Apparently the goddess of knitting thought I needed to be taken down a peg or two. My first two hat projects turned out soooo well. The sideways-knit Arbacia Hat is a delight – fits perfectly and I wear it often. The top-down Little Red Beret is also a great fit and ideal for blustery days.
And then there is my recently completed Snowflake Tam, knit from the bottom up. What a disaster! Looks great draped on its blocking plate, doesn't it? Nifty colors, elaborate stranded work, all that stuff. But y'know it isn't intended to be a plate cover. It's supposed to look good on my head. And therein lies the problem.
I guess the pattern is just too detailed and busy. Even from the back it's not impressive. Oh, and the ribbing is waaaay too loose. So disappointing – five pairs of socks sacrificed their leftover yarn for this hat –
Now what you are seeing here are the BETTER pictures. Even this ghastly side view is not as bad as most, although it's pretty bad. I mean, would you run around in public looking like this?
Unable to believe that this project was such an utter failure, I kept trying different positions and taking more pictures. Now this one I like. Could be a bit tricky from a vision point of view, but the hat looks good. Maybe I could snip teensy little eye holes.
Seriously – what should I do with this thing? I will never wear it. As fiber art, it's pretty, but as apparel – no way. Do I donate it somewhere? Frame it and hang it on the wall? Would anyone like to give it a try? I'd be happy to pop it into an envelope and send it your way. Really. No trouble at all.
13 comments:
Could you somehow turn it into a purse or bag?? (I'm no knitting wizard....but it is a cool piece of knitting.)
So disappointing when you don't like a project you've worked hard on.
It's a bit tricky commenting on a blog where you don't know the author, and the author isn't happy with a project. I want to reassure you that it looks great - but if you don't like it, you don't like it.
A bag....that's the ticket! Or some other great idea that the next commenters will have!
Sue
Hmmm... I agree with Sue; I'd like to tell you that I don't think it looks bad (because I don't!), but that doesn't change the basic fact that you don't like it on you and it's not going to get worn. I do like the idea of using it as a small bag; maybe if you pick up stitches around the ribbing and knit more, and then put an i-cord tie in a hem, you could use it as a small project bag? Felted (if it felts) it might work even better :) Or, you could make a pillow cover out of it, with a knitted circle for th back side? Hmmm...
I love making this kind of hat but it never looks good-to me or on me or anyone.........so I suggest you give it(the hat)a kiss, put a frisbee inside it and launch it next time you walk in the park! What a good use for a piece of beautiful knitting-kind of like the knitting grafitti gone free............
It's not the hat, it's the head. Not that there's anything wrong with your head, but it just isn't right for that hat. I've had the same problem. I've made a couple of hats that looked awful on me. Once I offered a hat I couldn't wear to friends and/or family, there usually turned out to be someone it looked great on. You just need to match it to the right head.
One of those "laugh or cry situations". I agree. How can something so well knitted, great colors and patterns turn out so disappointing? Personally I like it. You're a fabulous knitter.
I don't know if this is a reflection on me, but I actually think it's a lovely beret. If you don't like it, maybe donate it to a homeless shelter or something, so that someone will be able to enjoy your wonderful handiwork. :)
Gemma x x
That is too bad. The knitting is very impressive.
I have a problem with berets and stick to watch cap styles with turned up brims. I just can't get them to stay on my head.
Holy, Mole Batman - what the heck in the world can you do with that?! New age Christmas stocking???
The beret's pretty, in my opinion, so if it's not to your taste, gift it, or perhaps offer it as an item for a fundraiser.
Regarding Karen Armstrong's Battle for God, and a post from a day or two ago, I've been enjoying reading that book (and hope you have, too) and recommend it. You have to be interested in the topic (history of religion, case histories of fundamentalism), but if you are, it is a page-turner. Armstrong writes well.
Hope all is enjoyable in your new home. (That little narrow spot is not for an ironing board, is it?)
My first thought was to capitalize on the difficulty of the pattern and submit it to the county fair in your area. If it wins a prize (and it certainly easily could win a first for the detail work) you can keep it strategically placed on display with its ribbon somewhere in the living room and you'll never have to wear it, the tam being 'too precious' to wear.
My second thought was, maybe someone else would love it. Is it the size or the colors that you don't like?
I would donate it to a local homeless shelter or woman's shelter. They will love it.
I feel better. I have to say that because the two tams I've knit didn't turn out so well. You're such an accomplished knitter, it's nice to know you sometimes aren't satisfied with final results either.
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