I have been a very, very, stupid, stupid knitter 😳
I finished knitting the parts of my Keats jumper in cream…
(That’s this one if you don’t remember)…..
….I short rowed and three needle bind offed my shoulders
(patting myself on the back for being so clever)…
……..I sewed on the sleeves
(“oh this is going to be great” *smug*smug*smug*) …
……….Then I tried to sew up the side seams….
DISASTER!
The sides didn’t match up!!
I have knitted 8 rows too few rib on the front!!!!! 😥
It looked awful. The rib is a major feature of the design. It screamed “botch up” when I tried to ignore it and sew it up anyway.
I figured I had three choices:-
- Undo the sewing up and precious first success at short row shoulders and frog the whole front. 😮
- Cut a stitch and carefully undo one row of knitting to detach the rib, knit the extra rows and graft it back on. *shudder with horror at the thought** 😯
- Have 2 bottles of wine, chop Keats into little pieces, build a large bonfire and dance hysterically around the burning “garment pyre” in a drunken hissy fit. 👿
Option 3 was pretty attractive but I think my neighbours might have called the funny farm. And I’m not sure 2 bottles of wine, a depressed knitter and a large fire would produce anything more positive than third degree burns.
Option 1 is my fall back position if nothing else works I’ll have to re-knit the front. I really don’t want to have to do this – my mind has already started my next project – I want Keats finished.
That left scary option 2…..
The unpicking a row went well….so did the knitting the extra rows of rib….(signs of smugness creeping back in) then the grafting. I should add here – I have never grafted knitting – just seen it in books – gulp. If I was grafting onto stocking stitch I would have been fine.
Stupid, stupid me had undone the first row above the rib. The row that the pattern in knits and purls starts on.
This was serious. Ben was forbidden to speak, move or otherwise distract me (breathing was permitted but only if done quietly).
Montse Stanley’s Knitter’s Handbook came out – ALL HAIL MONTSE STANLEY! Three clearly illustrated pages on grafting knits, purls, and combinations of the two!
Stupid, stupid me is now trying to graft the first pattern row.
Stupid, stupid me got to the centre point and had managed to drift out by two stitches – which screamed because the rib and the body have a definite centre line.
**insert Tantrum here***
Once I’d calmed myself , stupid, stupid me has unpicked again.
This is where I am today…
…about to mark evey 10 stitches top and bottom to make sure I match stitch to stitch ALL the way along.
Some close up grafted stuff that’s almost right…
Wish me luck . I’m going to need it.
Hey Susan, wow you are certainly having knitting dramas! And people think knitting isn’t exciting! I really felt for you when you realised you’d undone the first row above the rib, rather than the rib itself. White knuckle, edge-of-the-seat stuff.
Congrats on your determined and painstaking repair job! And btw, thanks for your nice comment on my blog too.
*goes away to order a copy of Montse Stanley on Amazon*
*comes back*
Btw, thanks for the knitted zombies link! Fabulous.
Rachel
Thanks and you’re welcome!
Montse Stanley – heavy going but really worth it when you’re stuck!
Susan
Well Done Susan – I am most impressed – Again your work is perfect – The above book sounds great – I am doing Land Girls in Sublime and have to do short row shaping on the neck, have tried a few times but not really successful, is this book worth investing in?
Pls tell us what your next project is?
Ruth
Hi Ruth
There’s two books I’d recommend for techniques – Finishing Techniques for Hand Knitters by Jane Crowfoot and this one by Montse Stanley.
The Jane Crowfoot book is very good especially for newer knitters.
Montse Stanley is more in depth and a wee bit pompous (and doesn’t cover zips!) I’ve come back to this one after building up my confidance with Jane’s book.
I got both in my local John Lewis – might be worth a trip to have a flick though both – what works for me might not work for you!
Current WIP is still Glade – the edging is super but taking an age!!
Susan
Hi Susan
Is this the title of the book you have re finishing etc.
Knitter’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Techniques of Handknitting
Ruth
Yup! 🙂 that’s it, Ruth. ” ISBN 07153 1286 3″
It covers a lot more than just finishing – there’s still tons I have to learn from this one.
Susan
Great thanks – I will invest.
Ruth