Fear of Finishing

After nearly a month languishing in pieces, my Minimalist Cardigan is done.

The seed stitch pattern itself was rather soothing, it was seaming the seed stitch that made me seethe.  There's really nothing more to say besides it was not fun. 

The process also brought on a minor revelation about my overall feelings about finishing.  I've come to think about it as a knitterly day of reckoning. 

It's easy to imagine the perfect sweater when its disparate parts lie strewn about in sleeve, side panel, and back shapes.  In pieces, a sweater still holds its full potential.  I can imagine it to be perfection personified (or sweaterified?)  However, once the seaming starts, I face a persistent "what if?" refrain that introduces images of a sweater that is too big or too small, with lumpy seams and a saggy loss of shape.  It doesn't matter how much I've planned, swatched, or prepared, this fear settles in at the end of every project.  Finishing introduces the possibility that the reality won't live up to the fantasy. 

Thankfully the minimalist cardi turned out well.  The ribbing at the sleeve cuffs is a little baggy, but nothing I can't live with.  More photos and details are up on Ravelry.  For now, I'm free of my fear of finishing.  At least until I get to seaming my next sweater!

Comments

[Eliza]

I think you hit the nail on the head.

I hate finishing too, esp since sometimes there ARE problems that appear and then it all has to be taken apart and fixed. I'm currently (slowly) knitting my first top down sweater and I really love how there will be no seams. I may find top downing rather addictive.

[Sara]

Love it - color and simplicity. Although seed stitch seaming indeed sounds cumbersome :)
Happy New Year !!