Apr 19 2007

hemming and hawing

Published by Mintyfresh at 12:24 am under skirts

I finished knitting the Shocking! Skirt on Saturday. That was just shy of 2 weeks after I got the yarn. A finished skirt!

Yeah, no.

operating table

The skirt has a waistband (with elastic) and a hem at the bottom. You pick up stitches to create a turned hem in both spots. The pattern calls for you to bind off loosely and sew each band down. Oh, but I have to be fancy, right? I can’t just do it the potentially time-consuming but straightforward way. I have to fiddle. And faddle. And change my mind eight zillion times. And what do I resolve in the end?

To bind off loosely and sew each band down. Yeah, just like the pattern says.

But even that I’m not doing exactly as proscribed. Because while wrestling with the bottom hem, I stopped to actually look at it. And it looks enormous to me. It’s about half an inch deep, but that’s too much for this skirt. So I’m revisiting that. And the waistband? I bought elastic and am ready to go, but to bind off loosely enough I opted for a sewn bindoff, which is tedious over that many stitches.

*%$& hem

Crappy photos to properly depict my crappy mood about this element of the otherwise much-loved skirt.

All this isn’t even such a big issue, if I could only find the time to sit and finish up. The weather might actually get springy soon, and I won’t be able to wear this! That’s just wrong. My goal is to have it complete by the end of the weekend, at the latest. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

23 Responses to “hemming and hawing”

  1. # Knittypantson 19 Apr 2007 at 12:27 am

    Oh, I can’t wait to see it. I am seriously so excited about this one :-)

  2. # knitannieon 19 Apr 2007 at 12:57 am

    Are you serious that you knitted that in 2 weeks. You put me to shame. I am hoping on my holiday I manage to increase my knitting productivity. Not that it matters because it’s meant to be HOBBY not a job. Sometimes I wonder….

  3. # Shannonon 19 Apr 2007 at 12:59 am

    I can’t wait to see it. You could always turnup the AC and wear it inside for awhile!

  4. # pamela wynneon 19 Apr 2007 at 1:04 am

    I’ve never knit a skirt, and am weirdly excited about this one. So…
    You can do it!! Go Go Go!

    Also, what are those twee scissors you use? Do they fold up?

  5. # Stefon 19 Apr 2007 at 2:06 am

    Seeing just that little bit of edge is cruel. I can’t wait to see the rest of it.

  6. # lauraon 19 Apr 2007 at 6:47 am

    Oooh! So excited to see it! :)

  7. # Heatheron 19 Apr 2007 at 7:09 am

    I agree with the above posters that this skirt is exciting (for us!–good luck with the whole sewing thing!;)). I am such a shoddy finisher that I am in awe of anyone who actually takes the time to put a fine point on things…

  8. # Rachelon 19 Apr 2007 at 7:41 am

    It sounds like you’re over the worst of it (right?). And it’s supposed to be in the 60s this weekend…perfect skirt weather, but not so warm as to rule out a wool skirt. So sit yourself down and finish it! That’s a direct order! (At some point recently I became uberboss of the knitblogosphere. You’ll get used to it.)

  9. # Liz Kon 19 Apr 2007 at 7:43 am

    Fingers and toes crossed for you, Minty! I really want you to wear it so I can get a full report on its wear. I live in fear of ass-bagging.

  10. # Annieon 19 Apr 2007 at 8:35 am

    ooh ooh ooh! I can’t wait to see if finished. Let me know if you are around this weekend, potential outdoor knitting?!?

    I have GOT to learn how to knit faster.

  11. # Amyon 19 Apr 2007 at 9:06 am

    I can’t wait to see it. I’ve always wanted to knit a skirt.

    Amy

  12. # Jessicaon 19 Apr 2007 at 9:47 am

    Sounds interesting. Wonder why they made such a big hem? Can’t wait to see it finished! :)

  13. # Elinoron 19 Apr 2007 at 10:27 am

    Happy finishing! I hate wrangling with elastic but it is truly worth it! The skirt will surely be ok to wear for a bit longer!!!

  14. # Leahon 19 Apr 2007 at 11:23 am

    You can so do this!!! I can’t wait to see it done!!

  15. # novaon 19 Apr 2007 at 11:46 am

    I really can’t wait to see how the knit skirt turns out. It will be another installment in my vicariously living…

  16. # Penelopeon 19 Apr 2007 at 12:14 pm

    A whole knit skirt! That’s pretty impressive. And you know, I hate hemming a regualr sewn skirt, so I’m suitably blown away by the thought of you doing a knit garmetn hem and waistband. Can’t wait to see you flouncing around in it!

  17. # heatheron 19 Apr 2007 at 2:56 pm

    Hang in there, a whole knit skirt will be quit the feat.

  18. # Karenon 19 Apr 2007 at 4:43 pm

    You got it - fingers crossed!! I know you can get it done. I can’t wait to see it.

  19. # jennieon 19 Apr 2007 at 6:31 pm

    i totally understand your frustration/impatience. Hang in there — I can’t WAIT to see what it looks like!

  20. # Zondaon 19 Apr 2007 at 7:01 pm

    Oh wow! Can’t wait to see it! :)

  21. # hpny knitson 19 Apr 2007 at 7:36 pm

    go minty go!!!

  22. # frecklegirl jesson 20 Apr 2007 at 12:14 am

    Good luck with it- can’t wait to see it finished.

  23. # Claireon 21 Apr 2007 at 5:25 pm

    I love it! Now I want to make one!

    P.S. I grew up in S.F. and that Richard Serra sculpture you’re standing in was actually extremely controversial when it first arrived. Herb Caen, our then-alive columnist at the Chronicle, tried to get the whole city to hate it. I believe the original Serra they had was a wall one and not one of the spirals (which you’re in, I think), and was at the Legion of Honor, not the SFMOMA.

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