{pretty}
I really got myself in deep with them, by the way. My very capable friend Nancy, a lady who has the ability to grasp the underlying structure of a thing (anything, really) and reproduce it according to her specifications, encouraged me to do the cables. But, turns out I have trouble predicting when it's cabling time (although I did figure out how to cable without a cable needle) — until it's too late.
I think you can imagine that the socks were not the same length, really, at all.
After tearing my hair out for a while (the socks were supposed to be a gift for Rosie), I actually found a sweet and darling Ravelry member who had the same yarn in her stash! And was willing to sell it to me for a very reasonable price! And when it arrived, I saw it was actually the same dye lot — something I just didn't have it in me to verify before buying.
However, there was no way on earth for me to make sure that these two pairs of socks are really and truly the same length, what with the cabling. (Which should result in easy row counting — count cables, right? If you are super careful to do them every fourth row consistently, which I'm not able to.) Which is the kind of thing that drives me insane.
So wear them a bit scrunched, Rosie. That's what I do.
There's more, though.
Let's take, for example, the little project you were wondering about in this post. I was making a cowl. One ball of pretty, bouncy yarn, one set of needles in the round, a long car ride… what could go wrong?
I do feel better, but I sort of make a hash of that lace.
{funny} (me, because in hindsight, this isn't all that bad)
The view out of the terminal window. Not California yet. |
When we land in Baltimore and find out about our missed connection to San Diego, I joke to Phil that as I am negative two rows from when we left our house, I'm good to go. He really doesn't think knitting is productive; it appears to him that you are simply passing the stitches from one needle to the other, and this information about my rows confirms his suspicions. He expresses this to me, but is happy that I am occupied.
I refrain from suggesting that knitting might improve his mood as well.
I work on it on the way home as well, forcing her to rejoice with me when I complete a row of lace with no mistakes. She is patronizing. “Very good, Mom!”
You know the tone, because you use it yourself when your four-year-old does something obvious and well below his developmental stage. “Good job!” I make sure she is reading when I find that no, the row had a mistake after all, and must be ripped.
Now I am at work on something else. It should really be a matter of a few hours, this project.
Unfortunately, I have proven to myself over and over that I really cannot even handle so simple a task as knitting two stitches together at the beginning of a row and adding one stitch at the end. (A net difference of zero, in terms of stitch count. You end up with the same number of stitches that you started with, only, the shape becomes a nice zig-zag when you alternate it over a number of rows. In theory.)
{happy}
It will be a baby cap, I hope. Fingers crossed. |
You can see how it would wreak havoc on your pattern if you forgot about that “resting” row and tried to impose your trickiness on it. You can see how things would quickly get out of whack.
I make bread and it's good bread — I don't undo it!
I do like knitting.
I really do.
I'm just not very good at it.
Sarahlcc says
Annnnd this is why I don't knit, much, but I do crochet. That whole 'counting stitches' thing is easier for me with the crochet hook. Not to mention since I grew up doing it, I can now freehand and be creative and such. Can't do that with knitting, yet. I haven't given up hope, you see!
My mom actually got my dad to crochet once. Everyone got really sick, and she taught him and my brothers to crochet, and my grandmother has proof: a Christmas afghan that every one of us contributed something to. I still remember sitting there, watching him crochet. Burned into my brain.
Mirissa says
This reminds me so much of my mom. I taught her to knit well into her adulthood, but she had similar problems and couldn't seem to remember where she was, no matter how she tried! She had been working on a sweater when she died, but had lost her way and I knew there was no hope for it. It was donated and I hope someone took the trouble to give it a new life. She did love trying, though!
cirelo says
I was feeling oh so glum about the world before coming over to this site in search of some levity and oh have you provided! I laughed and laughed at this post and then made my husband read it so he could laugh too (we're both knitters). I love, love, love, that you knit four socks rather than rip one out. And isn't lace the most aggravating thing ever!
Haus Frau says
As a determined student knitter, I laughed my way through your descriptions, for I knew exactly what you mean. The ex-cowl picture was wonderful!
That quilt is gorgeous!
