Rewind

I'm not much of one for ripping back my knitting. When I make mistakes I generally catch them in time to correct or disguise them and, if not, then I can usually live with it. I find it distressing when I see some of the almost-complete projects that some of my friends have ripped back. So it was pretty much unprecedented when I ripped back a section this large:

Recently I've been working on a new bus project, a South Sea Treasures shawl. It wasn't a bus project to start with, there were far too many stiches and the pattern was far too fiddly, not to mention the frustratingly slow process of threading the far-too-small-holed beads. But by the time I reached the main section it was perfect for the bus and it lived in my handbag for several weeks.

The pattern is Russian with an English translation. There are three charts knitted in sequence followed by short rows to form a crescent. It was only by about half-way through the third chart that I really grasped what was going on in the symbols. I don't know if it's just a different convention of charting in Russian but I couldn't make my knitting look like other peoples' photos.

The symbol key shows dots for knit and dashes for purls but, from what I can gather, these are actually dots for stocking stitch and dashes for garter stitches. But this isn't what caused me to rip back dozens of rows, I can live with a little muddling between stocking stitch and garter stitch.

The main cause of my confusion was the third chart:

Someone else had suggested that there might be an error in the central stitch as it would need a decrease to maintain the stitch count. But the more fundamental problem I found was that the second chart is worked across 12 stitches and the third is worked across 14 stitches.

I wish I'd taken a photo of the mangled, crazy results of trying to align a 12 stitch and 14 stitch pattern but it was not pretty. The only reason I kept going with it for so long (to row 57) was that I couldn't work out how I would fix it if I *did* rip it back. But somewhere around row 57 I was struck by a revelation and realised that it wasn't row 30 that was misleading but rows 26 to 29.

This is what I think the chart should look like (count-wise, I make no comment on the actual stitch symbols):

It seems blindingly obvious in retrospect, I know. The chart starts off with 12 stitches then the increases in row 30 bring it up to 14 for the rest of the chart. There definitely isn't a decrease in row 30, that just makes the problem worse and leads to large swathes of ripping back. As I mentioned above, I think that rows 26 to 29 are actually all knit, then for rows 30 to 35 are alternating knit/purl to form stocking stitch.

On the whole, I'd recommend the pattern but look carefully at the charts and some of the photos on Ravelry before you start. I'm quite certaun now that the charted stocking stitch/garter stitch sections are effectively reversed throughout.

I completed the shawl with about two inches of yarn to go (from one beautiful, soft, luxurious skein of Manos lace). If - or maybe when - I make this again, I'll probably skip at least one repeat in the middle section of chart three and add a few horizontal repeats to make it a bit longer because, although it does go round my shoulders, I'm not too sure how I'll wear it.

Improvisation

It's been a while since I tried to work out something completely new in my knitting. Oh, there have been scarves, but I know a lot of different techniques for scarves and its fairly hard to go too far wrong. Hard, but yet somehow I manage it.

Since I finished the latest Twirly Skirt, I've been at a bit of a loss for bus projects. My criteria for bus projects is: short/circular needles; yarn in balls; and rows I can stop at any point. Generally, I've also looked for simple things, either stuff I've made before or basic patterns. For some reason, it had never occurred to me to use bus time for the sort of knitting experimentation that I never seem to get round to at home.

Months ago, I bought several balls of 4 ply with crazy, ambitious but vague plans of working out how to knit a person. It's something I've had in mind for a while but never quite started. Yes, I know there are countless doll/amiguri/person patterns out there but I want one that's mine. Something that's flexible enough to use for any number of different things.

Not a headless zombie. Really.

Turns out, feet are hard. Really hard. It took me three days of bus journeys to be happy with what I had for the feet but, since then, it's gone rather well. The hands have come out a lot better than I'd expected, thanks to my car share partner who suggested mitten hands. They look rubbish in the picture but will be better when finished off. And even better when I make a second copy of this thing and actually get them to the same size!

I'm trying to minimise the sewing up (the worst part of making toys) and it's been worked in one piece so far. I'm particularly happy with the joins on the ankles and wrists because, not only does it remove the need for sewing up, but it also looks like cuffs. I have used a seam up the backs of the legs and undersides of arms but that may change in draft two.

On Sunday I started on the head and I think that's going to take even more attempts than the feet. What shape are heads, anyway? But the fact that it's come this far in a couple of weeks is really reassuring. It's even got pipe cleaners in it so the figure can be posed a bit and the soles of the feet are felt rather than knitted so there's a chance it might be able to stand - something else I'd really hoped to work out.

I guess the true reason why I'm making this pattern up, rather than using an existing one, is simple: Where else am I going to find something that is customisable; 4 ply; small; one-piece; poseable; and has a chance of standing up?

Me? Demanding? Never.

Twirling

Well, radio has rather swamped knitting lately in the list of things I've posted about at any length. This has been down to several things but primarily:

1) I've knitted a lot of bunting and that's boring

2) I've been busy

The only knitting time I've had lately has been bus time and, unfortunately, bus knitting does not lend itself to anything particularly interesting or complex. A little while ago I started (another) scarf but its 300+ stitches are not Park & Ride proof. So I've reverted to boring knitting.

