If At First You Don't Succeed: Rainbow Top

Sometimes we start off a project with the best of intentions, and it just refuses to do what we want. My Rainbow Top was that sort of project.

I started with a pattern, but soon realised it wasn't going to work properly at all. The pattern was made for the small-busted, and that wasn't the figure I needed.

I... don't like the way the straps work. Way too thin and will dig into your neck, and for a larger bust it'll need more support. Time to improvise. 

-- Project Notes

I was trying so hard to make this top work. Eventually I ended up frogging nearly the entire piece, which is when I started to lose my patience in my notes.

Officially abandoned the pattern and set out on my own. ... The amount of frogging I have done....it hurts to think about how many times I've re-crocheted the same length of yarn.... 

Now for the bottom. I'm thinking single crochet. Also I'm thinking that apparently the way I learn shaping is to cry a lot and frog a lot. Why.

--Project Notes

 I took that photograph just to commemorate how frustrated I was, because I had worked so hard to get this to work, and I was going to make it happen.

And I did! Sure, it took about all night, but the next day I had an update:

All finished except for weaving in ends! Waiting for the steam-blocking to dry.

--Project Notes 

While I don't think I'll ever have this particular project be my favourite, I remember it because it was the product of so much determination, and I learned so much from the experience. Even the most exasperating project can be worthwhile in the end.

Improvement Notes:

Knitting is a constant learning process. These are my notes to help me grow and improve my skills - feel free to ignore, or learn with me!

Crocheting patterns are very sensitive to shape, and while tension around a form can do a certain amount of shaping, there are limits. Pay attention to the proportions of the models used by a pattern designer, because if you're not the same shape, you may have to modify.