Exactly

As knitters, we are risk takers. Although we have a pattern, and that pattern suggests yarn, and gauge, and all that good stuff, we take the chance that our own particular way of knitting, and our selected yarn, won’t turn into the project exactly as we hoped. Then you throw pattern errata into the mix, and hopefully, you’ve discovered it before it’s too late. But even then, mistakes happen, yarn runs out, differing dyelots were accidentally purchased, and we wonder why we even tried in the first place. If you’re a knitter, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Exactly. We’ve all been there.
But now, I’m in a new place. Someplace I’m not all that familiar with. Most of you know I started knitting the Slouchy Cardigan at the end of January. A pattern that calls for DK or Sport weight yarn, and I chose to use lace weight, doubled. A pattern that calls for knitting miles of stockinette, a trial for the most dedicated knitter, and I chose to knit it in black. A black so dark that the two strands of Malabrigo Lace often seemed to vanish into the night. A pattern that has so much errata published, yet every knitter on Ravelry who’s made it continues to note the issues with the sleeve caps. This was not exactly the best pattern for me to choose to tackle to have the sweater completed in time to take to Italy.
Except – I had a vision. I saw the pattern, and I knew it needed to be black. I felt the soft drape of the Malabrigo before I even purchased it. I knew it would be perfect, and I envisioned exactly how it would fit, how it would feel, and how it would look before I cast on the first stitch. I struggled with knitting only black stockinette for 7 1/2 weeks. I struggled with not first modifying the pattern for the sleeves, and ended up knitting a third sleeve. I pressed on. I knit on. I slacked on blog posting and every spare moment belonged to the knit. I had an idea for modifying the sleeve caps that no one had done before, and entered that uncharted territory not knowing if I would have to knit a fourth sleeve, or if I’d be able to finish before the trip. Thankfully, it worked, but I still worried that I’d not increased enough stitches for the sleeves to fit comfortably, and comfortable is what the slouchy in the Slouchy Cardigan is all about. I knew exactly how I wanted it to feel.
I finished the third sleeve Tuesday night, and started seaming. I seamed Wednesday night before choir, and asked fellow knitters for prayers that it would fit. With one sleeve partially seamed, I slipped my arm in and had a sickening feeling that it was going to be just a little snugger than I’d hoped for. But I kept going. I seamed Wednesday night after choir, staying up late to finish, and wove in the last end. With a little sense of melancholy that it was finally finished, for better or worse, I stood up, and slipped my arms in and pulled the dangly fronts around me. It fit! Perfectly! I ran to the mirror and stared. It looked exactly how I’d envisioned it. It fit exactly how I’d hoped. It felt exactly as I’d dreamed.

Exactly. Sometimes, things do turn out exactly as we hope.

And, as an added bonus, it doesn’t hurt that I look a little like the Sith Lord, my alter ego, DarthKnitter. Do not underestimate the power of the dark side.
Exactly.