I read blogs where people talk about liking a particular pattern because it presents a challenge. I confess with some small embarrassment, that I sometimes avoid challenging patterns. Often it’s because I want to work on something with techniques I already know how to do - either because it’s something I need to finish quickly (like a gift) or because I want some comfort knitting.
But sometimes it’s because I’m afraid I won’t be able to master the technique and don’t want to spend hours of frustration trying to figure it out.
One of the things I have been avoiding up until now, is any pattern that had an evil yarn-over, that being defined as a yarn-over that occurred between a purl and a knit stitch. I have tried it before (incorrectly) and wound up with a bunch of muddled eyelets, neither crisp nor clean and looking like a drunk spider had attempted a web in their interiors. Not good :)
You all remember that on Monday I was moaning about having fallen for Persephone’s Socks but not being able to easily get the pattern. Well, Monday evening I received a note from Sue, reader and occasional commenter. She had the pattern, but didn’t think she wanted to make it, and was therefore passing it on to me.
The kindness of people continues to amaze and, sometimes overwhelm me. Thanks again Sue - most thoughtful and most appreciated.
Aside: Is it always the case, when ordering patterns, that the shipping costs are seemingly ridiculous? I’m not accustomed to mail-ordering patterns so when I saw a $6 shipping charge for a $5 item, I nearly swallowed my tongue! Would the shipping price remain the same if I ordered, say, 5 patterns instead on one? Those of you who do obtain patterns through the mail, how does this work - or how have you worked it out so that you’re not getting soaked with an absurd shipping charge?
Of course I immediately sat down and read through the pattern, looked at the charts, determined yarn and needles and cast on. Got through the ribbing in fine style and then began the leg pattern only to run into my dreaded nemesis - the evil yarn-over!
Well, I didn’t let it stop me for long and did eventually figure out how to manage the things so that the eyelets actually looked like eyelets. It took a few pattern repeats, but, at last I got the hang of it. I suppose I could have ripped back to the ribbing to re-do the pattern repeats that I was learning on and which are, I’m afraid, a little lame looking :) A better knitter certainly would have. But I kind of felt that I wanted their presence as a reminder of the learning process. Working those eyelets helped me to figure out how to work better eyelets and I felt they had earned their place. So they stayed in :)
There will be more techniques to master as I go on - this isn’t a standard sock. But you know, I feel that I can manage whatever this pattern wants to throw at me.
I’m up to the challenge :)
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*grin* Of course you’re up to the challenge! A yarn over is nothing more than that. One little hint… if you have a purl stitch after a knit stitch, simply knit the knit stitch, then purl the purl stitch with the yarn still in the knit position. It automatically carries the yarn over the top of your needle, making a…... wait for it…........ yarn over. ;)
It works the other way around too. If the yo is after a purl stitch, simply knit the following stitch without bringing the yarn to the back as you would to knit the stitch. Another automatic yarn over.
Love the yarn, btw! Gorgeous colour! And pretty pattern, too. I’m looking forward to seeing how the socks work up.
I think I would ask if the shipping for one pattern could be reduced to actual cost and see what happens. I read on some pattern site that shipping for one pattern, without other purchase, would be $1.00. It depends on how many pages, if it has a sleeve protector, etc., but a single pattern should NO WAY cost $6.00 to ship!
Nice sock, btw!
i think some sites offer one-price shipping and handling fees regardless of the size of the order, but there are others that increase the shipping fees incrementally with either the number of items or the purchase price- my semi-fixed rule is that if the shipping fees exceed the price of the item, i *usually* avoid the purchase (note the leeway for avoiding a hard and fast rule there!!)-
love those socks- the pattern pic shows what must be an interesting heel construction for fitting on the foot- the methods for yarnovers that ev gave are what i’ve always used without problem- i have a feeling she worked it out by careful thinking and knowledge- i just stumbled across it because i wasn’t aware that there was any other way to do it until after i’d knitted for years-
stay happy-
You were definitely up to the challenge and you did wonderfully. I do know what you mean about avoiding new techniques. Sometimes you just want a knitting project to soothe your soul not aggravate your being. :)
I’m a UK resident; and I’m a great fan of downloadable patterns. I’m not stuck with a flar rate ($9/$11) Priority Shipping envelope which would hold another 20 patterns for the same rate; if it’s a PDF I can print it out onto A4 paper and put it into a binder I can actually buy (most of the shipped ones have three-hole pockets for binders which are unobtainable here); and I can have it *now*. As a librarian working in publishing I’m I know there are issues with file-sharing; but I also know I have to think a couple of dozen times about buying a shipped pattern, while I’ll make an impulse buy of a download - so maybe the designers do make a little more even if a minority of people are dishonest?...
That sock yarn is GORGEOUS. And good for you for tackling one your mental blocks. I am still luxuriating in my liberation from one of my own mental blocks. And as for the cost of shipping, many places have shopping carts that automatically add what look like huge shipping costs, but that is reduced when the shop owner sees s/he is only shipping a pattern. That is what Sheri does at the Loopy Ewe, and I think that’s Mary Moran’s policy at the Knitting Zone. If I can’t find that on the website, I tend to email the store, saying that I was going to order a pattern but the shipping cost more than the pattern did. At that point they usually tell me they have different shipping rates for patterns. But oh man do I love PDF downloadable patterns. Instant gratification!!
Ev - While I was sitting on the porch this morning waiting for my father to pick me up for lunch, I worked on my sock, trying the method you recommended.
It took me a couple of pattern repeats to get into the swing of things but it worked beautifully :) I can’t imagine why it didn’t occur to me to even try it that way!
Thanks for the tip 
Kathleen - I must admit, I thought $6 was a little steep - but if it might be negotiable, well, that would be worth looking into!
Barb - I am looking forward to the rest of the sock as both the heel and the foot are different that I’m used to. If I understand the pattern correctly, the arch is shaped to give your foot a nice little “lifty” feeling and if it works, I think this would be seriously comfortable!
I also, do not plan to pay more for shipping than for the desireable item - but - I would never make a flat statement to that effect. There would be no surer way to attract the attention of the gods who would then throw a pattern in front of me that I could neither ignore nor live without. It would only be obtainable by post and the shipping would exceed whatever the price was - probably by 1 cent :)
Opal - Thanks :)
“...project to soothe your soul not aggravate your being…”
Perfect description, Words to live by, baby!
Liz - I definitely like the idea of downloadble patterns. Yes, digital media is relatively simple to duplicate, but it ain’t that hard to make a photo-copy either. And I refuse to buy a pattern printed on paper so dark, I can barely read it!
Your point about potentially infinte delay over paying a ridiculous postal charge as opposed to the potential impule purchase is a good one, I think. Certainly I would feel that way :)
Rob - That’s a great technique - letting them know you were interested in a pattern until you saw the shipping cost. I have to remember that :)
And I agree that the instant gratification of a downloadble .pdf would be unbeatable. It almost makes me afraid to try it that way - I’m impatient enough as it is :)
