A long time in the making

@JudyEv (326093)
Rockingham, Australia
November 24, 2023 2:03am CST
I can’t remember how long I’ve been working on this jumper but it must be getting on for 20 years. It started off as something else then I unpicked it and made a jumper. I didn’t have a pattern and was worried I was going to run out of wool so it’s been put in the too-hard basket time and again. Within the last year, I’ve finished the sweater and sewn it up. It needed something to ‘lift’ it so I bought a ball of black wool to do the edgings. It still looked a bit drab so I then put the ‘V’ on the front with a few beads and it doesn’t look too bad. The photo doesn’t really do it justice. I might wear it or I might donate it. Either way, it is off my conscience and not sitting in a drawer glaring at me every time I go there.
29 people like this
27 responses
@Orson_Kart (6118)
• United Kingdom
24 Nov
20 years? It’s a good job you weren’t making a baby’s jumper. The baby would be having a baby of her own by now That’s the problem with crochet- only one needle. If you’d knitted it, it would have only taken 10 years. Anyway, 10 out of 10 for perseverance.
4 people like this
• United Kingdom
25 Nov
@JudyEv That would just be showing off!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov
@Orson_Kart You're probably right.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
You could probably knit the body of a jumper with four needles - like a sock. That would reduce the time even further!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Nov
Do it!
3 people like this
@TheHorse (206373)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Nov
@JudyEv Wear it. Duh.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
Do what? Wear or donate?
3 people like this
@vandana7 (98942)
• India
25 Nov
@JudyEv Pony is always saying things ambiguously. Sigh...eats away half of what he needs to say...sigh.
2 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Nov
That is really nice ! My goodness - 20 years in the making - you've just got to wear that beautiful sweater! I have a lot of art supplies for projects I planned to do many years ago - still haven't even started .
2 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Nov
@JudyEv That is quite a project! Did she have many diaries? My husband wants to digitize his family's very old photographs . . . there are many, many albums to go through!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov
@much2say I think I'm doing the diaries so I don't have to tackle the photos!! There are diaries from 1937, 1938 then 3 diaries from the 1950s, then all bar one from 1960 to 2005. She was 95 when she stopped writing a diary although maybe any more have been lost somewhere. Maybe the rest of the 1950 ones have been lost too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
I'm pleased it's done. Now I'm working my way through transcibing my mother's diaries - one diary at a time! I can't afford 20 years this time around.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130084)
• India
25 Nov
Atleast you finished it . I started one for my mother and finally I had to dump it I am no good with needles.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130084)
• India
26 Nov
@JudyEv I just do not like needles and I have said that already. When I got engaged my mother forced me to go for stitching classes and my then fiance was happy about it. He bought me a sewing machine which was used by him and not me for stitching curtains and stuff (lol)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov
@allknowing That's good that the machine was at least used by someone.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov
I crocheted my mother a lovely jacket once. I also made here a sleeveless jerkin which was a mix of leather patches and crochet.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17837)
• London, England
24 Nov
Sounds more like building a cathedral in medieval Europe, although they did take 100 years!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
It's amazing how long some of those places took to build. Isn't there a cathedral in Spain that still isn't finished?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov
@Ronrybs A friend wants our group to go through when it's finished but I think we'll all be around 82 by then so it's not going to happen.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17837)
• London, England
26 Nov
@JudyEv Rings a bell! Can't name it though
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85540)
• Bangalore, India
24 Nov
That does look very nice. Twenty years is way too lokh. I have one unfinished project from last seven years. I started it with full enthusiasm but then lost the motivation in between. I thought of finishing it during lockdown, but it's untouched from last so many years. You give me a hope
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov
I don't think I have any other unfinished projects which is pretty good. Such things seem to take up space in my mind. I'm glad it's now done and I can forget about it.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85540)
• Bangalore, India
26 Nov
@JudyEv I have been making this as my new year resolution from last few years to finish it, but I have not. Let's see when I will finish it. I am not sure.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov
@arunima25 Even towards the end I was putting off sewing on the black bands. I was worried they would be off centre but I think I've got it right now.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157659)
• United States
25 Nov
I have a few projects like that. Congratulations on a finish.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
It's really good that it's now out of the way. It's been hanging around way too long.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71663)
• United States
25 Nov
I think it would look really nice on you. I’m glad you got it done after all these years. Must feel like a big accomplishment.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
Thanks. I'm really pleased to be finished with it. I'll probably wear it at least a time or two.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111249)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Nov
I think it is pretty. I wish I had the patience to learn to crochet but since I'm allergic to wool and a few other fabrics I'd have to find either cotton or silk ...... and then I'd have to learn how.
