Hemisphere

When I knit, I usually knit stockinette. I like the process. I really like it in the round. And I like to wear it. I like the simplicity. The simplicity of the knit, the simplicity of the finished product.

Recently, though, my husband asked me for a knit as a gift for a birthday party we are going to. While my husband appreciated the aesthetics of my knits, they aren’t really his thing. So his requests are few and far between. And I like to oblige. He wanted a hat. Simple enough. Unfortunately he wasn’t taken with the simple watch caps that I showed him.

(Images from Ravelry)

No. He chose the Hemisphere hat. I’ve knit it once before, so I owned the pattern. It’s double knit, two colors. Or otherwise, not stockinette in the round.

And it wrung me out.

It started with picking the yarn. My husband and I did that together and for price meets color, we ended up with some Knit Picks Hawthorne.

Then my husband wound up a ring to try and help guide the yarn better. It worked. But I’m not sure it’ll be a technique I keep around. There were still frustrations, like the ring catching the tail of the yarn as I worked.

Then I had a problem with the increases. No matter what I did it created a ridge on the inside. As a purl bump, it wouldn’t have been a problem as it would have been followed by more bumps. But as it was, it was a ridge followed by smooth stockinette. I finally ended up using Tech Knitter’s one below increase, but as a purl increase, to make the ridge disappear.

Once that was done, I needed more stitch markers. And I wanted to be able to easily tell where I was in the pattern, so I needed numbered stitch markers. Thankfully my sister’s craft closet is even better than mine. Shrinky Dink to the rescue!

Unfortunately, they were too dark once they shrunk 😦

So after several more rounds. I made more.

And then it was just knit. And knit and knit and knit.

And more knit. (& purl)

Until it was done. DONE!

I’m wiped. I’m drained. I’m wrung out. Seriously. It’s gonna be awhile until I knit again. At least until tomorrow.

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Oops

There’s a real trend these days for knitters/crafters to encourage each other to stop pointing out mistakes. To simply revel in the finished garment. To eschew perfection and be the good.

But here’s the thing. You knew there was a but.

I sometimes point out mistakes because I want the person, particularly another knitter, to know that I recognize the mistake and either I chose not to fix it or I learned from it. I want to open a discussion. To connect with someone. And if the person isn’t a capital K knitter, I don’t want them to think that I see myself as infallible. I want them to just chat with me, because we can learn from each other.

Pointing out mistakes isn’t me saying I’m less than, it’s me saying “no one is perfect and we’re all learning.”

Bummer

After all that discussion about the heel and my unhappiness paying for it, I still had to do some duplicate stitching to make the heel work neatly. And I tried twice!

Not afraid to fail

You know when you see someone who has been working on their craft for years? And what they make is amazing. And they are fast at it? It seems to come so naturally.

This is not that. I am not a painter. What I am is laughing. And having a good time. And trying something new.

 

I made one more. And without the comparison of what I was trying to do get, I’m actually pretty pleased with my efforts.

 

Have you failed spectacularly and still enjoyed it?

A little stitchin’

I’m really enjoying some embroidery lately. The lightbox helps and takes some of the pain out of transferring fun patterns on to fabric. And this all one color flower display sits so well with me.

Even got my sister in on the action and she made a little, happy book. I’m thinking she needs to turn it in to a pillow or the pocket of a bag.

Pattern Dissapointment

As the Prairie Girls mentioned in a recent podcast, I definitely consider myself a capital-K knitter. I’ve done sweaters, hats, socks, cowls, shawls. There’s not much I haven’t at least looked in to – double knitting, brioche, lace (I’m not good, but I can do it). I can do different cast-ons, cast-offs. I’m pretty confident both in my style, Eastern European, and my ability to figure it out (eventually).

But I know there’s still a lot to learn. And while I really love knitting socks, I do get holes around the heel. I usually just duplicate stitch it closed and I’m off to the races. But a well known designer, who I still adore, released an afterthought heel, one of my favorites, promising no holes. I waited, hemmed, hawed, but finally bought the pattern.

And I was totally confused by her directions!

Until I followed a video she linked to. And it’s not even her video!!! It’s from another designer/knitter. And her trick, which Knitting Pipeline also ascribes to someone else, totally makes sense to eliminate the holes from socks.

I’m pretty disappointed in the paid for pattern that actually had to be explained by a free video tutorial. Don’t get me wrong. The pattern is lovely, thought out, and thorough. But already knowing afterthought heels and just looking for this one tip, yeah, totally unhappy with my purchase.

On the plus side, if this works, I’ll be trying this pick up for heels in the future in all sorts of applications.

Have you been dissapointed by any pattern purchases? I’m not going to make a huge stink this time, and I would probably buy something from her again, but I’m gonna be more cautious, for sure.

Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout?

So much attitude in such a small package.