Joyful says
Boy could I relate to this post. I too determined that I would learn to knit and I did. I'm taking it slowly in terms of learning new things. I too am loathe to rip anything out but my last little project, I ended up ripping out several times here and there and in the end, I still had to be creative in finishing it, lol. I'm still learning and I realize now that is why ladies get together in knitting groups (which I am not a part of -yet). I think your knitting looks quite nice. I've yet to try socks but I will…someday. At least when knitting one feels a sense of relaxation and mostly enjoyment.
_Rosie says
You crack me up. I literally laughed out loud as I read this.
I will encouragingly mention that I love my socks and unhelpfully suggest that that doesn't look like a baby cap. But I trust you.
Sarah says
My goodness your 'happy' had me in hysterics. I even had to read it out loud to my husband. He witnessed my struggles with my knitting project last year as my baby jacket got bigger and bigger, and consumed many more balls of wool than it should have:) I eventually admitted defeat and ripped it out and started again.
My Nanna was such a brilliant knitter that my efforts feel so amateur. I still have most of the jumpers and jackets she knitted me (her only grandchild) so it is questionable how much I will knit for Ginger – Nanna's output is that of a 60 year knitting veteran. I can't compete:) Maybe baby boy will get something knitted for him though. The pebble vest many have knitted seems easy enough.
Sara says
I nearly choked when I saw the picture of the The Cowl! You totally surprised me, there. You've knitted some lovely things, and the fact that you opted for choice #2 and made 2 pairs of socks elevates your status in my book. Just doing a 2nd (let alone a 3rd and 4th) makes you a knitter. As for the other stuff, it must be just a little slump. Happens to everyone.
Although, Rosie's right: that doesn't really look like a baby cap. 😉 But I'm sure it will when you slap it on Pippo's head!
Misty says
I wish I had learned to knit from my Grandmother before she passed away. I love the color of your knitted socks. Just made my first loaf of bread ever so maybe knitting is still in my future?
MamaHen says
Only you could make knitting hilarious!
Patty says
I am working on a sweater. I found out I cast on 76 stitches for the left sleeve and 66 stitches for the right sleeve. Yes of course it's knit all in one piece, and this significant error took place about 10,000 stitches ago. I feel your knitting pain, even though I'm not doing anything as complicated as lace and probably never should. 🙂
Lindsey says
I am not a knitter (maybe one day…then again, maybe not!), but I am learning to crochet. I learned when I was a child, but never kept it up. The other day I did something disastrous – I was adding a new ball of yarn to my first project, a scarf for my daughter, and wanted to pull out a few stitches to make sure I was exactly at the end of a row. I started pulling the yarn and it just wasn't coming out. I figured I must have got the wool caught on itself, or stitched something wrong. So I started unthreading the wool, probably about 4 inches worth, getting more and more frustrated. Then I suddenly, tragically realized I had been pulling out the foundation chain at the beginning of the scarf!!! You'd think the knot at the end would have been a good clue. I blame it on pregnancy brain.
My husband consoled me, rescued the scarf from across the room where I had thrown it in despair, and then found a blog – with pictures! – that showed me how I could stitch the chain back in place. I felt like such an idiot, but am happy to report the scarf is in progress again!
Joy says
I laughed and laughed at this post, Leila. Thank you for making light of knitting mistakes. At least you are brave enough to dive in and try. I still have the yarn, needles, and pattern to make my first socks but haven't managed to make myself do it yet. I also have the back and front and one and a half sleeves of a sweater but am so nervy about putting them all together that I haven't finished the second sleeve. My shawl is coming out nicely though since it is fairly straightforward–mostly knit rows and adding two stitches every other row. I can handle that level of intricacy. Knitting in the round? Picking up stitches along an edge? Cables!? They terrify me. I'll try to remember your motto–” if you can do it, I can do”–the next time I pick up my needles. 🙂
Robin says
Oh, Auntie Leila,
I sooo understand! I want to be a knitter, but when I choose easy projects they are too boring, and I'm too cheap to buy good yarn and more complicated projects…..that I might not make.
Besides, there are always books to read.
