I have started seaming the Big Blue Sweater. I know I keep saying this, but this thing is really a behemoth. I have the shoulders seamed and one sleeve. I just started on the other sleeve. I am slowly discovering that I hate the finishing part of knitting. It's really funny, because...
... A few months ago, when I was at my parents, my mom got her yarn stash out and tried to pawn some of it off on me. (I did get a few good items, including two skeins of some sort of mohair blend as well as one skein of something that has a metallic thread in it.) She kept pulling out all these unfinished projects. All the pieces were knitted, but nothing was seamed. I gasped when she pulled out a gorgeous aran sweater, in a traditional cream color, with amazing cables and bobbles and all sorts of difficult knitting that was almost finished. I asked when she had knitted it and she said sometime when they lived in Minnesota. Um, my parents left Minnesota in 1969! So, it seems as though the anti-seaming gene runs in the family. I promise I won't keep any of you waiting that long for a finished project. I think I can finish my pieces before the decade ends.
While I was seaming, I was inspired by Becky, and decided to watch a movie. My selection was Amélie, which, je adore. There are so many amazing things about this movie. One of which is the art direction. Have you ever noticed that most of the movie is green and red, with an occasional bleu thown in? I also love how French it is, especially the characters/actors. They look so Gallic. Which, I am sure, is intentional.
Tonight, I also finished a few rows of the Funky Funnel-neck while watching some TV. This time I was watching a Japanese anime TV show called Magic Users Club. The show is really strage, centering around 5 high school students and the magic club they are part of. I told Fox, it's like tomacco... you don't like it at first, but then you can't get enough because you're addicted...
Do you mean to imply that one can knit *without* watching tv/movies? How curious...
Posted by: terri | 01 October 2004 at 07:55 PM
I forgot to add "nice simpsons reference" to my last post...
Posted by: rae | 18 August 2004 at 09:55 PM
I used to think that I hated seaming, but that was before I got The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie M. Wiseman. It really helped me improve my finishing skills, and now I only dislike seaming instead of hating it.
I also like to watch TV or Movies while knitting and finishing. It makes me feel less worthless for vegging out on the couch if I'm actually making something too. My new passion is audio books on the ipod. They are great when you need to pay a bit more attention to your knitting.
Posted by: rae | 18 August 2004 at 09:49 PM
As much as I hate seaming, nothing drives me crazy like weaving in all the little ends. A few months ago I finished knitting a wool/mohair blend blanket, made in 3 panels with a stripe pattern (from "The Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits") and I seamed it nicely, and started weaving in all those ends, lost interest and it hasn't been touched since Easter. I rationalize it by saying to myself "It's July! Who wants a wool blanket now?" Maybe I'll have a new blanket before the fall. Or maybe not. :)
Posted by: Jenn | 07 July 2004 at 09:15 PM
How can you do subtitles and knit?
You people are good.
Posted by: Angela | 02 July 2004 at 09:07 AM
Oh, seaming. The bane of my existence. My knitted pieces look so pretty and then I seam and the finished product looks lumpy and scary. One day I'll learn!! Although, if it runs in the family, maybe you'll be cursed forever.. ;)
Posted by: Carrie | 02 July 2004 at 09:02 AM
moi aussi, j'adore Amelie. et je n'adore pas "seaming". ;)
Posted by: carolyn | 01 July 2004 at 10:53 AM
My mom didn't ask me to seam anything, no. I was going to offer, but she has been knitting for almost 40 years, so her skill is amazing... I wouldn't want to ruin anything with newbie mistakes.
She has finished things before. A lot actually. She makes sweaters for my nephews and niece. And also makes mittens and scarves for charity.
Posted by: mouse | 30 June 2004 at 10:22 AM
Watching movies while knitting is my favorite thing. I notice I can't just knit quietly: I have to watch a movie, listen to music or read (which is rare, as I can only do it if it's a REALLY easy project). Amelie is one of my faves, too. I love how everything looks in it! An idyllic France; notice how nobody in the cafe where Amelie works actually smokes? IRL, that place would have smoke so thick you could cut through it with a size 2mm needle.
P.S. Loved the anecdote of your Mom's seaming. Did she try to get you to seam any of those projects ;-)?
Posted by: Becky | 30 June 2004 at 02:48 AM
You know, the trend in a lot of the NYC LYS's is to sell the service of seaming up the knitted pieces for the customers - and they charge a pretty penny for it! So it seems that you're not alone in your dislike for seams.
Posted by: Jon | 29 June 2004 at 02:52 PM
I love watching movies while knitting, and I think I'll have to rent Amelie -- I saw it when it was in the theatres and I loved it, but haven't seen it since then. What a treat it was. Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: Rachael | 28 June 2004 at 09:59 PM