Violet Beauregarde

Violet Beauregarde was the unfortunate tyke in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory who expanded into a gigantic blueberry from gorging on too many everlasting gobstoppers; and given the amount of gobbling that I have done over the past few weeks, I may suffer a similar fate if I do not reign it in. I have purposefully restricted the amount of "wiggle room" in my skirts for precisely this reason. But I am sad to discover that I seem to have a good deal of wiggle room in a few of my hand knit garments.

Last August, I was pleased with the fit of my Chicknits Ribby Shell, however, this summer brings a bit of disappointment. It could have been poor storage (or poor eyesight), but I failed to notice then how terribly the hem rolls. The middle back (left) is particularly bad. The hem could easily be reworked and blocked into submission, but instinct tells me there is no easy fix for this.

I could fit a Thanksgiving turkey or an Easter ham in there -- with room for sides! The 37" size fit just right last summer. In fact, I would say that is was sassy and slimming then, but not now. It is positively flabby and frumpy.

Hell, I am thrilled to be minus one 25lb turkey, but it is depressing to realize that the few precious hand knits that survived my fits of frogging are headed for the gallows anyway.

I know two things about my Ribby Shell: the Rowan Calmer can survive multiple froggings, and it is a quick knit. But what knitter wants to devote time and needles to reknitting all that has been knit before? I would much rather cast on for Nicole than reknit the Ribby Shell or rework the ill-fitting Molly Ringwald -- which shall henceforth be call Muu-Muu Ringwald.