Perfection is a goal to which one can always aspire. We could probably debate the merits of perfection; is anything less acceptable, or when and why perfection should be our objective. Mistakes are inevitable. The real question: what we do once we’ve made the mistakes?
Help is always around us if we ask. And that’s why I’ve always been happy to share lifelines for your knitted work. Perhaps I just hang around people who hold a high bar for themselves. They aim for perfection and making mistakes is not just inefficient, but frustrating. And in knitting, ripping back just opens a world of possibilities for more mistakes. But adding a knitted lifeline makes it easy to rip back before the mistake.
I trawled through all of the videos on YouTube for the best description of how to create a lifeline in your knitting, and Staci from VeryPink wins my vote.
In complex knitting patterns, it wouldn’t hurt to add them as you go. Why wait for a mistake? You can build the protection along the way and it can also serve as a row counter. Raise the lifeline every four or six rows, depending on the pattern repeat.
Early in the winter, I deviated to Webs. I was not being devious, nor deviant, really. A friend had mentioned that Rowan’s recently discontinued yarn, “Calmer” was on sale at the Northampton, MA yarn mecca. Staying focused, I crossed that entire store of temptation, quickly identifying the proper warehouse aisle. My favorite colors are rarely the first choice of other knitters, so the leftovers were still very tempting (why doesn’t it ever work like that for shoes?). I chose a bag of kelly green and six skeins of light apple green and managed to escape without falling into a tactile abyss. Then it was back to my normally scheduled road trip. See? I can resist!
Of course, this yarn did not knit up for me in the gauge suggested on the ball band. After trawling Ravelry, I saw that several people used this yarn to make Marnie MacLean‘s Lily sweater from the Twist Collective. Oh, yes, this I could wear. So I immediately downloaded the pattern and started swatching, despite the fact that I wasn’t quite sure how they managed to get the gauge listed with Calmer.
Fortunately, Twist patterns come in a large range of sizes. After practicing the bobble and lace panel along the sides, I realized that my gauge was completely different. I would need to rewrite the pattern. A bit of math and I found I could basically use the instructions for the 2XL instead of the size medium. I just needed to pay attention to the waistline increases and decreases. And off, I went, casting on this sweater in the round from the bottom edge.
My original swatch piece brought two other issues to the forefront:
Pay attention to the pattern! The bobbles travel in a V shape, not parallel lines
Make those bobbles pop!
Paying attention to the pattern is easier said than done. We all make mistakes.
Looking at the swatch, you can also notice that the first few bobbles aren’t nearly as distinct as the last ones. I took a cue from one of the many tips Annie Modesitt shared with people on the Tactile Travel tour in 2010. She has her own method of creating defined bobbles. I just used one part of her toolbox.
This bobble is created by knitting, purling, knitting, purling, knitting in one stitch. The second, third, fourth and fifth stitches are passed over the first, creating a little ball. The instructions then sent you on your merry way. I, however, moved the yarn to the front of the work and slipped the new bobble back onto the left hand needle.
I then wrapped the yarn underneath the bobble and snugly pulled the yarn to the back of the work. Then I slipped the bobble stitch back to the right hand needle and continued in pattern.
It looks pretty good, but I’m always open to new techniques… anyone else have a way to make bobbles “POP!”?
Fibercamp 2012: An inspiring open format conference for everyone who enjoys knitting, crochet and a whole host of other fiber arts. This year I learned about coiling from Jeanne and how to evaluate a fleece from Lucy. I also shared my experience with making a duct tape mannequin and enabled a session on seaming techniques for knitters.
We covered the seaming of (wish I had taken photos!)
ends of rows (e.g. the sides of a sweater),
cast on/bound off edges (e.g. shoulder seams)
cast on/bound off edge to an end of row (e.g. a shoulder cap)
I passed around samples and we talked about selvedges and ratios. Knowing that this might seem very logical while in the session, but completely irretrievable in the future, I put together a reference list based on magazines currently on the market, books I enjoy and books others recommended. Here they are:
From the current magazine stands, you’ll find a nice article about seaming in the Debbie Bliss Magazine. Knitters volume 106 has a super article on picking up stitches with a great table.
Amanda W then took the group through the principles of picking up stitches. Hopefully the short sessions gave people the jist and the resources for the next time they need to finish an project.
I’d love to hear any additions you have to the list!
So I immediately downloaded the pattern and started swatching, despite the fact that I wasn’t quite sure how they managed to get the gauge listed with Calmer.
(amazon associate link) by Nancie Wiseman. I love the spiral binding and way it fits in my knitting bag. Of course, this is on top of the wonderful explanations, drawing and photography.
by Montze Stanley is a classic reference that always offers more than one way to do anything knitting!
and of course, June Hiatt’s tomb and gravity source, 
.