2 people like this
@rebelann (111249)
• El Paso, Texas
25 Nov
I'll bet it was very pretty. Would cotton make a warm sweater? I know so little about this art.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
I have crocheted a few cotton garments before today. I had a holey tunic thing once that I used to throw on over my swimsuit. That was cotton.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov
@rebelann Cotton wouldn't be as warm but it's a better choice for little summer tops.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86833)
• United States
24 Nov
I adore that and especially as it is made by Judy and vintage..if you tried to sell it as a novelty that you took that long to make it, bet you could get quite a good price for it.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Nov
@JudyEv It is Welcome.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
Thanks for the kind words. I hadn't thought about it being vintage!
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73705)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Nov
That is so beautiful, I would say keep it and wear it,
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
I think I'll wear it a few times. It's not as soft as I'd like but over something else it would be okay.
2 people like this
@Dena91 (15915)
• United States
25 Nov
I admire your persistency on getting your project complete. It is very pretty.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
I love the variegated wool. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have persevered.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (15746)
• Raurkela, India
24 Nov
It's really a very pretty sweater. I would have bought it from you if I were staying close to you.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
That's nice that you like it so much. If we were closer, I probably would have let you have it.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (15746)
• Raurkela, India
25 Nov
@JudyEv That's very nice of you. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157044)
• United States
24 Nov
I think you did a wonderful job. I would have to wear it before I donated it! Have a great day.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
Thanks. I think I'll be wearing it at least a couple of times.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (157044)
• United States
25 Nov
@JudyEv You're very welcome.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45579)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Nov
Very nice. The black does set it off.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
Yes, it needed something and Julia suggested wearing red under it which would also lift it.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48537)
• Canada
24 Nov
I think that it is a very pretty sweater. I would wear a red dickie under it to add a bit of colour to it. I have a 'project' that I began in 1996 and have worked on it, put it away, pulled it out again and so on, but it remains unfinished. It is a cross stitch picture. It is beautiful, very intricate and lovely colours. My eyesight is not good enough to ever be able to finish it I fear. The stitches are so small, and I fear ruining it by not making small enough stitches to match. Oh the joys of aging, if only I could forget about that project.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov
I am past doing really fine crochet work now so I hear what you're saying. Even with the black bits on this, I could only do it during daylight and with a good light. I like your idea of wearing red under it.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
24 Nov
The sweater looks good! I'm glad you got it finished. I still have a bedspread that is about half-way done in a basket in my bedroom. Once in a while I'll pull it out and work on it for a couple of hours and then pack it away again. It really wouldn't take long to finish it if I just stopped playing online and settled into the work...
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov
It's taken me several weeks just to put the finishing touches to this but I'm glad it's done now. I won't have to worry about it anymore.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95648)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Nov
It looks nice. Glad you got it finished
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov
I'm pleased it's done now. It must have had a lot of moves over its lifetime.
2 people like this
• Shenzhen, China
24 Nov
The sweater looks good,you did a good job.I think you can donate it,someone will like it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov
I'm glad I've finished it. I like the black and white colours. I might keep it for myself.
2 people like this
@Beestring (13371)
• Hong Kong
24 Nov
That's a nice-looking sweater. The only sweater I've made was actually schoolwork during my secondary school. I needed my mom's help to finish it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov
We did sewing at school but my mother taught me to knit and her friend taught me to crochet.
2 people like this