Swatch your steps
Saturday November 21st 2009, 7:38 pm
Filed under: Knitting a Gift

I *knitted, I ripped, repeat from* to end of row, and the impatient part of me finally changed to a fingering weight baby alpaca that could take that kind of abuse more easily.  (And it, too, is just SO soft–no complaints.)  All in good time on that laceweight.

I started over.

Richard asked me innocently, “But didn’t you use Frog-Free yarn?”

The thing that made the most sense was to make a very wide swatch and just keep going and keep checking.

I have had a particular lace idea dancing around my head for over a year now.  But since I don’t do charts (it’s a brain injury thing), designing a new lace pattern means figuring out intuitively how many and how and where each stitch should go, and then sitting down and hashing it out till the thing proves itself.   Or not.  (I’ve got some real nots in my yarns in that closet.)  I’d been avoiding the whole hassle for a very long time, a bit frustrated at myself for not having already done it.

But it was exactly the thing, exactly the most perfect thing, for that guy at Safeway and his girlfriend, if I could just make it work.  If nothing else, this gave me the impetus to wrestle the thing into existence.

…And once I got going, really, it wasn’t hard.  I was so excited at my success last night, after it had been delayed so long by my own reticence, that I could hardly sleep.

It is past the idea stage. It is past the notes on paper stage. It is past the fixing the typos stage.

Twenty-five inches and 1.5 oz of melt-in-your-hands done, 3 oz left to go.

I owe that guy. Bigtime.


12 Comments so far
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Alison, I hope you can certify that no actual frogs were injured in the making of this shawl!!

Comment by LauraN 11.21.09 @ 8:10 pm

For me, anyway, if I can’t figure something out, I just put it away and let my subconscious work on it. That even works sometimes.

Fun –

I just found an exercise program that MAY work for me, and maybe for you. Here it is:
1. Jumping to conclusions
2. Flying off the handle
3. Running down the boss, wife, husband, or friends
4. Knifing friends and relatives in the back

5. Dodging responsibility
6. Pushing my luck
7. Jogging my brain

Comment by Don Meyer 11.21.09 @ 9:19 pm

You make me think of the old saw about “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like”.

Of course, you do know much, and you knew what you were dreaming of. How exciting to see it come off your needles!

Comment by Barbara-Kay 11.21.09 @ 10:04 pm

I want some Frog Free yarn! And all things considered, are you sure that was an “innocent” remark?

Comment by Ruth 11.21.09 @ 11:13 pm

Lovely! And cute that Richard knows a bit about yarn brands. I’m not sure the Knight could name a single one.

Comment by Channon 11.22.09 @ 6:57 am

I want some of that frog-free yarn.

Comment by sherry in idaho 11.22.09 @ 7:54 am

ohhh I love those creative frenzies! I have two or three knocking at the door, but I am holding it shut until I complete the 279 stitch stole. I have re-knit the 3,348 frogged stitches and am now past the half way point. only 2-3 skeins to go!

Comment by Diana Troldahl 11.22.09 @ 10:26 am

I agree with Ruth and Sherry! And cool link to the “Tree”.

Thank you Safeway Guy.

Comment by LynnM 11.22.09 @ 11:30 am

Would you believe that my beloved s-i-l JUST called to tell me she is remarrying? It’s a long story and we are all thrilled so if you can’t find SafewayGuy, I’m agonna need that pattern!

Comment by Joan 11.22.09 @ 3:23 pm

Does your hubby know that if he could provide a truly, honest-to-goodness, frog free yarn y’all could be rich beyond your wildest dreams!?!

Comment by TripletMom 11.22.09 @ 3:50 pm

Frog-free yarn? Seriously? You have connections. Going to read that post now! lol

It still amazes me how receiptive you are to the sources of inspiration around you. Love made tangible, you once said.

I believe.

Comment by Suzanne in Mtl 11.23.09 @ 6:28 am

Frog free yarn? I must figure out how to make this! 🙂

Comment by Amanda 11.24.09 @ 7:10 am



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