Friday, January 20, 2012

Snow Day Knitting Confessions

It is the first snow day of the year. A delay would have done the trick. I'm not complaining.

I have been knitting. I haven't been telling you about it. Two of the granddaughters of Mr. Sophanne saw me knitting over our visit and asked for scarves. I take their color order, go to the LYS in search of color and believe that this will be a quick and easy thing to do.

I should know that when I declare something quick and easy, it will turn into slow and stupid.

Specimen number 1: Purple, Black and White. My thoughts- plain stripes are boring. I'm going to make it a chevron pattern.



Stockinette chevron is good for sweaters- for scarves, not so much. Come to find there's a back side. I knew this and kept on knitting, pretending that the back was as lovely as the front. Until I finished it and realized that when I sent it to Switzerland (where they are currently living) not only would she be outcast for being "foreign" but also for being related to a senseless knitter.

Specimen number 2: Light Blue and Purple. Triangles using short rows. All garter stitch (old dog- new trick- check) I've seen these. I know it's possible. I search for a pattern. I find one and remember how to make garter stitch short row triangles. I toss the pattern aside with an air of "oh yea, this is what I wanted." Really, what could go wrong?



Short row triangles are a viable option if you read the directions. In this case, however, adding a triangle to the right side each time results in a big old square. With an eighth of a piece missing. I realized this on Wednesday as I began the third triangle. I forgot it again on Thursday as I worked several more rows until I realized it again.

When I cook I can make as many mistakes and unfollow directions as much as I'd like to because I have no expectations and never ever ever promise to cook something specifically FOR someone else.

When this happens while knitting-especially while knitting a project that many first time knitters use to learn-, it leaves a scrunched up aggravated swirly mad black cloud just above the base of my neck and behind my right eye, torn between doing it over to do it right or telling myself that they are probably just fine with the scarves they have and the ones I was making them didn't match the hats I made anyway.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Loved the chance to sleep in today! I really like the chevron scarf. The other...I full faith that you can make it work! Enjoy your long weekend!

Becky said...

You seem to have forgotten that knitting is supposed to be FUN! Go knit something fun!

I think that the black and purple scarf is lovely, maybe line it with a pretty fabric on the ugly side?

Cindy said...

I have so much trouble with gift knitting anyway. Too much pressure. Put them away and rethink them. You don't want to send them something you're unhappy with, but I think they need a time out!

roxie said...

That short row triangles scarf is inspiring me. Are there unexplored possibilities to that construction? The reason it didn't work is that you decreased on the wrong side of the triangle.

And the chevron scarf is good colors. Maybe try a garter stitch chevron?