I have many more mistakes. That horrible vest that I made for a boyfriend for Christmas. It definitely carried the curse. (You know, once you knit something for a boy friend, you are sure to break up. I wonder how many break up are because of the sweater/vest/hat/ scarf/socks?) Then there was the knitted dress that ended up feeling like chainmaille. Then there was the black coat that I started but couldn't finish because I couldn't discern the stitches using the black yarn. I could go on and on but I really don't want to hurt my own self esteem. I will say that I learn something from every mistake, whether it is to measure better, make sure you have enough yarn or plain patterns need fancy yarns, fancy patterns need plain yarn. I value every mistake because they made me a better knitter.
I thought it would be kind of fun to reminisce about SOME of my knitting mistakes. There are all kinds of reasons why something is a knitting mistake. This definitely comes under "All Tangled Up!' Many of my mistakes come under "Size-too small." When that happens, I just pretend it is the right size and give it to Barb. A mistake becomes a gift and nobody knows better. Some mistakes under, "I used the wrong yarn for this pattern or wrong pattern for this yarn." When that happens I just Frog it (see cute little emoticon.) Some mistakes come under "What was I thinking?!?!?!?!" and that is a Frog occurrence, too. This definitely comes under "wrong pattern, wrong yarn." I loved the yarn and I loved the pattern but put together it has "craft" rather than "art" (You know the difference) written all over it. Some day I will knit the pattern and some day I will use the yarn, but until then "Rip it, Rip it!" I also made a second mistake with this very same pattern. I found the perfect yarn in my stash (remember, I showed it to you? It was beautiful), I began knitting and ran out. Some day I really will knit this very interesting wrap. I made this for my sister. The yarn is a beautiful silk blend. It is yummy. Both pattern and yarn came from my favorite Knit Purl. I gave it to Kathy two years ago for Christmas. She opened it and loved it. Last year when I was doing the Knitting: A Love Story series on things I have knit for people, Kathy brought some things from Atlanta when she came to visit. OMG!!!!!! I don't know what happened, but this literally comes down to her calfs. I don't get it. I measured it, it didn't look gigantic when I steamed it. But it would fit an 8 feet tall women and still cover her knees. IT IS HUGE!!!!!! I think what we can do is cut it off at the last stripe (OUCH! You know how stressed I get when I cut knitting), then bind off with the second yarn. Even though that is scarey, it's a better idea than ripping it and starting over. I also made this for my sister. It is beautiful, perfect. But that wasn't always the case. Our first year at Sunset Beach I knit this. It is a great pattern, a beautiful Noro Silk Garden. I loved knitting it. Because Kathy lives in Atlanta, I knew this had to be jacket not a sweater. It needed to be big enough to wear over clothes on a chilly day. I knit, steamed it, sewed it together, hid the ends. Then I tried it on. It fit like a sweater. SOOOO, I frogged it and completely kit it again.
I have many more mistakes. That horrible vest that I made for a boyfriend for Christmas. It definitely carried the curse. (You know, once you knit something for a boy friend, you are sure to break up. I wonder how many break up are because of the sweater/vest/hat/ scarf/socks?) Then there was the knitted dress that ended up feeling like chainmaille. Then there was the black coat that I started but couldn't finish because I couldn't discern the stitches using the black yarn. I could go on and on but I really don't want to hurt my own self esteem. I will say that I learn something from every mistake, whether it is to measure better, make sure you have enough yarn or plain patterns need fancy yarns, fancy patterns need plain yarn. I value every mistake because they made me a better knitter.
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jan parsonThis blog is dedicated to Mary Helen Growt my first knitting teacher and the woman who changed my life. The mission of Knitting: A Love Story is to preserve, share and promote the love of knitting. Archives
April 2021
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