right. I flat blocked him, and that is where I am now. So, here’s how this project is currently breaking down:
What I like:1. After felting, the fabric is much softer and fuzzier, and the drape is still good.
2. The felted fabric blocks the wind, and is warm enough for me on all but the coldest day.
3. Darth is, to my way of thinking, classic, stylish, lightweight and warm: a good coat for running errands, shopping, etc.
What I don’t like:
1. No pockets! I am still thinking about how to fix this one . . .
2. The back hem is not right. I need to reblock yet again, and currently can not face the task.
3. Sometimes (when it was cold and windy) the Ballerina just whipped around me. Brrr. I wanted a simple closure for those times. I tried using a nice shawl pin, but it kept falling off. I finally sewed on a couple of large snaps. So far, I’m liking this solution. Still considering adding a toggle closure, but need to look at what’s available out there. It would have to be just the right one.
About the photos: There's no arguing about it: Pictures of knitted wearables are more helpful if they show the item modeled by an actual human. I'm working on it -- I've had a month of bad hair days.
* Early on I named him Darth because he was big and black and kicking my pale Scottish patookey.
Who's laughing now, Darth? Hmm? BWAH-HA-HA!
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