Flaws
There is no such thing as perfection.
Flaws are inherent in everything.
Including button selection.
As soon as I posted about having found the right buttons - buttons which I had decided upon at the beginning of the project - I began questioning their rightness. And a bit of soul searching about the intrinsic qualities of button perfection, or lack of. And a resulting decision that there never would be a perfect button for this [the only photo I can find of Habu Kit#70 being worn], and that would be ok. So instead of perfect black horn elliptoids, you will see rectangular mother of pearl shards.
And they nestle amongst the drapes and folds of my little cocoon, as someone so kindly referred to it on a photo on flickr. They hug the upturned collar closed, they hold the reverse stocking stitch overlaps together, and they add a slight difference of balance to the long sinews of arms and pull of fabric weight. They are exclamation points on grey.
But this is a post about flaws. About the unattainable. About the way the process ends up in a completely different place to that which you thought it would lead. The things you thought would be wrong are ever so right and lovely. The wool, oh the wool, how I love it! The long thin drawn out sinews which are arms, that gently arc under the armpit and float down the side. The soft caressing collar. The things you thought were predictable, ended up being temperamental. The width exaggerated and a desperate need to pull it in - a point I knew about through knitting but needed to have it done and sewn to understand it's full effect and see how the fabric would pull down on the body. Don't misinterpret - it looks great, it feels great, I just want it to look Better Than Great.
Perhaps it just needs another look at where and how the buttons work.
Perhaps it needs altering.
That was really, really, fast, and you might actually, instead of altering (sewing? really?) think about knitting it again to your specs. Is that a crazy idea?
Posted by: carlene | October 21, 2007 at 10:29 PM
It is really lovely, even if it doesn't fit as you would like. Is it too boxy?
the yarn is gorgeous.
Posted by: martha | October 22, 2007 at 02:20 AM
i can't comment on how it looks|feels when worn, but it does look gorgeous in this picture - i love the color, the folds, the shadows...
that being said, it's better to experiment with the button placement or consider how to 'alter' it, so that you are entirely happy with it :: then it can truly be a safe, comfy little cocoon for you to wrap yourself in :)
Posted by: ali | October 22, 2007 at 04:23 AM
speed knitter, girl, i tell you! i'm with ali, the picture looks fabulous and i just love the colour & wool texture. stunning. [this will probably be next on my 'habu list of love' to make!]
Posted by: kirsten | October 22, 2007 at 07:58 AM
Wow, that was fast, so good to see it finished!
Will we get to see it at SSK for a full appraisal? :)
Posted by: Carson | October 22, 2007 at 09:42 AM
it looks fantastic on the hanger.
interested to see what it looks like on you.
the fashion magazines are showing sweaters belted this year. even prada sweaters. on me this would look silly as i don't have the right shape for it. it might work for you though.
Posted by: michele | October 22, 2007 at 10:40 AM
I think things only look Better Than Great in our minds, or perhaps in someone else's eyes. To us, we can always see the flaws, the room for improvement...
Posted by: greenolive | October 22, 2007 at 01:21 PM
i think it looks lovely...
Posted by: joyce | October 22, 2007 at 01:52 PM
I love it :)
Will you be modeling it as well? I would love to see more photos!
-Kent
Posted by: Kent | October 22, 2007 at 11:52 PM
I have zillions of buttons and spend a lot of time going through them, checking out all the possibilities before making the final decision. This is a lovely piece and while I'm not a perfectionist, the details can make or break it. Of course, you know that!
How about lining the buttons up in a vertical row calling more attention to the folds? Maybe 2 larger buttons?
Posted by: Diane | October 23, 2007 at 12:08 AM
hmmm... it is truly lovely on the hanger... but i agree with your other comments that you must model it, shy one, for a full evaluation :)
xoxo
Posted by: amisha | October 23, 2007 at 11:40 AM
That was fast! And on the hanger, it looks better than great...
Posted by: Bel | October 25, 2007 at 12:00 PM
I love it and wish, yet again, I could knit. I love the colour, the way it hangs and you finished it so quickly.
Posted by: Julie | October 26, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Perhaps you should just give it to me.
Posted by: shula | October 29, 2007 at 03:46 PM