“Knit a tension square!” is the cry of many experienced knitters. That way, you know what size needles to use for your project. Just because you have the same yarn as the pattern requires, and the same needles that the pattern says, everyone’s tension is different and can have wildly varying results. Oh, and measuring yourself may also be a good idea.
I saw this pattern and decided I really wanted to make it. Being a novice knitter, a garter stitch sweater seemed within my skillset.
I’m not the smallest of people so, without even thinking about measuring myself, I decided to make the biggest size.
I ran out, bought the exact yarn of the pattern, and the appropriate needle size that the pattern suggested.
And so I knitted. and knitted. And knitted. I did not do a tension square.
And this is how it came out.
A little on the large and baggy side…
And then I remembered how – when my mother did laundry, she always shrunk my favourite sweater dress a fraction every time she washed it.
So I put it in the wash. A boil wash.
And, well… it did shrink…
Lessons learned:
- Always do a tension square
- Always measure yourself to make sure you’re actually making the correct size
- Do not boil wash pure wool.
I did not knit again for about 10 years after that!
What have your biggest knitting fails been?
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