I have recovered from the mitt incident though I’m not quite ready to forgive it. I’ll wait till the weekend and see how things feel then. However, I got an ominous omen last night.
I decided to finish turning the heel on the peppermint sock. I had switched back to DPNs for the heel turning and then put it back on the circular to proceed with the leg. Got the pattern established and sailed away, around and around, feeling pretty good about how I’d been able to manage things. I’d done four or five rounds and was coming around the corner (the point where you switch from one needle to another) when I saw them. They were just sitting there, three rows down in the gusset decreases - three dropped stitches.
I confess I wasn’t anything like adult this time. When I finally convinced myself that what I was seeing was actually true, I yelled and threw the damned thing across the room. Then I went into the kitchen to pout.
What’s the matter with you? You call yourself a knitter? You really should just hang it all up now. Split up your stash and needles, and send the lot of it to your friends - you know, the ones who can knit?
Fortunately, as a result of this self-flagellation, the depression waned and the anger waxed. No sock was going to make me feel this way. I’d show those stitches what for, by God! So back I went, apologized to Myria for scaring the life out of her and went back to work. As you’ve probably realized, it turned out not to be any big thing and a few minutes later I was back to doing uncomplicated rounds. I only did a few though, before I figured I’d better leave well enough alone and set it aside for completion this weekend.
Not too bad, all things considered
I was, by now, terrified to pick up the shawl (though given the nature of the mohair, a dropped stitch would probably just sit there. It might not be merrily raveling down the shawl, but it would be sticking it’s fuzzy little tongue out at me all the same). I didn’t even want to try to imagine the havoc I could wreak with the lace and the mohair. So I moved on to the scarf.
Still life with yarn
I’ve moved it to DPNs with point protectors on the ends as this thing is narrow and I like short straights for this kind of project. And I haven’t made any mistakes with it…yet. Because the fabric is reversible, I check it compulsively every couple of rows to make sure everything is where it should be and all the stitches are playing nice with each other.
This material is worsted weight, mercerized cotton. It’s not difficult to work with and it has a lovely sheen to it. But as I was thinking things over last night, I realized that I have a problem - or will have when I need to join another ball. Since the fabric is reversible, how am I going to weave the ends in so they don’t show? Any kind soul have any experience with this sort of thing who’d like to offer advice?
Anyway…
I hope you all have wonderful, mistake free weekends and remember, cussing helps!
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I’d suggest the duplicate stitch method where you follow the stitches. This won’t show up, and it seems to really hold the ends, since you are working in different directions. Check the fall Knitty’s ‘Techniques with Teresa’ for instructions.
Girlarchitect - Thanks for the mention and the reference. I’ll go and check it out. As this is moss and not stockinette, I’m not sure how it would apply, but it’s worth a shot!
It must have been something in the air yesterday. I swear that -everything- I touched screwed up, as far as yarn goes. I ripped out one project completely and am totally disgusted with another. Maybe I’ll go buy some more yarn, just to make the other (naughty) yarn feel bad.
This isn’t perfect, but what I do sometimes to make the weaving-in less visible is I split the yarn in two and then weave it in two different directions. Less bulky, less visible that way.
I usually do a russian join with cotton so there are now ends to weave in. Here is a link:
http://www.geocities.com/mama_bear_007/Russian_Join.html
I had major problems with my FBS took me many hours and lots of tinking to get the lace back on track!
Poor Robbyn. Still, your socks are looking great, despite the grief they’re giving you.
russian join usually *and* i try to always join at the edge of an item so any busyness that results will be less obvious-
bad knitting karma just happens occasionally- i’ve found that stash enhancement shopping works wonders for setting everything right when that happens- from the size of my stash, it is evident that i have lots and lots of sad knitting incidents that took much soothing to set right!
oh, those are going to be what i call ‘happy socks’- you can wear those on grey days and automatically feel cheerful just by looking down at your feet-
stay happy-
Haley - I guess it just sometimes goes that way. Hope things have improved for you!
Ryan - Now that’s an interesting idea. Maybe not perfect, but maybe right up next to it. Thanks!
Pam - Well, the little bastiches didn’t get me down for long and I really like the way they’re coming out!
Colette - I did think about a Russian join but was worried that it would be too bulky - you don’t think that would be a problem?
Barb - A nice stash enhancement expidition would be grand, but it’s not in the finances for a while :) I have stash stuff, though, that I can fondle when I’m desperate :)
Cussing helps out any situation, I’ve found. haha. I had to tink back two separate rows on the snowdrop last night, so yes, there is something in the air. Still loving those socks!
Laura - Oh, you have my sympathy. If I’d had to frog the shawl on top of everything else, I’m not sure it would still exist today :)
It is a little thicker, but it doesn’t show once you have knit with it. I hate weaving in ends so I use this and the spit splice all the time. If you find it too bulky you can try snipping a strand or two before you thread it back into itself.
Colette - Thanks for the follow up. I have a lot to mull over - and, admittedly, a little time to think about it before I need to join a new ball…which is a nice arrangement :)
ooooooooooooo I was gonna say russian join but somebody else did~ I duplicate st along wrong side on sweaters and such but scarves and shawls get the good ol russian join. If you have GOL the shawl with the rainbow colors has same thing at color changes…. Sometimes reading diff explanations help with the aha moments :^>
Elka - Thanks, I’m really not sure about that on this material but I will certainly give it a try elsewhere - it’s a valuable method. Very useful!
