Friday, October 30, 2009

Mindful Shmindful


There's only so much mindful knitting a human can take. I've reached my limit for the day and I have only one thing more to say to myself about that: you are so smart for putting in that lifeline! Go ahead, Rudee and pat yourself on the back.

I have 3 things to say to the designer:
  1. Since when has SSK meant SKP? I am doing it your way, but every single time I see SSK, I want to slip, slip knit, and you want me to slip, knit pass. Your way looks better, but when I see this, \, and this, SSK, my brain fights my fingers. I have to stop and think about what I'm doing a dozen times in each right side row.
  2. I wish you hadn't included the edges in the total stitch count. This confounds me, too.
  3. Your pattern is stunning. I can't really complain without offering up my profound respect for what your brain offered up to the rest of us knitters who don't, or can't, design. Amazing!
That said, I have ripped back once to the lifeline at the end of chart B and started again. Between rows 63 and 65, stitch counts go from 184 on the needles (yes, that includes 4 edge stitches) to 168 and then explodes to 280 stitches in one row. The larger holes at the bottom of the photos is where all that action happens. To say the least, I'm charmed. My first go around, I was off by just 2 stitches and couldn't find my errors, but the mistakes were enough to throw the pattern off. After all of this work, I wasn't going to live with a hole where none should be or a solid set of stitches where a hole should be. The decision was made, after counting and recounting the recalcitrant stitches (I recounted 6 times, duh), to rip back and start row 64 all over. Though it took awhile to catch back up, I think in the long run, I saved a bit of my sanity.

A Lifeline Runs Through It

Last but not least, I'd like to pay homage to the much maligned purl stitch. I hear plenty of knitters gripe about this poor little stitch. Some will only make items in garter stitch, or prefer knitting in the round in order to avoid the purl. I say, there's nothing like a complicated right side row to make a knitter appreciate the return row done in straight purl stitches. It's a thing of beauty, relief and mindless knitting.

19 comments:

Jane said...

I love purl stitches. This looks better as it's growing

Jeannette StG said...

Wow, that pattern looks complicated, Rudee. My hat off for you!

SkippyMom said...

I understood absolutely none of this post :hee: but I assume this is a huge problem.

My sympathies - hug for you. And a cookie.

:back to watching your soap cure lol:

Rose said...

You never cease to amaze me. Here I am kvetching about a simple sweater pattern (mostly plain knitting/purling so far) and you are involved with another complicated lace pattern. I think I'm learning something about myself here though.

debra said...

I read that and my mind spins---which is why I don't knit :-)

Anonymous said...

I am a big fan of the purl stitch for just that reason.

Thanks for the Melanie video--I'd forgotten about her, but oh, how I loved that record!

Stephanie V said...

Well done. It is a pain(literally) to have to try and find a wee error of 2 stitches - especially if you think no one will ever notice. I've moaned about designer 'language' before so you know where I stand on that! And yes, the purl stitch can be incredibly restful.

CT said...

lol! purl stitches are a chance to rest your eyes and mind! let's hear it for the unfairly unapreciated purl!

CT said...

by the way... you are my hero! I would leave that pattern, hands quivering in awe, after watching all the lovely, intricate and complicated lace! m -- m (that's me bowing in respect!)

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what you are talking about, but understand the concept of is that pattern right. I wasn't aware the lacy stitches were done in knitting. Like doilies in crochet. You work looks very complicated. Hooray for you.
QMM

Brenda said...

I love knitting but do not love complicated patterns...yet. Maybe someday my mind will need more of a challenge. And I really don't enjoy ripping back to a certain area. That for me is very hard.

Jane said...

It's looking beautiful, Rudee and I totally agree about the purl stitch. What a blessed relief it can be!

NCmountainwoman said...

It is confusing that most charts use the same symbol for SSK and SKP and in that particular pattern they mean one of them.

Lovely lace pattern. I always have at least two "no-brainer" projects to work alongside complicated "gotta concentrate" ones. My brain needs frequent breaks.

Winifred said...

I think American knitting abbreviations are different to UK ones the crochet ones definitely are. It drives you mad doesn't it when it doesn't go right, you just can't give in and let a pattern beat you!

That shawl looks gorgeous.

You're right about purling after Aran or lace patterns it's such a relief to just purl back and not have to look. I don't have a problem with it at all, love it!

Quiltluver said...

I can appreciate the hard work, ripping out stitches and pretty lace even if I have no clue what you are talking about. Should be a good weekend to stay inside to knit, spin and quilt. Brrr! Karen

Betty F said...

It's still so beautiful!

I can't post with word press this morning so google it is..

Anonymous said...

It's still so beautiful!

Celia said...

Wow! I stay away from lace knitting at all cost. You're doing an amazing job.

Miss T said...

Ah, lace. Gotta love it, no matter what.