Damaged. Aren't We All?

I just realized that I wore the same outfit to my dentist for the fourth time. For me, that's pretty easy because I really only wear one t-shirt and one pair of jeans and one pair of Birkenstock's. Seems like I never go anywhere very often so it's hit and miss with the same-outfit routine. Thing is, it seems all I do is go to the dentist. Take note stay-at-home mom's with a bad tooth: If you have a cute dentist, remember not to wear your usual. And change it up once in awhile for kicks.

Worse, yesterday at the gym, I'm riding the bike like a madwoman and I start biting my lip, just where a pimple is beginning to form. Next thing I know, I have a much bigger pimple than intended. So I stop biting it and while I'm rushing to the dentist today, I check myself in the mirror and think the guy's going to think I've got herpes or something. So I make a point to tell him it's a zit, not herpes.

So I say, "Hi, if you think this little scab here is herpes, it's not. It's a zit."

"Yeah, it's a zit alright," he says.

Gee, thanks. I feel really attractive, now.

But Raspy. Raspy! Can you tell that it is really fantastic, sensational and all those wonderful things? The best part is, I unintentionally dropped a stitch smack dab in the center of the chest region and it was running, running, running, and I had to stitch it down a bit with a needle and thread, but I left a lot of the damage. Because damage is what you want with this sweater.

I changed it, though, because the pattern has the same dropped stitches on the back and the front and on the sleeves. And isn't it supposed to be relaxed and look effortlessly damaged? (Come to think of it, that's me. I'm effortlessly damaged, too.) Anyways, if you are intending to knit this sweater, you may want to "intentionally" drop stitches more randomly than the pattern calls for.

I also had to cut off the sleeves. About three inches worth. They were just too long. That dreaded row gauge got me this time because I didn't check until it was too late, but some of the commenters on yesterday's post said they got the correct gauge with the Elann Den-M-Nit. So if you want to save money and order the denim from Elann.com, just check your row gauge.

Check out the Winner's section for more pattern notes. I'm off to a dinner out. Too bad it is rather balmy. Well, "balmy" isn't the word...let's just say you could fry an egg on on the hood of my car. Or if you're wanting to go barefoot, you better hope you have McDonald's shake cups or Walgreen's bags available for the blistering feet.

Raspy will just have to wait for another day.

(Don't look for the pimple. I used a ton of cover up, and HWWV is a spectacular photographer.)

Comments

[Cheri]

Beautiful!!! And as a stay at home mom I seem to get caught in that same wardrobe routine. And really I do have more than 1 t-shirt and jeans and own several pairs of birkenstocks!

[Melissa]

Bravo, my dear!!! Raspy is smashing on you, and that dropped stitch is just a way of truly making it your own! The length is great on you.

I avoid the dentist as much as possible... at least I found one that will give me twilight sedation and gets everything done at once. Gotta love that! Therefore, I go once a year, whether I need it or not.

[heather]

You are just too cute for words.
Hope you wore those shorts to dinner.

I really like Raspy. I was worried for ya, but it's all good.
You should be called "Wonder Wendy the Super Knitter."

[Melissa]

Sorry, I have to ask... what's on your shorts? Are the sheep or pigs? And my next question if they are of the pork variety.... did you get them from MIL?

[June]

You are too cute! The sweater looks great.

[wendy]

I think they are pigs on my boxers (or HWWV's...who's counting?).

Yeah, pork. Pork all around.

[gina L]

Raspy is great! Pigtails, extra runnnnnnns, and all. Style is what you have - girl! Who cares what you wear, the style will always shine through! Where is the herpes- I mean zit? J.K.
It's like those "Where's Waldo" picture books. I can't find it! Cheers! What's next?

[michele]

The sweater is fabulous and you must be the fastest knitter on the planet! I love it.

[lynda]

Love raspy! - I'm SO glad it worked out after all! Jeans, T's, and Birkies!! - you're a girl after my own heart! It's the stay-at-home mom uniform.

PS- I was nearly laughed out of the house when I debuted my new black patent 3-strap Birkies this summer.... please say you understand...

[D R E W]

your raspy looks great! i am so jealous you have already finished.

[wendy]

Drew, you better get crackin'

[sprite]

Reading your blog and watching you finish so many projects gives me hope that once I'm done with this never-ending quilt I'm knitting as a wedding present, I, too, will be able to branch out and do fun projects -- this time for me!

[Michelle]

I've been lurking on your blog for awhile, and have been following your progress on the Raspy sweater. Love it! I had a return credit sort of burning the proverbial hole in my cyberwallet at Elann, so I ordered the Den-m-whoozit in the dark indigo color. You've enabl- er, I mean, inspired me!

Great job - it looks fab!

[Sara]

Honey! All those wonderful knit tops and totally faboo shoes and you're wearing a T and Birks?! Well, if you're not going to wear that stuff, just send it to me.

BTW, that blue color is perfect on you.

[Miz Booshay]

You know, I am one of those sad sacks who can not invision something at all!
Life is full of surprises for me.
You sweater for instance. No idea it would turn out like it did!

It's so unique and fab!
The color is beautiful!

Thank you for the photos....cause without them Raspy would look like an Irish Knit in my pathetic imagination.

Donna

[amanda]

That was the most suspenseful sweater to date! I was really on the edge of my seat. (so much so I almost allowed the two year old on my lap to squit cocoa butter all over my keyboard!) Your post reminded me... what style of knitting do you use eg, continental, do you have an opinion on the speed issue of the different techniques?

[Jennifer]

Raspy looks awesome!

[Sauniell]

Raspy looks great. It's the perfect length for that "damaged" yet comfortable look.

[Lizbon]

Raspy is fantastic. I may just have to knit it. I love the extra dropped stitches.

Oddly enough, I was at the dentist yesterday, too. They had given me an appt with their "new" dentist without telling me, and he said I have to have four wisdom teeth out (the other dentist had said I could keep them), at massive expense and great pain.

I think this new dentist is fresh out of school and trying to make enough greenbacks to retire at the age of 40.

[Diana]

Nice job on Raspy! I am glad it worked out in the end. I'll definitely pay attention to that pesky row gauge when starting mine. Also, I've been wearing Birkenstocks all summer too... to work, on dates, I make them work with nearly ever outfit!

[Skylar]

Love it! I am glad it all worked out in the long run!

[jenny]

Your Raspy is SO beautiful! What a great color on you. I've gone through the Denim People book over and over and haven't seriously considered Raspy until I say yours on you. I love it. Your speed amazes me. I'm still trying to figure out how you flick your purls.

[sarah]

It's not herpes, It's a zit! You crack me up . . .raspy is good, very good and I totally appreciate the non-uniform dropped stitches, good thinkin'! And, HWWV really is an excellent photographer, I gotta find me one of those!

[jennifer]

i always laugh my SAHM ass off when i read your posts. cheers on the raspy - looks fab!

[Rachel]

Your sweater turned out fabu my dear! I love it. Another one of the Winners circle!!