Last year I knitted a twirly skirt for my niece, which she refers to as her "Auntie Becca Skirt". Unfortunately, my sister is now sick of the sight of the Auntie Becca Skirt and has been seeking every opportunity keep it off my niece so that she wears something different for a change. With dubious reasoning, I decided I should make another one so that at least it wasn't the same colours over and over again.

Unfortunately, the original source website for the pattern has now closed down. Fortunately, there's a copy hosted (no comment on the legality or copyright status of this). If you're looking for a good pattern for a child's skirt, you can't get better than this. Trust me, it's a massive hit and it is as easy as it comes. It's particularly ideal for anyone looking to build confidence with knitting in the round. Or anyone looking to knit without the risk of elbowing fellow bus passengers.

Because it calls for cotton in worsted weight, I've never been able to find a perfect yarn for it. Instead I used King Cole bamboo cotton, which is double knit rather than worsted. The first time I knitted it I tried to work out the tension and massively over-compensated. The result was a skirt that will probably fit my niece until she's at least six. Although it's massively over-sized, I've used the same number of stitches it this time round because I know it'll fit (with the help of plenty of elastic) and, more importantly, I know it will twirl perfectly. 

The best thing about the yarn is that it's totally indestructible. Initially I was worried about stripes in pale cream and deep turquoise washing together. Nope, nothing bled. I was a bit concerned about the slightly hitchy nature of cotton with its multiple threads. Nope, no big hitches. I don't know how many times my niece has worn it, or how many times my sister has washed it but I'm pretty certain that the answer to both is: a lot. And it still looks great.

The one and only drawback to the pattern is that as it increases, the rows can get pretty long but you don't notice if you knit it in the round. Perfect for the bus.

So all I can say to my sister is: Sorry. Another skirt will be incoming shortly.

A Very Kvothe Birthday

I've been meaning to write something about my latest bus project since... well, since I started it. It is knitted with the completely fabulous Nimu Torva that I bought from the internet then posted a picture of.

Before I succumbed to the lure of lustrous, brilliant-blue yarn, I forced myself to search Ravelry for a pattern that I would actually knit with it. I was not going to condemn this beautiful yarn to the Eternal Stash where far too many fabulous things already languish, forlorn and unknitted.

Ever since I saw a Clapotis at Get Knitted, I've been rather fascinated by it, as I think most knitters are. There's something irresistible about a pattern that so blatantly breaks the rules. So I was thinking maybe my lovely new Torva might be destined for a scarf. But I have a lot of scarves, plus a clapotis would probably take two skeins and I was trying desperately to be good and buy just the one.

If you search Ravelry for Clapotis, you get a lot of different versions of the same technique. On the first page of results, something caught my eye: Kvothe

Excellent photos? Check

One skein? Check

Triangular scarf? Check (Asymmetrical? Bonus check!)

Named after a character in a really good book? Check!

Well, there was no way I was going to not knit that! The only problem was forcing myself to break with my love of skeins and spend an entire knitting group session winding the fabulous cobalt blue into a ball.

The pattern was very well explained, despite being a translation from German. In fact, if I had one criticism, it might be that it's a little over explained. There's written instructions and two different versions of the chart. I had to read it through three times before I realised that it really was as simple as it first appeared!

At first I couldn't imagine how I'd ever get to grips with the rows but after a couple of days I had a revelation and realised just how easy it is to memorise: increase every row on the long edge, decrease every other row on the short edge. And, the genius of it is, because it's asymmetrical you just stop when you run out of yarn. Nothing gets wasted!

Even so, I was expecting to get bored because I loathe long rows. What I discovered is that rows don't feel long if you're working a pattern that requires enough concentration to keep you interested but not so much that you get frustrated. All in all, this pattern gets top marks from me!

For fellow Ravelers, I should probably explain I named my project Mantle of the Chandrian after the evil creatures that slayed Kvothe's family in the book. This is not because my scarf is evil (at least I hope not) but because of the blue flame that's a sign of their presence. Hey, if the pattern is inspired by yarn that matches the character's hair, I have to go with the colour theme of blue. 

Anyway, I finished it on Thursday night and set it to block. I then went away, drank wine, ate pizza, and generally celebrated my birthday. When I returned home, the blocking was finished!

This is not a picture of my scarf blocking.
This is a picture of my scarf on a wall.

 

The biggest surprise was just how fabulous the drape of the scarf is. Somewhere along the way I think I forgot that Torva is 20% cashmere. Also, I just can't say enough about the colour. I haven't managed to take a single photo that captures it properly but the blend of shades is just perfect. There's enough variation to keep it interesting but nothing so busy that it swamps the simple pattern.

I think I may have a new favourite scarf and, believe me, this scarf has a lot of competition to beat.

So, why was it a Very Kvothe Birthday? Because, in addition to finishing my scarf, my sister gave me the sequel to The Name of the Wind. So, for the first time in a while, I spent almost all of Sunday under a warm blanket getting lost in a book. 

Sorry, knitting, you can't come close to that.