When I think back over all the things that I have crocheted, there are only a few that have not worked out. Of course when this happens I am frustrated, mostly by the time and effort that went into a failed project, but if I am honest with myself, I always learn a very important lesson from these blunders. Lessons such as: stitch markers are very helpful when crocheting in the round; the difference between a US treble and a UK treble is quite important to the final size of a granny square; dye lot matters. All very important lessons, and an important part of my creative practice.
This weekend I finished my
Harlequin Shawl and when I tried it on I discovered that it is too small for me. It barely comes together in the front and it is too short in the back. If I am not holding onto it, it falls right off my shoulders.
Such a shame, especially since this was a very finicky pattern - I ripped out multiple rows multiple times before I got it just right, which is not always fun. Plus, the edging finally worked out and it is so pretty.
But alas, a too small shawl that doesn't stay on is not really practical or useful; my shawl is just one of my projects that did not work out.
I could rip the edging completely out and make the shawl bigger, but I just don't have it in me, mainly because this was not the most fun pattern to work with and I don't really want to do it again. When I think about what might have gone wrong, I am sure it has something to do with the gauge. I am almost certain that I checked my gauge when I
began this project, but truthfully that was so long ago that I can not exactly remember. Maybe I skipped this very important step - the finished too-small-shawl certainly hints at that - who knows? Lesson learned: check gauge.
What will become of my shawl....well, I am going to give it to my girls to put in the dress-up bin. It will work perfectly as fairy wings, a royal cape, a skirt, princess hair, a dragon harness...or whatever else their imaginations conjure up.
What projects of yours did not work out? What did you learn from your blunder?
I'm joining in the Winter Project Link Party at Thistlebear
Hi Rachel, I love that last photo of you. Your face says it all, "I tried and it didn't work out. Onward and upward." :) I think your girls will love playing dress-up with it. I've had many crochet failures, especially the ones I made before there was such a thing as a crochet blog to learn from, or YouTube videos to watch. There were some really hideous experiments back then and they're not all perfect today. I'm still a work in progress, just like the crochet. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true, Jennifer. I think all we can do is learn and keep going. And have fun as we go!
DeleteSuch a shame but it will be an amazing dress up shawl :-)
ReplyDeleteIt has already been put to good use. There are so many things that a shawl can become when you are a little girl with a wild imagination.
DeleteI know your girls will have fun with your shawl. It is lovely. I've had plenty of not exactly right projects. If the project turns out perfect or not as planned it's all a lesson of some sort. Have a nice weekend, Lisa.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Lisa. No matter how a project turns out, you always learn something.
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