Or maybe its just too demoralizing for me that my 14 yo daughter has to fix my knitting mistakes. Maybe I'll just take up knitting for Lent.
Lisa G. says
Now, there's a thought! 🙂
Lish says
Yeah, I love knitting, but all I can knit are scarves, and really how many scarves can one have. I really need to learn purl, and knit something else. Would love to learn to knit socks, but the whole 3 needle idea sort of makes me crazy. Oh and I absolutely can not crochet, no matter what I do the stitches pull out. So frustrating!
Christine says
I love that you made more socks, and found yarn for it too! Lace is so abstract – I haven't learned to read my knitting in lace. But I can see where I am without keeping count, but 'reading' the knitting. It's much more intuitive for me. I can't remember if my son's orthodontia bands are on and if tonight is a out the door to church night or not…so having to remember where I am in knitting is definitely OUT.
Chinamama4 says
Leila, I just love this post! I laughed so hard with that “knowing laugh” of a fellow knitter… 🙂
Those patterns that say, “Row 2 (and all even-numbered rows): knit” really throw me – I've been known to re-type an entire pattern and write out all the even numbered rows so as not to forget them…
Keep knitting – and smiling! (And my husband doesn't “get” my knitting, either!)
Michele Q. says
Oh I can so relate. My knitting basket is full of “ex” things. I simply cannot keep myself from losing my place. I love the action of knitting I just don't get much accomplished. I am trying my hand at crochet to see if that's better for me.
Oh and I would love to be able to knit socks (especially because wool socks are the only thing that keep me warm and are too darned expensive to buy) but I have not been able to wrap my head around it yet.
Lisa G. says
Leila, it sounds like you don't go the gauge – if you force yourself to do that, your projects will come out the size they're supposed to be! Just adjust your needle size if you're knitting too tightly, or too loose. And maybe do more simple things, rather than socks or lace. Maybe, for a while?? In fact. I'm knitting a cute baby blanket, which is squares in garter stitch. Nine of them, whip-stitched together.
You'll get there.
Lisa G. says
I typed this before I'd put in my contacts.
What I meant was, do some simpler, but cute, things for a while until you get your tension settled. Like my easy but cute baby blanket. (not mine, really)
Breanna says
Heavens, love, don't you know that all knitters rip all the time–and that the ones who don't fudge, especially the ends of rows in lace patterns in circular knitting?
You and my mother are the same, though. She rips where I would fudge. For that reason I think she likes her finished projects better, but I find mistakes only I can see to be a bit endearing…
barbara says
Could it be our age, Leila? Old enough to have much on our minds but not old enough to not care? I have the same trouble. No lace is safe with me. Knitters say “easy lace.” No such thing. Oddly I love a seed stitch but that is because I don't have to count higher than one. I can't even keep track with a counter because I can't remember if I advanced the counter at the beginning of the row! Urgh.
Kathy says
Oh, me too! I'm working on a baby sweater and currently debating whether to go ahead with it, and have a sweater that will fit for not-very-long, or rip(again) and re-knit. I would probably go ahead and rip, but I seem to have extra problems with my yarn tangling when I do that. And I'm a slow enough knitter without having to mess with my yarn every three or four stitches!
Corrie says
I decided this Christmas to learn to knit so I could give gifts- in the middle of December I started! Needless to say I had to abandon many of my ambitions. I did complete a scarf for my father-in-law with this soft thick yarn. Knitting that was delicious. I loved the feel of the yarn in my hands as it became something. That is why I want to learn to knit, why I love learning to knit.
Someday when I don't have a toddler distracting me from the pattern and the stitches and the rows…I may try something complicated…I must agree with you about loving it while being bad at it, and I may always just be learning!
Sonja says
As a sock knitter in the third generation (I know of), I can assure you that the vast majority of hand-knit socks are not the same length as their mate.
My mom actually knits both socks at the same time – two sets of needles & yarn started from both ends – one row here, one row there. Of course, that comes with it's own challenges…
Fatcat says
Nobody's good at everything and that quilt is fabulous!
