It Tried to Kill Me

The EDS is so called because it is Elizabeth’s Daughter’s Sweater. I could have named it Hope’s sweater but I didn’t know her daughter’s name when I started it so EDS it was. It is now EDS meaning Evil Demon Seed because the sweater mocks me, it laughs at me. It tried to kill me.

I know this to be true. I was at that point where you just want the project to be over. Knitters know this phenomenon. It happens all the time. But the morning I went to start to turtleneck on this sweater. The last major part: the shoulders and arms were seamed and all that was left was the sides. I went to start the turtleneck and felt a little nostalgic. It was going to be over in a matter of stitches.

I should have known then I was in for trouble. It was Thanksgiving morning. We were going over to the same place we have gone for the last three years and love to go. It was my birthday – maybe that’s why I was feeling happy and wistful when I picked up the sweater and started picking up the stitches to make the turtleneck.

The pattern said turn the sweater inside out and pick up 100 stitches around the neck – it was way more specific about that but that’s what I saw when I read it…so. I picked up the stitches and started working in the pattern and it took a row to realize it wasn’t going to work. It didn’t line up. Had to rip it out. EDS 1 – Me 0.

Recast on the stitches and started again. Took a few rows before I realized I made a mistake. The sweater was turned inside out but the stitches were picked up as if I was working the  right side. I was doing knit 3, purl 2. But it’s a turtleneck. The collar will fold over. I have to knit the opposite. I have to Purl 3, knit 2. EDS 2 – Me 0

For some strange reason, I didn’t want to P3, K2. I wanted to K3, P2. So I turned the sweater right side out and started to pick up stitches from the private side. The time I allotted to work on the sweater had run out. I went to put it back into the bag and I thought the bag was light. I started to panic. I had lost the back to the sweater. I know I had it out but I always thought I put it back. I frantically looked around for it and started calling myself an idiot for having misplaced it.

Did you catch it? Took me another minute before I did. I heard the sweater laugh at me and that’s when I knew it tried to kill me. I put it away to let it think itself victorious. EDS 3: Me 0

When I came back to it. I picked it up. Lined up the picked up stitches and started to work and it seems to be cooperating.. I had to get some more yarn from the original pieces but I think I will be able to finish it without have to touch that last skein. Of course, now that I said that, I bet this will get interesting. Keep good thoughts.