An apology

Dear Knitting Gods,

I am truly sorry. I understand that my recent reluctance to pick up the needles has completely emptied my karmic knitting account and that I must atone for my past misdeeds and lack of proper worship. I have taken steps to whip my WIP basket into shape.

First, I bought some new needles.

That's a 16" US 3 for Hubby's Hat. I'm going to double check the fit and switch to the new needles later today.


This is for the body of the Blue Baby Sweater for a co-worker. I hope to have it cast on by the end of the week.

Second, I have been working on the Oatmeal Knucks too. I finished the first and cast on the second, knitting like crazy so I could give them to the recipient (my sister) when I saw her yesterday. I finished the fingers, started the hand, added the thumb and was about 10 rows from starting the cuff when I ran out of yarn. Being an intrepid knitter and trying to avoid wasting $10 and several hours of tracking down another ball, I frogged the first cuff to finish the hand of the second and scrounged through the stash for yarn to finish the cuffs. What do you think?


This is the second incarnation of the cuff. The first had the pale orange next to the oatmeal and the charcoal as an edge. Hubby and I decided this looked better, so I am re-knitting the other cuff. These will be finished and blocked today, then mailed to my sister.

Finally, I understand these are only small steps and more atonement will be necessary to regain your trust and respect. I promise to view my WIP basket as inspiration to knit, rather than an excuse not to.

Your humble servant,
Andrea

PS- Would starting my Christmas Knitting help?

Pile o’WIP

I have had a general malaise about knitting lately. I just don’t want to knit. I look through my books and the Spring issues of Interweave Knits and Knitty and itch to cast on something new. But don’t for lack of appropriate yarn or needles. I thought it was just because of the pile of work I have been laboring under, but really, I am a champion procrastinator and knitting is an excellent way to maintain that status. So what could be stopping me from playing with my string? A long, hard look at my WIP basket yielded this:

That’s everything I have on the needles right now. (You don’t want to see the pile of yarn patiently waiting its turn.)

As I took the pictures, I realized there was something wrong with everything there.

Tangled Yoke Cardi?

Too big, have to rip and go down one size. And my yarn is from two very different dye lots, I’m going to try and hide that with the ribbing.

Hubby’s Scarf?

Miles of 1x1 ribbing. Miles.

Oatmeal Knucks?

Kitty #1 chewed on a DPN, so it’s scratchy, and I’m to the point where I have to add the thumb and then I have to pay attention.

Argyle slippers?

Still trying to figure out the gauge.

Lady Ming?

Another needle issue, one end is über pointy thanks to Kitty #3 and some sand paper. It is bugging me.

Hubby’s Hat?

The yarn is very fine and requires a US3. And Hubby has a big head. I had to cast on 200 stitches and it’s more 1x1 ribbing. On metal needles. I hate metal. They hurt my hands, so after only a round or two I have to put it down.

Baby Sweater?

Both sleeves are done but, I need the cable Hubby’s hat is on to knit the body. Which means that will also be on metal needles. Ick.

Mystery project?

This requires some hooking and more planning. I hate hooking more than planning and so it languishes.

The results? I’m surrounded by knitting, but I have nothing to knit. Maybe I’ll cast on this.

Am I Deficient? or Why can't I follow directions?

I'm one of those knitters. You know, who reads a pattern and then immediately changes something. Usually something simple like gauge or yarn or needle size starts it off. Sometimes, I go crazy and rewrite patterns for a completely different make up order or converting it from flat knitting to in-the-round. I wasn't always so willy-nilly with my knitting and it left me feeling stagnant, with no desire to pick up the needles. I have found that my off the cuff changes have made me a more proficient knitter. Which leads me to my dilemma.

I started the Baby Bolero from One Skein and liked everything about it. Thats right, I didn't want to change a thing (except, maybe to use a three needle bind off for the shoulder seams.) I'd resolved to knit the thing as written because I am knitting on a deadline and don't have the time to fiddle around with changes. I even knit the dreaded gauge swatch (and washed and blocked it) as well as bought an extra insurance skein ($13 extra, I might add). Nope, wasn't going to change a thing. Follow the pattern to the letter. The result? I'm sure you've guessed it by now.... I've had to re-knit the body twice, simply because I cannot follow directions.

Conclusion? Changing things make me think about my knitting and make fewer mistakes, thus more FO's for less knitting. Not a bad compromise, considering how many WIP's in my basket are there because somebody wants the end product...