That title should have got some of you going. I know that there are an awful lot of Rowan Calmer fans out there. People who have knitted Audrey, Elspeth, Maris and more.
But not me. I offically dislike Calmer. I've tried to like it, really I have. I mean I have stash in Calmer. But I really dislike Calmer and shall, from now on, be keeping away from the stuff.
Why, you ask? Well remember that ages ago I knit Iris from Rowan 35 in Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora? Well I decided that I wanted another one in Cream to go with some of my summer dresses and to wear at my friend's wedding this summer. So I thought I would make it in Calmer seeing as that's what it's meant to be knitted in.
Now I had a run in with Calmer a few years ago when I cast on to make Audrey and found the yarn really elastic, my tension was all over the shop, so I threw it aside in disgust. But this time I thought that I am a more mature knitter. My tension has changed as I hold my yarn differently from how I used to so I should be fine.
So I cast on with the Cream Calmer. And thought it looked rather nice. And yes, I did swatch and I was fine.
I did think that it looked a little bumpier than I would normally like.
But I figured that it was just a case of giving it a good blocking and it would be fine. So I jauntily knit away and got both sleeves done. And then for some odd reason I thought that I would block them before casting on the fonts and back to get that out of the way.
That's when I discovered this:
And no, it's not because of how I took the picture:
Yes, I am out by nearly 2 inches between the 2 sleeves.
I'll admit that I had had sneaky suspicion this might happen just because of how elastic I found the yarn felt. But I am most upset by this. What a waste of knitting time.
I am off to knit hats for Innocent and Age Concern. I have yet to mess one of those up.
Posted by Amelia at June 19, 2007 08:14 AMOh, what a shame! I have knitted with Calmer & also didn't like the elasticity of the yarn but thank goodness, it was just a little bag. Thanks for your nice comment on my blog.
Posted by: Ann at June 25, 2007 01:28 AMOh no! What a disappointment.
Oh no!
I am a lurker on your journal normally.
That would royally tick me off. I to would have set it alight and probably made smores.
Posted by: Kristen at June 22, 2007 01:13 AMThanks for the review on this yarn. I have not knit with it and was considering it for the Elspeth! I think I will find something else!
Posted by: Adrienne at June 21, 2007 02:39 PMUgh - I hate it when that happens. Good idea to knit something else instead!
(I'm not that keen on Calmer either - just don't enjoy the feel of it.)
Posted by: Anita at June 21, 2007 02:37 PMI like Diane's idea of a bonfire - you must be really frustrated. And I bet Rowan are oh so helpful!
Pity because it is a lovely pattern. Don't worry Amelia, you make so many beautiful garments.
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah at June 21, 2007 09:51 AMDelurking to say...Oh, thank goodness, I thought it was just me! I tried to make Iris two times out of black Calmer but just didn't like it at all. Thank you for validating all my problems. I finally frogged it and have it sitting in my stash.
Posted by: Jane at June 21, 2007 03:03 AMSorry to hear that your project did not work out Amelia. I know how that one feels. I just frogged a very large project myself.
Posted by: Maggie at June 20, 2007 08:15 PMThat sucks big time. How annoying to have spent so long knitting something and it come out like that. I can't believe that it ended up with that much of a difference. I shall stay away from the yarn, methinks.
Posted by: Laura at June 20, 2007 08:13 PMmmm...enough to discourage anyone, surely. but i have to agree, it's the yarn....i ended up frogging a sweater to use it more wisely as a baby blanket.
by the way, wondering if you ever purchased Joy.......which i was hoping to vicariously enjoy through your knitting !
Posted by: barbara at June 20, 2007 12:52 AMWhat a bummer, as they so aptly say! You're not the only one who gets rowing out with certain yarns. And your post is a salutary lesson to knit both sleeves at once.
Forgive me for being a little insensitive to your predicament here, but are you certain sure you didn't use different needle sizes for each sleeve?
Posted by: Mandella at June 19, 2007 10:58 PMWell, if you want to destash Calmer, I will be happy to trade you some Debbie Bliss. And thank you for reminding everyone to check their sleeves to make sure they are the same. I use my sleeves as a gauge swatch so I generally come out even.
Posted by: Mia at June 19, 2007 07:52 PMWhat a pain...my calmer "nothing but a t" stretched out like crazy. I'm planning to pull it apart and make something in a size too small for me hoping to get an eventual fit.
Posted by: Vicki at June 19, 2007 07:29 PMI'm sorry calmer has given you the run around. It's one of my favourite yarns because of it's elasticity. I think Dawn is right. Leave it for a while and go back to it. It would be a shame to waste all of that knitting time.
Posted by: Johanne at June 19, 2007 06:10 PMOh-oh no good, that is. true, the elasticity of the yarn doesn't make it easy. I didn't compare my sleeves - maybe I should, now that you mention they could be different. :-)))
Posted by: Stéphanie at June 19, 2007 05:09 PMOh no! I love Calmer, although I admit one does have to be aware of its elasticity. What an annoying outcome for you.
Posted by: Mary at June 19, 2007 03:45 PMi actually did manage to mess up an innocent hat. i hope the person who buys it doesn't have a clue about knitting.
send me all your calmer! pronto!
Posted by: kris at June 19, 2007 01:54 PMOuch! Personally, I'd be considering a bonfire ceremony but perhaps you could just frog and donate the yarn somewhere far, far away ;-)
Posted by: Diane at June 19, 2007 12:59 PMoh i know what you mean, i love and hat calmer all at the same time! honestly when i was knitting the iris, i found that my left front and right front did not match up in length. but instead of blocking, i just stretched the shorter one out and it was fine. i think, as long as you have same stitches length and width wise. a bit stretching should work? but from your pictures it does look v. off.
Posted by: blossom at June 19, 2007 12:26 PMOh no! I haven't had problems with Calmer yet (making Lotte from Rowan Studio). Does Rowan have any advice? Good luck sorting it out - I think it would look gorgeous if you perservere.
Posted by: Carol at June 19, 2007 12:09 PMWhat a shame!... I must admit I knitted two cardis (Chicago and Air) in Calmer and loved it. But when I tried to knit another Chicago, somehow I couldn't get the tension right!
Posted by: francoise at June 19, 2007 08:52 AMThat's terrible! Are you absolutely sure that you didn't switch needles/sizes? I've heard about how people's tensions change, but this is remarkable! Maybe put it aside for a few weeks and reknit one of the sleeves? Or is this completely out of the question?
Posted by: dawn at June 19, 2007 08:43 AMOh, poor you!! Personally, yes, I love Calmer - destashing?? ;) And Iris, incidentally; now I'm wondering if I have that magazine in my library...
Posted by: Alison at June 19, 2007 08:42 AM