I said I was going to knit...and knit, I have! My approach to this project was the same as when I've had other "good" ideas...like, removing tile from the bathroom walls, or reupholstering the dining room chairs, or redesigning a room...unbridled enthusiasm and a teeny tiny bit of "know how". My enthusiasm regularly outweighs my ability in almost every arena. For this knitting project, I dusted off my handy dandy "teach yourself to knit" book, consulted a few knitting pals...heck, I even looked up a website (ravelry.com). So, as I read the pattern, I smiled and nodded along as if I understood...I asked a few questions and smiled and nodded, murmured an "mmm-hmmm" here and there. Yes, yes! Of course I understand "gauge" and "worsted" and "cast off"! I mean, who doesn't??? Ha!
As I started this soon-to-be blanket, it became clear to me that I was knee deep in bulky yarn and circular needles and I was going to sink! The pattern was to knit 10, pearl 10, knit 10, so on and so on with a certain gauge...but every time I got started, a nurse or a doctor or a janitor or a food service person would knock on the door and I'd immediately lose count. My yarn of choice is too thick for my untrained eye to see where I left off or count backward...I think I lost a stitch here and there...just ignore that hole right there! Oh well! I gave up on the pattern, but since I had the yarn already and the time (Trey can sometimes take up to 2 hours to fall asleep while at the hospital!)...I forged ahead, simply using a knit stitch for the whole thing. It keeps my hands busy and I can easily keep one eye on Trey as he tries to bust out of his cell...er...crib. I have no idea how long it will take to finish...or what size it will be, but at least I'll be able to say that I made it!
5 comments:
first of all, that looks lovely! when you pick a pretty enough yarn, almost anything looks good. I maintain that the first thing you knit is SUPPOSED to look like crap. you should see my first scarf--filled with holes, raggedy, awful and lumpy. but then, by the end of your monstrosity, you know what you're doing, you understand how the stitches work together, and you have a feel for the yarn. give yourself another foot of blanket and you'll be a professional!
also, is that lion brand boucle? that yarn makes it really hard to tell knits from purls and to count stitches because of all the bumps. don't beat yourself up--i still can't tell what i've done with that kind of yarn.
"My enthusiasm regularly outweighs my ability in almost every arena"---
If I had a quarter for everytime THAT phrase has rung true in MY life, I could buy you a ROOM full of yarn. sigh.
that is beautiful yarn and you may have bitten off more than you can chew for a beginning piece, but I say bravo!
In the words of a very wise fish, named Dory, "just keep swimming"! or knitting in this instance.
It looks really good Rachel! I love it.
The blanket looks nice, plus the type of yarn and colorway make it harder to detect mistakes. A hint for finding repeats or pattern changes is to use stitch markers, it makes things more meditative and less "was I on 8? or 10?" I make mine with an abundance of beading supplies so if you need some, let me know the needle size and I can get some to you :) Happy knitting.
Post a Comment