Do you want the truth?
Do you want to see behind the scenes?
Shall I dispel the veil of ‘perfection’?
Ooooooh, yeah. Go one then.

 A number of months ago I started a little wee cardigan for Pia [all links to pattern etc in that post]. Quick, I thought. Mindless, I happened. Lacking in need of concentration I surmised. I’d have this done in no time! I’d never miss the kimono top Mr6.5st fulled accidentally and which we have missed greatly as a versatile all-round-go-with-everything top.

There are people who can’t make a muffin to save themselves. There are people who can’t make melted cheese on toast, to save themselves. There are people, I believe, who can’t boil an egg. Apparently, I can’t follow a basic pattern from one day to the next. I started this as a mindless exercise in just getting something made. It’s all garter stitch, how hard can that be! The pattern is easy – simple increases and decreases. There’s a little bit of row counting……surely my head can cope with simple row counting. I only have to count to 3. And that’s where I met my downfall. I forgot (ha!) that you loose brain cells along with the placenta. I forgot, that you loose ability to carry consistent thoughts across a period of time that is shattered by screeching, bottom wiping, dinner, sweeping, feeding and working. I forgot, consistently, which row I was on. And so determined was I that the memory I had of where I was in the pattern was indeed where I should be, that I ripped back one side 3 times – because I didn’t learn the first time. Or the second. Or the third. Here’s a tip: Rowan 4plysoft, despite being the wool of absolute choice for me for baby items and a gift from the Rowan gods, is not very forgiving of being ripped out 3 times. I am grateful, that in messing up and forgetting to do one buttonhole (see above where I mention my unfathomable faith in my memory of what the pattern says being right), I could use that piece as the underside wrap and thus hide the fact that the rowan garter stitch has gone a little askew. Nothing a good soak and press wouldn’t solve, but I know it’s there. In my defense, there were often weeks between picking this up. And doing a few rows here and a few rows there does not make for a speedy knit. It wasn’t my high priority knit, and so mistakes are to be expected. None of those mistakes affects the outcome though, and none of them alter the way the garment is worn. I have a little extra sewing…ok, a lot of extra sewing because I also decided not to do the crochet border and that I should maybe use bias binding along the edge, of which I am 10cm short of a long piece sitting in stash and therefore I need to go out and buy some. Or not use it at all. Which could very well happen. I need to readjust the button placement because it’s still slightly big on Pia for the moment, and sew on a press stud closure to the inside wrap, which would have just been a simple button and buttonhole if I had remembered to do the other buttonhole.

In the end, none of that matters. It’s a beautiful cardigan. The colour is perfect on Pia – the colour is so reminiscent of the colours around us at the moment: the drying wisteria flowers coming to the end of their cycle. The jacaranda blooms paving the footpaths. The sweet blue grey lavender which really suits her little face and makes her cheeks rosy. [And the bottle in Pia's hand? No, not Vodka, but she loves this bottle (god knows why) and it's the only thing I can give her when I take photos in her room to get her to sit still.]

Comments

[Lilbird]

Uh.

Those little cheeks. I can't stand it. And those little rosebud lips! give her a squish for me. Love the cardi.

How fun to knit stuff for your own kiddos and be able to figure the fit/color/gauge, etc. on the spot. I make mine and ship them off with fingers crossed, hoping for a photo or some type of evidence that it 'worked'. Lol.....

[Natalie]

Lost brain cells with the placenta?!? Gasp! There is an interesting book suggesting the contrary, called 'The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes us Smarter' Now, what was that link...

" title="the mommy brain">oh, here.

[Amanda]

You're so right, none of the "mistakes" matter, as the cardi is beautiful and certainly beautiful on Pia. Let's just call them "features" or learning opportunities, or tweaking the pattern just to see what would happen if you knit 4 rows instead of 3. All very inquisitive of you!

[Leah]

If this is what your pregnancy-addled brain can make and call a mistake, then I find myself convinced that in perfect health and mental capacity, you must be a freaking genius.

The cardigan is gorgeous. Like everything you make, including your sweet little girl.

Well done, I say.

xxxx

[shula]

More Pia.

More Pia.

(nice cardy)

[Melissa!]

I was told it got better - that the memory come back...my daughters are 12 & 11, I see no sign of that happening yet! ;)

[Mama Urchin]

My husband says the kids must be smart because my brain had to go somewhere. I find when I'm knitting something like that I force myself to end on the same row of the repeat so when I pick it up again I can be fairly certain where I am. No guarantee though.

[Clare]

I am 22 years old, in all ways independent, omnivorous, quite a good cook, and I cannot boil an egg.
I do not know how.

(this may because I have never in my life eaten them. but it's there. and i'm sure I could drop an egg in boiling water and remove it some period of time later... but i wouldn't know if it was cooked or to what degree).

[Michele]

i'd wondered what that bottle was. but no i didn't think you were feeding her vodka. the sweater looks adorable on her. i've yet to use a row counter but maybe santa ought to bring one to you and one to me.

[Jennie McClelland]

I was just saying at Pea Soup how i admire her post partum academic life. I had 4 children in the first 5 years out of Uni, went from a budding pharmacologist to mother of 4 with reading & comprehension highs of enjoying THEIR books only. I simply can't digest anything remotely long or boring anymore in book form. I sew, not knit, sewing can't be destroyed by child orientated interuptions & they would see wool as something begging to be run away with. Love Posie

[Sue]

Pia looks so beautiful in the garter stitch wrap. I think the color suits her too. I am sure you are the only one who will notice the changes in it as I think it looks perfect. She is growing up so quickly too, and I love the curls. Her little pants are cute too in the previous post.

[amisha]

oh, feeling this so much... i am currently re-knitting a cardi front because i knit both with no armholes. sigh. and i was so proud of them, too, till i held them up to the back and wondered why they were so short.
but all's well that end's well... it's lovely and the color is indeed so good on her.
xox