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11.15.2004 :: Knitting, Take 2!
Muchos Gracias!
First off, A Great Big Thank you to each and every one of you who commented to me. I appreciate your words. They really do mean a lot to me. And now, on this fine Monday morning, aren't you left with the feeling of, "Cripes, she's such a drama queen??!!"
Yeah, I know!
Knitting Outtakes~
I share with you the best of my knitting. It usually looks pretty good and I'm pretty proud to share. But what about the rest of it? You know what I'm talking about. What about the crappy knitting? Shouldn't I share that too? Well, it just so happens that this was crappy knitting weekend. And I thought I should share with you the bad along with the good. Warts and all.
Ready?
First up, Inishmore. I guess I started to feel a bit sure of myself so the knitting deity had to strike me back a couple of notches. I noticed this:
See, on the left? The 3 lines are supposed to turn in and start making their ascent to diamondshapedness? Yeah, well. Where are the lines? 3 whole rows I have to rip. That hurts. In other knitting I would just undo those stitches and knit them back up, but I don't think it's possible in this knitting. Too may twisted stitches. And I'm unclear on how my stitches should be sitting on the needle when I'm tinking them back. Any ripping advice for twisted stitch mess is appreciated. I'm afraid I"m going to make a huge pile of mess. And that would be a shame.
Shame, Shame, Shame.
Second, we have a project that you don't even know exists yet. Now you do.
This is the beginnings of the Shedir hat from Knitty. I had 2 balls of Calmer in my grubby hands and had the brainstorm that this would make a great gift. Yeah, well, this is the good side. First off, the increases were done wrong and they leave a gap. I can live with gaps. Just blissfully make believe they are supposed to be there. As a foreshadowing tip, see how the cables cross each other? Just like it was planned, eh?
Get a load of the other side:
Where the heck are the nice little crossed stitches? Not here! They have left the building. This piece of knitting is history. Literally and figuratively. I have changed my mind on the pattern. I think I will buy the Calmer Collection book and do the cap that Alison has done. So purty!
Mitten:
Yes, there's more. But I"m not going to show you a picture. Oh, okay, I am. Let me go take it ....
My decision, by the way, was to keep the small thumbystripes. And hence, I knit up on the thumb. But it was apparent to me after a couple of rounds that short thumb is not the prob. No self respecting mitten would be seen in public with a thumb that freakishly long. The mitten is short in length. It needs to be taller in the finger area. That is why the "crotch" of the thumb sits like a rapper's pants. baggy.
The plan now includes taking the thumb back to where it was before and then trying like the dickens to find the cast off, woven in end. I'm not happy about this as I'm a bit of a fanatic about weaving in. I don't want it come loose you know.
And speaking of Dickens!
It's almost time for my yearly read of Dickens, The Christmas Carol.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Posted by Sandy on 11.15.2004 AT 07:04 AM
Comments
Hi Sandy,
Oooh, knitting surgery!
yes, drop down on those twisted stitches, if it doesn't work out, then you rip....but if it does work--think of all the time saved!
It looks like you need to drop down 8 or 9 stitches all at once. You can do it--good luck!
Posted by: Leigh Leigh on 11.15.2004 AT 11:03 PM
You'll never guess what I saw when I brought up your site ~ "Sandy Does the Beach." ;)
Corn rhymes with . . .
Posted by: Kerstin on 11.15.2004 AT 08:06 PM
Hey - way to come clean on your bad knitting, it's bad, so bad, uh-huh...Oops. For some reason I just started singing that 'bad' song. Anyway, bad means good if you're 15. So you've got some stuff you want to fix? That's just because you are such an expert knitter that you can now successfully diagnose these mistakes! Way to go! I LOVE the mittens - I think they will be the beginning of a new trend.
Posted by: Mary Beth on 11.15.2004 AT 01:46 PM
Re: prior post
I spent the last week contemplating my political navel and found nothing. (I gave it up for lint).
You expressed my thoughts and feelings exactly. Such a good (drama) queen you are. You lead your pipples well.
And knit gooder too.
Posted by: marcia on 11.15.2004 AT 01:23 PM
Your projects are a sight for sore eyes. Great knittin' all the way around. And your cheery voice makes the day a little brighter.
Posted by: margene on 11.15.2004 AT 12:40 PM
Sandy, I would also encourage you to ladder down just the section with the error. Looks about 8 stitches wide? What I do is write out for myself exactly what each stitch needs to be... For example, the furtherest down row is purl x #, twist, knit so many. The row above that is a-b-c, etc. Maybe even make a mini-chart, three rows high and however many stitches wide. The trick is identifying which stitches need correction. If you need more help, I can look up this pattern tonight and walk you through each stitch.
Go for it!
Posted by: Jen on 11.15.2004 AT 12:23 PM
Sandy, your knitting still looks great. I had to laugh at your mitten though (not AT it, but with it!). And your line about "no self respecting mitten" is just too funny.
Posted by: Annie on 11.15.2004 AT 11:06 AM
I'm going straight to the authority on this one. My aunt has requested a pair of mittens (no natural fibers she said, sugguesting red heart instead!) Well, I was thinking we could do a little bit better than that. I've got some chenille I could use or maybe berocco plush. I've only made toddler mittens and while she has tiny, tiny hands, they are a bit bigger than my three year olds.
Since you are the Queen of All Things Mitten, can you guide me with a great pattern?
Thanks,
Amy
Posted by: Amy on 11.15.2004 AT 09:51 AM
Sandy, I absolutely would encourage you to drop stitches and reknit. If you take things one step at time, I promise you that you will be able to figure out how the stitches should sit.
Its only three screwed up rows. Honest, you can do it.
Posted by: claudia on 11.15.2004 AT 09:45 AM
Whoa! Fiber sensory overload here--so many wonderful projects going that I'm not sure what to comment on first. Sandy, you're one heckuvan inspirational knitter, girl! Not too shabby for a drama queen. ;)
Have a terrific Monday! xxoo
Posted by: Kim on 11.15.2004 AT 08:50 AM
Sandy I only just found the courage to drop my stitches this year with St. Brigid. What I do is block of the error on my magnetic board. Sometimes, when the yarns are cabled, other stitches have to be dropped too. So, I move out my magnets to include those stitches. I then knit one row at a time back up. It is much easier than I thought. It is definately worth giving it a shot. If it doesn't work than you rip the whole thing back. Like Leigh said, you will be thrilled with the time you save when you get it.
Posted by: Kathleen on 11.16.2004 AT 08:27 AM