Thursday, April 24, 2008

random lessons in knitting - chapter 1

I am of the opinion that before I can call myself a 'knitter', I need to experience all aspects of knitting - be it socks, sweaters, scarves, fair isle, whatever....Every now and then there is a knit that drives me crazy. I started these endpaper mitts back in late January or early February….I finally finished them.

Lesson learned:
  • I dislike fussy knits
  • I dislike patterned knits

  • Fingerless mitts are useless as in Calgary - it is too cold for them in the winter and I would not wear them in the summer - so don't put that kind of effort into a knit that will not be worn

  • Fair Isle knitting is not for everyone
Most knitters arriving at the same level of frustration I did with this knit would have put the knit away. I am obviously one of those obsessed people who cannot ‘put things away’…I must finish them or I need to get rid of them – make them disappear from my vicinity.

To illustrate this neuroses let me explain about this sock incident a while back – I knit a sock toe up and hated the way it looked – it did not have that structured shape that dpn socks have – also I did a picot edge and when I cast off, the cast off part was too tight to sew around the picot – anyways, I KNEW I would never knit the next sock - but it bothered me so much to have this orphan sock laying around, that I ended up giving the sock to my local LYS where I purchased the yarn so they could have it as a display sock – I could not stand the thought of frogging the sock or have it laying around. I know – absolutely inexplicable.

16 comments:

kim said...

Oh, I hear ya! I tried the Anemoi Mittens twice and finally just threw them in the garbage. Enough! I managed a year later to master the Bird in the Hand Mitten but only on the second try. I guess it's not really for me either.

Queen of the froggers said...

No point knitting stuff you hate! I am not keen on fair isle, which is my dillema at the moment, don't know whether to admit defeat for Venezia.

Jess said...

I hate leaving stuff unfinished. This week is especially driving me crazy, I have one more slipper to do for that Amy March's slipper knit a long but with the moving, it's been sitting in my knitting bag - FINISH IT ALREADY! :)

Christina said...

Thank's for your kind words on my blog, I love checking out who stops by :)
I'm not one for fussy knits either and have never tried fair isle because I just don't think I'd like that very patterned look. I also don't like leaving U'F'O's around too long as I fear I'll tire of looking at it and it'll nag at me and mock me for my laziness every time I see it! so I don't think you're so unusual in how you feel.
Beautiful Monkeys B.T.W

Kai said...

Aww, but they're lovely Endpapers! Maybe give them away as a gift. To someone who lives in slightly warmer climes?

I'm fickle and a hoarder, so multiple things lying unfinished does not bother me.. thankfully! :)

Ani said...

i have yet to try fair isle, but i'm scared.

i'm of the school of 'if i don't love it, frog it'. this could happen after i'm finished, half-finished or just a couple inches in to it. there are too many fun knits out there to bother with the ones you don't like.

Rachel said...

oh, I understand your pain too well. I'm about to undertake the challenge of color-work knitting and I'm wondering if I'll end up having the same reaction. I like challenges in knitting, want to learn it all, and don't want to give up on anything, but I also have enough challenges in my day to day life that having something only relieve stress instead of adding to it would be nice!

btw--regardless of practicality, those look to be great endpaper mitts...and I really like the colors you chose.

laleo said...

Well, they're beautiful! Hooray for you for finishing them!

Sarah said...

I have that same instinct to start what you finish but I'm trying to balance that with the fact that my knitting time is limited so I either have to want the finished item really badly or enjoy knitting it.

I think you're definitely a knitter and those mitts are beautiful.

kosenrufu mama said...

actually i don't use mittens...
anyway yours look so nice... the coloros and the knit;)

Stacy said...

lol i know how you feel =) Except i don't knit, though i might try to learn soon enough. I do crochet though. I have made a purse, two scarves, some toys, a little girl dress, and some little flower looking things, by far i enjoy toys the most =p

ali said...

Well, they turned out great, regardless...

I love that you gave that sock to a LYS, at least somebody can get some type of use out of it, so it was not for naught afterall!

Happy knitting-
ali

Erin said...

Despite your dislike, they turned out well, the colours are really nice. :) I haven't gotten around to trying any stranded work yet, myself, but I'll get around to it.

You could always wear them over top of a pair of those really cheap store-bought gloves in the winter; an extra layer of warm when nature decides that a nice March blizzard is just what Calgary needs! I know how that goes. :)

djbebe said...

oh, the life lessons that can be taught by knitting!

kosenrufu mama said...

thank you for stopping again on my blog!!! you know, it's one of my dreams to come and visit canada, i have been always attracted from your country, i don't know why, but it can be one of that place where i would like to move to live...neverknown, maybe one day...

maitai said...

i agree with you on trying all different knitting techniques. but i love patterned knits! stockinette stitch is my mortal enemy!