A few months ago, there was Glee. I’ve gotta level with you, Glee sucked. The gaping floppiness of the non-reinforced hook and eyes was just a mistake. Between the cleavage-holes and that hot raspberry color, the sweater looked like it could only properly be worn with a leather skirt, a black bra, and a big brawly motorcycle dude on my arm.

The yarn object in Figure 39 is my Glee sweater, refinished since last fall with a lot of tweaks. It’s probably sitting out on that bush because I threw it out the freakin’ window. For interested parties who are searching for Glee modifications on the intarweb, here’s what changed:

1. I took out all of the parts of the sweater that were K3P1 rib and replaced them with a deep K1P1 rib. The bottom of the sweater wanted very much to curl when it was K3P1. Also, I think that ribbing is a little bit like plaid: to combine two different kinds in one garment requires a certain je ne sais quois that I clearly do not possess.

2. I extended the placket on one side so that it extended behind the other, and sewed it to the other side of the neck slit. (It’s not like I was every going to wear this sweater opened anyway.) If I wore that black bra under this now, nobody would be the wiser.

3. I’m infatuated with notions lately. Anything that comes attached to a tape or involves a button is for me. So now there are a couple of pearl buttons at the top.

5. Finished the sweater with one hell of a damp blocking. Last week, Wendy was musing that she didn’t know why all knits must have the same number of stitches front and back. Generally I’d agree that the symmetry is pretty arbitrary, but in the case of a sweater knit in the round there is a very good reason for it. If the and back aren’t symmetric (CAVEAT EMPTOR: THE GLEE PATTERN IS NOT SYMMETRIC, AND IT ISN’T BECAUSE OF THE PLACKET EITHER) it becomes somewhat of a bitch to block expertly.

So now it fits. Nicely, I might add. The button detail is cute. There is every reason to start liking the sweater again, except EXCEPT: Shoddy finishing at the bottom of the placket. It haunts me. If you look carefully in next April’s Magknits, you’ll see evidence of the fact that my placket skills have leveled up considerably since my initial Gleeing, but for now– ugh, I’m seriously going to reclaim the yarn and make myself a nice raspberry Hourglass instead.

On a more positive note, Rosey Grier made my week. If I could get a copy of this book, I’d probably make out with it.