THREES

I’m taking a class in Aran knitting from Sarah Peasley, and as usual in one of her classes, I learn far more than I anticipated. We are working on a bag of her design, which includes right crosses and left crosses, and 1/1s and 2/2s and 2/1s and stuff like that. So far I’ve learned how to do the following things:
1. Knit cables of varying sizes and orientation.
2. Knit cables without a cable needle (Oh the Freedom!!).
3. Read a chart.

Wow, that last one is a biggie. Up till now, charts have made my eyes glaze over. But I’ve quickly come to recognize that the chart is my friend. A line magnifier would be my friend too, if I had one. That’s my next purchase.

So here’s what the bag looks like so far. I would make progress faster if I didn’t stop to look after every row to 1) admire my handiwork and 2)search compulsively for errors. There is nothing like a class with Sarah to bring out the latent perfectionist in me. Very latent.

I’ve stopped now in the middle of a row because my newly perfectionist eyes have found what I think is  an error. I’m going to wait and see if Sarah can help me fix it without having to undo a whole lot. (Actually I’ve found several errors, but only one I’m willing to admit is bad enough that it has to be redone.) (See Kristi’s progress for a much better photo of what it should be looking like.)

I am on the third rendition now of the Scalloped Bag by Oat Couture. I’m certainly hoping that the third time is the charm. If you will remember, I frogged the first start because I had gotten a wee bit confused about what direction I was going on the short rows. I decided to change to a different color of the second yarn as long as I was starting over, and the change to a yummy teal blue was just right. I was rolling merrily along on the second incarnation of this bag, when it finally dawned on me that gauge was waaaaaaayyyy off. Normally I don’t worry much about gauge on a bag. So it comes out a little bigger or smaller. But in this bag, row gauge becomes important. When I switched to the new teal cotton, it didn’t occur to me that it would be any different from the old navy cotton. But it was. I was halfway through the third section of the piece when it occurred to me that this was going to be a very disproportionately fat bag. Too fat. Too disproportionate.

I finally caved in and accepted the idea that I needed to make a few adjustments. I’m now stumbling along on Life Number Three for this bag, and hoping my pattern adjustments will work. So far it’s looking good. See for yourself.

Good things come in threes, so they say (who are they anyway?), and project number three is on the needles and thriving. I’m working on a tee top from Hot Knits, and I started with the sleeves to get gauge. With both sleeves done, I’m right on target with gauge and I’m ready to cast on for the back. This top is a departure from my normal tactic of keeping life simple by knitting in the round. I wanted to have set-in sleeves, so I’m doing this one by the book. I. Want. Perfect. Fit.

I also have a pair of socks just about done, but I don’t count socks as a separate project because I just always have a sock going for quick, no-think, easy to cart around knitting. It’s neat right now though, because I have a variety of projects that are all interesting to me. So far haven’t gotten bored with any of them.

Speaking of socks, do take a look at the new April issue of Mag-Knits. Lansing’s very own Rae Blackledge (of Rae’s Yarn Boutique) has published her Slinky Socks pattern. Now the wonderful details of this sock are revealed for all to imitate. This is a fun sock to knit, and I like to brag that I was her 8th grade English teacher. And now she has things to teach me, and isn't it interesting the way the world goes round?

Comments

[Laura]

ACK! Three tries... I hope this is the winning round with your bag! :)

So cool that Rae was your student - I saw that pattern this morning - really cute!

[blogdog]

Hey Sharon -- Nice to hear what you've been up to! Please post early and often about your tee from Hot Knits; I have the book and was thinking of making that one too. I lust for those Slinky Socks!

[Laurie]

You are BUSY. Lots of projects. Which tee is it from Hot Knits? I love the yarn you are using.

Why is it that the bags are such bags about being bags? My Elizabeth bag is still stalled half way thru felting....

[kristi and otis]

HOORAY for charts!!!!! I feel like so many patterns have opened up to me - btw - the magnifer was soooo worth the investment. See ya in a couple weeks.

[susan]

i love your knitting confessions............i don't know how to read a chart either and i always knit from patterns as opposed to creating my own. i hope to get to the wednesday group this week, hope to see you there.
susan (the foul-mouthed one)

[Tam]

All three projects look great! Charts are tough for me too!