Extreme Knitting Redhead: Done

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Done

We managed to survive the massive storm the other night relatively unscathed. More about that in another post but I just wanted to get these photos on my blog before I head out into the sunshine for a run.

I finished sewing my jumper together and I'm really pleased with everything about it. My gauge was spot on and the adjustment I made to the length is perfect. I've managed to get exactly the fit that I wanted too. Usually I think, "oh, I wish I'd done......" or "maybe I should have....." but not this time.

So here's the gallery:

Front view showing waist shaping and a generous length (I didn't want another sweater that finished just below my waist, sometimes I like a bit more length)

Back view showing the simple ballerina neckline. I had thought I might do some crochet around the neckline but I rather like the raw edge. I love the way the shadows from my arms make it look as if I've got an hourglass figure with a real waistline (in my dreams!)

Neck edge and raglan. Again, I had thought of crocheting a chain stitch along the join but I think I'll leave it.

Notes about the pattern:

Pattern: Rosehip by Kim Hargreaves from Rowan's The Summer Tweed Collection. It's a very simple and quick knit. Ideal for knitting whilst watching TV!

Yarn: Rowan Summer Tweed x 7 balls exactly.

Needles: I always use a size smaller needles for Summer Tweed as I don't like the fabric produced on larger needles. The pattern called for 4.5mm and 5mm but I used 4mm and 4.5mm and my gauge was spot on when the pieces were blocked.

Modifications: I added 10 rows of straight knitting at the start to give me just under 2" extra length. I knit the sleeves 1cm shorter than specified as I know that Summer Tweed has a tendency to grow and I didn't want to end up with arms like an orang-utan!

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Mum's Story

In 1997 my mother, then aged 81, had a series of minor strokes. Shortly after that we started to notice behavioural changes notably memory loss and confusion over everyday items. We thought it was just old age finally catching up with her. Then she started wandering and had violent mood swings. Although she already lived with us it became obvious that she couldn't be left alone for long and so I left my job to care for her. The next few years saw a gradual decline into the blackness that is 'vascular dementia'. My normally placid mum became violent and aggressive. She had psychotic incidents where she would see imaginary people (children hiding in her wardrobe, Russians sitting on the stairs, women stealing her clothes) and she would shout at them and sometimes throw things too. She was so convincing that we used to go and check that there wasn't anyone there! When my sister died mum did not know who Judy was or that she was her daughter. There came a point when I suddenly realised she no longer knew that I was her daughter and this was a terrible time for me. In the last 2 years that she lived with us, life for us all became almost unbearable as she needed 24 hour care - she couldn't be left alone at all because she would either wander off or hurt herself, she never slept for more than 30 minutes at a time during the night, she became incontinent and incapable of doing anything for herself. Finally my husband and I realised that we could no longer provide her with the care that she needed and she went to live in a special care home where the team did a splendid job caring for her in the last few months of her life. There she lived a zombified existence unaware of who she was, what she was or where she was. It was heartbreaking. She died in March 2005, the day after her 89th birthday.

Thank you for taking the time to read mum's story and I hope you'll dig deep and sponsor me using the link below to help find a way of beating this destructive disease.