Sunday, November 14, 2010

Affaire de coeur?

A year ago last August, I began a dalliance with a little something new. I was hot off my affair with a summer love that was promised to another and could never be mine. Foolishly, I thought I could just move on and this hot little number would make me forget all about summer.

At my age, I should know better. After all, we all know rebound affairs never work now, don't we?

Still, I didn't let that stop me and last October, I began to pursue my new interest with abandon.

Perhaps you remember this steamy run in I had with the Louet yarn on a cone and a US size 6 lace needle. Shamefully, I never finished it and truth be told, I dumped it like a hot potato when we ran into trouble on row 116. Shortly after the break-up, the holidays came around and I was busy--my mind too preoccupied to attend to mindful knitting--and then I had to compete in the Knitting Olympics. Really, it was one excuse and project after another. I did well ignoring the siren call of the lace until I accidentally bumped into it while reorganizing my knitting room.


Pitter-patter went my heart. I told myself this was just gas or some other form of mistaken heart palpitations. I shoved it back into the depths of the closet, but it never left my mind.

In a moment of insanity today, I plucked the Pretty as a Peacock shawl out of the bag where it's been taking up space, attempted 4 times to knit row 116 and ended up ripping back to row 99 where the lifeline was living. Not such an auspicious new beginning, but in doing so, I found where we went wrong. I was attempting to read and knit the written version, but realized to my chagrin...THERE ARE MISTAKES in the written version. Gargantuan mistakes. Not mine, and not the shawl's, but the author's.

I'm an idiot. I should have known that this beautiful piece of art would not knowingly lead me down the path of unrequited love.

I think now that my head is in a different place, this shawl and I will begin anew and we'll take it one day at a time. I have donned my rose colored glasses and we will swear to one another that we'll only use the charted version of the pattern.

Words are cheap.

15 comments:

Gail said...

Sounds like a great plan...never give up on love.

The Bug said...

You're hilarious - having an illicit relationship with a shawl. Heh. I have those all the time with FOOD, but not with crafts.

Stephanie V said...

Great post...I love it when you tell stories, Rudee. And, as we all know, there's nothing like a good love story. I seem to recall some talk about dyeing it, too. Did I dream that?

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

wow. just wow. and buggers to the mistake in the words!!! rats to that...

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Rudee said...

Yes, Stephanie, we're dyeing it a pretty shade of blue. I sent my friend a head's up to let her know it's back in the lineup.

Anonymous said...

They key to this type of knitting is patience and perseverence. You can't allow distractions to interfere with your count. You need to set a daily goal and go for it. Make those in the room respect your space.

Anonymous said...

One last hint...Determine the size you want by your stitch gauge. Follow the needle recommendations on the yarn packaging. Cast on any amount (divisible by 18) plus any amount for border. Keep these border stitches in Knit Only (both sides). Work 8 rows of knit only at the beginning and ending of your piece. Now go for it.

Darci said...

Can't wait for the happy ending!

Anonymous said...

One last reminder: Remember to count the number of stitches you have at the end of each row, and tink if necessary to get rid of inadvertent holes...Now get goin'!

Jane said...

I'm so pleased it's seen the light of day again, it's a beautiful pattern

SkippyMom said...

Words may be cheap, but this post is priceless. I thoroughly enjoyed it. :)

Oh and nice start to the shawl btw. hee

Celia said...

This is the reason I don't do lace. I'm too distractable. The people who can, like yourself, do amazing work.

Rositta said...

Last night I frogged a cardigan that was 99 percent finished. I made it way too big and didn't know anyone I could gift it too. After reading your post this morning I pulled out a lace wrap that I also gave up on earlier this year, the Nefertiti wrap. I decided that even though I'm not totally in love with it since it was more than half done I should attempt to finish it. Thanks for the motivation...ciao

laurie said...

i have fallen far away from blog-reading this fall, what with everything going on in m life, but i am slowly working my way back.

just wanted to tell you that i wore your hat and mittens this weekend when i was shoveling and walking the dogs, and felt happy all over again to know you.

Rudee said...

Did Laurie mention shoveling? Snow? Good thing I bought a fainting sofa...