One thing I won't get for Christmas: a shrug like the one in the insurance commercial. That project is an official knitting failure. Not that I didn't remain optimistic all the way to the end. So optimistic that I actually finished it. (Check
this post, toward the end for a link to that commercial.)
It was a bitter end, but an easy decision. I just couldn't stand the color of that last ball of yarn. Shiny and bright, it wasn't a good contrast for the subdued beige and brown. There were only two reasons I finished out the collar with that bright seed stitch--I wanted to try a suspended bind-off and I wanted to have a finished sweater to evaluate. I'm still hoping I'll figure out another approach to knitting a better look-alike shrug.
Although the clashing color was an obvious mistake, the less obvious problem was the brioche stitch. I don't think I would have tried it if I had understood the construction of this pattern, which begins with only a portion of a cardigan and relies on the collar to make up the shoulders, front and back midriff.
The ribbed sleeves and brioche stitch collar come closer to the shrug I wanted, but they don't work with this pattern.
The collar really needs the 1x1 ribbing to pull it all in, while the sleeves do not. The looseness of the collar allows the back to hang too low on my shoulders, and the sleeves are too tight, causing the textured pattern to bunch up on the arms.
Using a good portion of the brown on the back bottom edge seemed sensible. It was supposed to match the edge of the collar. Instead, it just meant that I ran out of brown and had to use rust on the collar.
Otherwise, I think finishing out the bottom and just knitting the collar around the neck and down each front would have worked. Rather than being pulled tight by a collar that runs the full circumference of the sweater, the back hangs loosely.
The shrug I was trying for has a loose back that hangs down over the hips, wide ribbing over the shoulders that continues down the sleeves, and a short 2x2 ribbed collar that extends around the neck and down both fronts.
If the brioche stitch had started at the back raglan sleeve, it would have been a better copy.
Having studied the video so much, I'm pretty sure now that she's wearing a loose-fitting simple shrug, similar to the
Streakers Shrug. However, I haven't decided if it is knit in brioche rib or 1x1 ribbing at a large gauge. Also, I have no clue why the back hangs down as far as it does.
Maybe someday I'll find a pattern that produces that shape and will knit the sweater I covet.
That's a problem for another day. Today's problem was dealing with the sweater I do have.
As it is, the collar is too loose, making it difficult to wear the sweater.
I was disappointed, but after letting this thing sit for a couple of weeks, I'm over it. I just ripped it all out. The yarn is relatively kink-free, all ready to knit again. I credit the silk blend yarn with that.
Now that I've realized that this is the exact yarn, in the exact color, used in the
Diminishing Rib cardigan, I'm optimistic again.
I'll try again, but this time I'll follow the pattern. Except I think I'd like a v-neck.
Not that I'll start it right away. Diminishing Rib was published last summer, making time for lots of other knitters to work out the kinks in the pattern. I'm studying and learning. In the meantime, I may start a sweater from that Scoop Pullover yarn. I am in the process of frogging my Scoop Pullover, and that yarn is a mass of kinks. A little wash will fix that, though. (The Scoop is a cute pattern, but empire waists do not flatter me.)
Stay tuned. I've thrown out any knitting schedule and am just knitting whatever I like, allowing myself one little Christmas present--knitting freedom.
While a lighter yarn would have shown the lace pattern better, the dark green Smooshy is a pretty color. (Too bad my camera isn't up to capturing it.) There's just enough contrast with the bits of burgundy, but not enough to overwhelm the lace. Initially, I was quite happy to have a pattern that was so complicated. At the time I started these, I needed something to balance the garter stitch shawl and the plain striped socks that were boring me. However, having over half the second sock to knit and only a couple of days before Christmas was a bit too much complication. My holiday schedule didn't allow much solitary knitting time. I finally grafted the toe Christmas morning, gave them a quick block before the fan, and gifted them that afternoon. Whew! 
