Friday, June 10, 2011

Yarn assaulted in suburban Detroit home. Police say the perp has four legs and a big nose.

Be on the lookout for this four legged beast with the long reach. Please notify the Knitting Police if you see him anywhere near yarn. Do not try to apprehend him yourself, unless you happen to have a cup of Frosty Paws handy. His attention can be diverted for a long time with one of those.

I'm behind on the heavy Icelandic sweater. When temps topped 100 degrees this week, knitting with bulky wool became a challenge. In desperation to knit anything, I set the heavy sweater aside and cast on a light weight project using hand dyed sock yarn, then proceeded to knit away in garter stitch. A couple of hours into knitting this wee little project, a certain big nosed beast slapped his paw down on my neatly wound cake of yarn. I was using a center pull, but somehow, the beast managed to snag his claw into several loops of yarn on the side, causing an avalanche of yarn that promptly got all tangled into a mess. This tragedy occurred in a split second. While trying to rewrap the yarn, which I ultimately had to cut and pitch, several stitches fell off my needle. I rescued all of them, except one, which, freed of its confining loops, found its way down the row.

Now to me, while simple to knit, and gorgeous in the right garment, garter stitch is a pain in the behind to repair if you drop a stitch. Thanks to youtube though, I have acquired the perfect way to repair dropped garter stitches and added this skill to my repertoire. Whatever did I do before youtube and google? I'll admit that prior to this, I may have ripped things back to the beginning, but likely not until I'd wasted an hour trying to fix it and cursing like a sailor. Learning to repair a dropped stitch or mistakes makes knitting so much more enjoyable. If I had ripped this out, I don't think I would have cast back on.

Prior to seeing this one video, in particular, I used to fix dropped garter stitches like this by turning the work back and forth and carrying the dropped stitch up like stockinette. It worked, but was complicated and fussy. As busy as I've been lately, I'm all over doing things the easy way. What made using my method difficult for this dropped stitch, which was now eighteen rows down and near the cast on edge, was the fact that it's multicolored fingering weight yarn. Yikes. My poor eyeballs were straining to see straight with such tiny stitches on US size 2 needles.

Can you spot the repair? Me neither.

I have to say, I love the brain trust out there in Knitting Land and thank all of those knitters who produce and publish such wonderful teaching videos. Where would I be with out you? Likely the Knitting Loony Bin, or at the least, reknitting nearly 3,000 stitches...Same difference. In particular, I'm sending out a great big thanks to MarleneD1216 (her youtube ID). Today you are my hero and the beast's salvation.

16 comments:

Kate B said...

So true! Knitting videos can save your sanity!
I've been lucky that my dog has never attacked a ball of yarn, but he leaves his mark. The last thing I do after blocking a knit item, particularly if it is being gifted, is to run the lint roller over it numberous times. Still, little love from Boomer in the form of hair manages to stay with the knit.

Celia said...

I've learned about a ton from those youtube videos. Good thing that dog is cute.

Stephanie V said...

I always thought that cats were the ones to watch out for.
You're so right about those helpful knitters who share their tips. It's a beautiful thing. As is your sock yarn.

Jane said...

So much better than having to reknit the whole thing. You sure this is the suspect? Looks so innocent

SkippyMom said...

I know he was the culprit, but c'mon how can you not forgive that face. So sweet. And innocent looking.

Glad you found a good solution to Leo's mishap [yes, that is what I am calling it. giggle]

Thanks for a little bit of Leo and a good smile.

NCmountainwoman said...

I don't think I would have persisted in knitting were it not for the wonderful videos. When you are first learning you can't run down to the knit shop for help every time.

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

oh poor leo, he didn't mean it, bless his heart. and i cannot see the fix, good job! i look at lots of youtubes to see beading stuff. i have learned a lot there.

smiles, bee
xoxoxooxox

lovestitch said...

Glad you can find the videos to fix that problem. I've learned a lot from youtube too. Your dog looks very cute with sweet face, innocent nose (hehe) and deserves a forgiveness! He made me smile!
Hope you have a great weekend! xo

Gail said...

The world has grown smaller, indeed. Things we could only learn from elders in our family are there for every one.

I am delighted, especially for Leo's sake, that you found this helpful video.

Unknown said...

He didn't mean it but poor you.. don't you hate it when you have to unravel yarn by cutting it? So glad there is youtube for all those little repairs and info's..Hope your getting cooler weather...Hugs Birgit

Brenda said...

I wonder what Leo would be like if he had an accomplice...like a kitty cat. The no. 2 needles with the small stitches would make it very difficult to fix. Although even no. 8 or 10 are not all that easy sometimes. I have a lot of experience in recovering stitches from mistakes. Sigh....

Rose said...

When I saw your title, I thought, "not again Leo!", but what an adorable expression he has in that picture!!

Winifred said...

Ah he's gorgeous though. Bet you can forgive him just about anything.

CT said...

Oh poop! I'd gone mental if it had happened to me! I agree with Sapphireblue, good thing he's so darn cute!

let me tell you, Leo is making me seriously re-think my wish for a dog in the house. I have too many crafts going on at once and a "mishap" would drive me bonkers!

Love the yarn, by the way!

sandy said...

i hope the police catch him...

Unknown said...

I would have had to rip back too back in the day.

So glad my cats just pick up the ball and walk back to their lair, gently.

Can't see the fix. Great job.