Kate says
And that is why I stick to simple patterns and two needles. I haven't tried anything more complicated than the seed, moss or basket weave patterns. I've made hats, scarves, mittens, vests and little sweaters (I think you are quite accomplished with your socks). I knit to keep my hands busy when I'm listening to schoolwork and to keep me from falling asleep. It has to be mindless – no patterns that require counting and lots of markers. I can't knit or read in the car as it makes me nauseous. And I figure if two straight needles were good enough for my grandmother, then I can do without circular needlles for my paltry output (besides straight needles are cheap to find in thrift stores).
You don't think it would help Phil's journlistic reputation to learn to knit? I know a father of 10 kids who crochets lovely afghans and proudly shows them off. His mother taught him when he was young – my theory is that since he seems ADHD she did it to get some peace.
cammievb says
In your defense, lace AND cables take an immense amount of concentration. One small distraction and it all goes down the drain as you've lost count! Which is why I only cable when size isn't a biggie (like in a scarf) and have only tackled one lace pattern (and it almost killed me). I like patterns where it tells me to measure. So much better to just keep knitting and measuring….! 🙂
bobbi says
I admire your knitting skills since I have zero! The bread looks delicious and I hope you enjoyed your trip to Cali. 🙂
MamabearJD says
I'm not great flying even when there isn't ice. “I think in headlines” – so perfect. I think like that all the time!
justamouse says
I am laughing at your post. I love knitting, I just can't count. 😀
justamouse says
forgot-that bread looks ahhh maaazzzing. I wish I could see that dough and touch it so that I could find out what point of wetness you're working from.
Suzanne says
I've knitted — washclothes. Anything beyond that impresses me, and the idea of something shaped like a sock, wow. Well done. Maybe someday I'll take a stab at it, when my kids are old enough that I can safely leave knitting needles sitting on my end table.
I'm even more impressed by your bread, it's beautiful, the kind I pay too much money for at the store because mine never turns out that well. It's always hard and dense and pale. Could you do a bread tutorial?
Mary says
Auntie Leila – I do love you so. You are just too funny! I love the socks they look so comfy. I just started knitting myself and I love it. Now to have the confidence to make something other than a scarf…yikes!
san says
As always your sense of humour makes me smile. I've actually managed to join you and others this week.
San
Lori @ IMK,IML says
See, my thought is that they invented a way to knit fabric a long time ago and I should just use that to construct pretty things. I've tried to knit a felted hat three times in the last 10 years. That's my knitting career. But the wool is sooooo pretty! (Wails.) 🙂
nt12many says
Leila,
You can't honestly believe that our Irish forbears (or Scotch, for myself) all got their knitting projects to come out right? Can't you just picture myriad women patting out their Irish soda bread over the open fire (or scones), calling in the cow, tracking down their children in the croft or bonny glen or whatever you call it in Ireland or Scotland and trying to knit as fast as they can in their spare time? Certainly, there were ruddy cheeked children who slipped on knit socks full of knots and of uneven lengths and, perhaps, different colors? After all, knitting (in its own way) is an art because it is certainly easy to allow our mood or concentration to affect the tightness of the stitch! Also, who's to say that some practical, well-practiced woman of long ago didn't mutter to herself, “I thought Granny said this was an EASY pattern?” and ripped it out to begin again.
I think you are too hard on yourself. The process of knitting is certainly as important as the finished product. It also sounds like you try some fairly complicated projects!
I LOVE your descriptive language, my wise blogging cyber friend! “I think in headlines” is a keeper.
FYI-those snowy pictures outside the plane window are enough to give me ulcers. Very scary!
Jill Farris ” target=”_blank”>http://www.generationalwomanhood.wordpress.com
Carrie says
I can totally relate to this! I love knitting, but I spend a lot of time frogging (you know, rip-it, rip-it). Sometimes I want to just throw it all out the window, but I know I never will. :o)
Anne@ModernMrsDarcy says
Oh, Leila! I learned to knit right after Thanksgiving and I have been nodding my head off through this whole post! I do enjoy it sooo much–but I seem to be incapable of keeping my rows even lengths, I've undone more knitting than I've actually produced, and I'm obscenely proud of the few items I've actually managed to pull off.
