So, at some point in the not too distant past, I heard someone (probably in a movie) say something looked a “hot mess”. At the time, I had a hard time thinking I’d work that phrase into my daily vocab. Turns out I was wrong. I attempted this hat:
http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/2008/07/hermiones-cable-eyelet-hat.html
It is really pretty and I’m quite sure that if a person can read the pattern and knit, it works out beautifully. I, evidently, cannot read a pattern. I confused this with the other hat I was considering that was worked on circular needles in rows. So about 1/3 of the way in, I realized something was wrong, but wasn’t sure what, so I kept going. Things didn’t look quite right, but since I was feeling negatively towards the alpaca I was using, I thought maybe it was to blame. So, 2/3 of the way in, I thought, hmmm. this isn’t right. This looks a hot mess……..
So, I ripped a couple of rows out of it to see if I could salvage it and figured out what I had done. I had been so excited by my new found continental speed that I had been paying no attention to the pattern and how it was really supposed to look at the beginning and the fact that I should have been working in the round. I pretty much invented my own pattern to decrease at the top and ended up with a hat that any non-knitter would be pleased with. :)
and I felt a strange sense of accomplishment that I ripped and then picked up 110 stitches. This is huge progress for me. :)
Here are a few pictures for you to admire or laugh at depending on your mood.
(5/12/2009 10:20 pm)
I’ve finished my first cable knitting project, steamed it, and actually done the assembly. That is the shocking part. :) It doesn’t look perfect, but I’m happy with it. My husband actually laughed when he saw it and said, “that’s the tiniest purse ever”, so, I explained that it is just for shopping/going out when all you need is a credit card and id. I’m thinking of wearing it later today to a college softball game. :)
I’m working feverishly on the huge navy blanket which I feel like I’ll never finish and the crocheted cables blanket.
I want to get started on some slippers, but have told myself I must start another knitting project, not a crocheted one to further my skills for the GAAA. If my SIL has a boy, I may knit a blanket for him. But, I won’t know whether to go for a girly blanket or a boyish one for another two months, so I’ll have to come up with a different knitting project for the immediate future….not to mention the fact that I wonder if I’m actually up to knitting a blanket. Last time I tried to use circular needles, it did not go well…. I found a pattern for a vintage bridal coat that I would love to do in black, but I think at this stage of the game, that project might end in tears….so I’m still hunting.
In other news, I just saw the second Harry Potter movie (watched the first one a couple of weeks ago) and I know I’m way behind the curve, but they are not half bad little flicks…and no, I haven’t read any of the books. :)
(5/2/2009 9:14 am)
The small cable purse is coming along; I’ve completed the knitting (long I-cord & body of the purse). Now, I need to steam block it and assemble it. I think I’ll try to get to that tomorrow night. I can’t WAIT to wear it! It is the perfect size for credit card, ID, etc.
Here is a picture of the finished purse. It is not perfect, but I’m proud that I figured out how to decrease on a cable row.This is in fact my first knitted project that included decreases and the first knitted cable item that I’ve completed. :)
Last weekend, I delivered the strawberry banana blanket. Baby M was more excited by the idea of a present than by the blanket itself, but I think that is to be expected from a toddler. Her mom really liked the blanket. I look forward to it being roughly loved in the years ahead. I hope she loves it as much as I loved my yellow bunny blanket (I wonder whatever happened to that old thing?)…. 
(4/28/2009 10:45 pm)
