![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpRt7DfmFQWtND4FOdqtqgOgU5ROTNuQTnORLfp5uInH4zZadgUBPLVoSOYImsn6VTjTHKWr3IsrNIVEI-F7moiVpsizLYyCB2YSACvFs4MRqgmEh6VYx68I8hWWCRm62A0l1XhV8r_I/s400/DSCN4649_01.JPG)
I had breakfast with You Tube on the Kindle this morning while I took a refresher course in finishing. I only finish a sweater every few years so I am always very rusty.
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As this yarn is about half acrylic, I first gave it a steam blocking as recommended by someone or other in a video. I had never done this before and I thought it was pretty cool.
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I began as you always do, with setting in the sleeves. It's tricky business as nothing really lines up or matches. I had to rip out these ugly first attempts many times.
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When I finally got the stitches somewhat to my liking, I made it to the end only to discover I had more sleeve than body. That's bad.
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I ripped it all out and lined it up again taking lots more sleeve stitches on the needle and it worked without making the sleeves too puffy.
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Sewing the sleeves and side seams together is easier if you have learned to see knitting stitches and follow rows. I can't do either very well so there was lots of ripping back going on here as well. At least the color bands matched on the sleeves so that helped guide me along.
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The colors didn't match up on the sides making it crazy hard to know where you were.
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I had to enlist the help of everything I had that would hold those long seams together. It took a few tries but in the end I managed to come out fairly even on both sides. I did notice however that my front ribbing was not the same size as my back ribbing. Jeesh. I am such a rookie when it comes to this sweater stuff.
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Sewing on that crazy shawl collar scared me to death but it went on pretty easy once I realized there was more neckline than collar. I only had to rip it back once.
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Just when I thought I was done and it was time to celebrate I realized I had a lot of weaving in of ends to do.
Modern Lodge Pullover in Lion Brand's Amazing, Ruby colorwayIt was a sunny day so I took the whole mess out on the porch and finished it off.
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The mugshot shows clearly the issue that so many others had that I learned about too late. The sleeves are too wide. Mine are also too long but I can't blame anyone for that.
The final verdict is that the sweater is ho hum but I love the yarn. I think I will save up for another sweater's worth and make a simple seamless pullover out of it.