knitting is a hereditary disease

Getting bucked off a horse (repeatedly)

Posted on 12/13/2007 by Andrea | Comments (3)
Filed under : Knitting

, originally uploaded by AMK.

It's been kind of a bad knitting week at the Casa de Andrea. Last Saturday, I planned on having a big finishing party. I was going to seam Brad's St. Mawes. I was going to add the green buttons to the Yarni Cardigan. I was going to finish Mystery Christmas Knits #1.

Instead, I realized I had only blocked one piece of the St. Mawes sweater, so I was going to have to block the rest before I could seam anything. I did almost completely finish Mystery Christmas Knit #1, which was the highlight of the day, but didn't get around to the last step of it. But instead of finishing anything at all, I started a Ballband Dishcloth and I started some fingerless mitts, both intended to be quick gifts.

The first mitt knit up quickly, but on the second one I got cocky with the cables. Before I knew it, I was halfway done with a cable that didn't match the first cable in the least. Cables were passing under each other where they were supposed to go over each other, and vice versa. It looked nothing like a braid. Maybe a 3-year-old's attempt at a braid. Interesting in its own way, but nothing at all like the other mitt.

So out it came.

The second time through, I paid extra attention to the cables, but then halfway through I put the second mitt next to the first mitt and noticed I had too many cuff rows on the second. The cable didn't start in the same place, and it was very obvious.

After a nice calming walk around Barnes & Noble to try to cool off, and despite the pain of it, I ripped it out again. Not such a quick gift knit anymore. But I got back up on the horse again and I think it's headed in the right direction this time, so I should be done with this one soon.

It just hasn't been a smooth week for me, and that's reflected in my knitting. Work has been difficult, I've had a back ache, and I just haven't quite been at my best. I had plans on Tuesday and Wednesday that I skipped out on just to try to get some down time. I have high hopes for things turning around for me today. Dinner with a dear friend tonight and then the felted clogs class will make everything all right.

3 Comments

I'm sorry this project (this week) has been such a trial. But somebody is going to really love those mitts, and then it will have been worth it!

- said Mom (12/13/2007, 9:55 AM)

Ack! Sorry to hear about your week, but those fingerless mitts are FABULOUS! I simply must make a pair. I followed the link in your blog, but can't seem to find any information about the origins of the pattern. I even tried poking around on ravelry. Can you please share the source of this beautiful pattern? Thanks!

- said kiltmama (12/13/2007, 9:55 AM)

Thanks, kiltmama! I changed the link so it goes to the right place. The pattern is from the book The Knitter's Book of Yarn, but the publisher has excerpted that pattern for free on their website: http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/pottercraftnews/nov07/pattern.html

- said andrea (12/13/2007, 9:55 AM)