In any event, I think your socks look lovely. (And the same dye lot! Incredible!)
PNG says
I still have a lot of mistakes when I knit. I have to rip things out and start rows over. I try hard to not make them, but then I concentrate too much and make more. Sheesh! Well, for sure you are an awesome quilter and bread maker! I'm working on a new quilt now. There's just something about sewing that makes me feel so alive. I don't know if it's that I love my machine or just the speed of putting something together. I like knitting projects, too, that I can stash in a bag and take with me. You have so much wisdom in that. I just burned through an hour of piano lesson wait time this evening knitting dishcloths!
Pippajo says
I do like to knit, but I think I may actually like ripping out more. Now what does THAT say about me? Lobelia actually had to stop me at one point to say, “You know, you're wearing down your yarn that way, right?” SHE is a fantastic knitter! I am supposedly a good knitter in that I make nice, even stitches, but I'm a better ripper! I've made a scarf, two half-sweaters (which, sadly, do not make a whole, fractions be darned), a wristlet and several test scarves, one of which is its owner's favorite scarf ever. I don't think I could ever knit on a plane. The only thing I can do on a plane is drink and pray. And I've learned from a friend that alcohol and knitting don't mix!
Those socks looks cozy. I'm considering a cowl after I make my headwrap (that I've torn out at least 6 times already).
“Smite the Knitter!” I will be looking for an opportunity, ANY opportunity to use that phrase.
Carol says
I do like knitting too. I am a beginner. I finished my first sweater. The neck is too tight and I am allergic to the wool. Funny, how it didn't bother me while knitting, but once I pulled it over my head I detected a smell and that funny feeling when I am allergic. Where is this going? You seemed to be doing quite well with your knitting considering you started around the same time as me. I have noticed that doing a lot of practice of one particular concept really helps. Sometimes, I just want to knit and I don't want to begin a project so I knit a basket weave washcloth. It seems to help some process that I need to makeup that experienced knitter acquire from starting earlier. Anyway I want to encourage you. I also found that some more serious, experienced knitters keep line by line written logs of what they are doing as they go and check off where they are and what they do so they can go back easily,etc. I did this this last time with my sweater and it helped me considerably. It ordered it somehow in my brain. Keep pushing forward.
Abby says
Ah, knitting. My mother and I frequently wonder why it is that we love it so much when we are clearly not good at it. I've accepted that doing things twice (or more) is just part of the process.
Mary says
You are good at quilting! I gave up on knitting after several tries. My friends swore it was so relaxing and meditative, but my meditations were never more elevated than the profane, in every sense of that word.
keeponspinning says
If you were born to knit, as I was, but if you were also born with many other interests and things to think about that multiplied with each child born unto you, until it became a logarhithmic mess, you might consider just kntting in circles. i have made hundreds of socks, no ribbing, no pattern. just 20 rows, turn hem, 80 rows, short row heel, 60 rows, decrease for toes. hats, sweaters (EPS ones) can all be made just knitting plain around in circles.
the other good option for those of us who need our fiber fix but have other issues is spinning. there is no pattern, no requirements, and it is, essentially, totally neditative. you have to get into the rhythm or you won't make yarn. Perfect for rosary time.
Amanda says
Haha, this is so how I am with knitting. I've come to the conclusion that excessive reading has spoiled my attention span for repetitive tasks like knitting, you know, the ones that are actually productive at the end 🙂 Oh well, I am happy with my novels….and I am quite accomplished at sewing, it requires less patience and as you say, doesn't need to be undone nearly as often.
womanofthehouse says
The quilt, the socks, the bread, everything~~it's all beautiful! There's nothing like homemade!
Brenda says
Oh, how I do feel for you!! It can be the most awful, sinking feeling when you realize (several rows or rounds on) that you've made a mess of things for any succeeding work……aarrgggghhh!!!! I am a pretty strong knitter, can do complicated patterns & so forth, but mistakes just do happen every now & then. “Patience”, I tell myself, “patience…..”
p.s. I think I was born to quilt, but I'm reasonably certain I'll never in a million years turn out anything as gorgeous as the quilt you've shown us here…..oh yeah! :o/