Sometimes a design will just grab me, like your Shirin Shawl did, and I have to force myself to put it down each day. I did like the balance of lace and garter stitch and bobbles I always tried to stop for the day with a few rows of just garter left to ease me in to the next session.
Linda, you just made my day. Thank you so much for your kind words and letting me know how you enjoyed the pattern. A few rows of garter is such a good way to 'warmup'. Btw, the 'first version' of Shirin Shawl had excessive bobbles and it wasn't fun after a while. It went back to the white board and came out better. :))))
I’m glad there weren’t ‘excessive bobbles’. There are just enough to make it interesting. By the way it’s one of my most complemented shawls. Everyone loves it!
Oh my goodness, this is so relatable. Sometimes you just need to know when to put something down and step away. You might come back to it, or you might not but either is better than persevering with something that you know deep down isn't working.
Spot on, Louise. So many times knowing that deep down and not accepting is the problem. So much heartache can be saved if we can come to some acceptance at the right time.
I’m one of those sock knitters who immediately casts in the second sock and gets the rib going. I’ve not had second sock syndrome yet. I think getting #2 in the needles quickly helps. I tried TAAT but found it annoying. I also learn with the first sock and can make the second one better.
Larger projects are hard for me to finish. I have several afghans waiting. I’m not sure why. I’ve been pondering your posts. It may be they overwhelm me, but I do have one I really would like finished. Some day!
Good to know that immediately casting on the second sock works for you.
I see knitters are clearly divided on TAAT - some swear by it, some absolutely don't want to do anything with it. I have started taking my sock projects during my walks, so I don't want TAAT for now.
Hmm! Probably the idea of several of the same type of projects is overwhelming. I would feel that way. Setting a deadline for one and getting it done might help. Especially I believe there will be more clarity about how to deal with the rest.
Darn. I was just typing out a long comment when I accidentally swiped left and lost it. I feel like I just pulled out a needle from a lace project without a lifeline.
I often find it difficult to finish a project because while I am planning and knitting, I get a vision in my head of the finished project. When it’s done, the actual object can never live up to the vision, whether the “flaws” are caused by my technical skills (or lack thereof), the fiber, the color(s), or even the design.
In the midst of a project, I do sometimes put down a boring section. More often, the project requires attention I’m not capable of at that time. And then resuming the project takes extra energy. Where is the pattern? If I have to reprint it, did I make modifications? What row was I on? I have learned to always keep the project on the original needles and to keep my handwritten notes with the project or in my knitting journal. As for keeping track of the row, the biggest aid has been a row counter by Twice Sheared Sheep (https://twiceshearedsheep.com/collections/original-chain-style-row-counters). It’s invaluable for stitch patterns and useful for shaping (ie increase every fourth row). That helped me finish a stroller blanket in time for my friend’s second child which I started when she was pregnant with the first.
But I do have a blanket I started for my late brother and somehow I can’t bear to finish it. It’s too late to give to him. And sometimes I come back to a project and just frog it!
Finally, I have learned the hard way never to cast off a project late at night or when I’m in a hurry.
I am so sorry for your loss. Our knitting is all tangled up in memories and it is difficult to get past them.
Thank you for bringing up this GREAT point. A lot of energy can be saved by making it easier for ourselves to "resume a project".
I have heard good things about chain style row counters too. It reminds me of an abacus somehow. Speaking of keeping track, I recently came across some stitch markers that has a teeny tiny clipboard to hold a post-it note. I thought that was clever.
Also I LOVE how you compared swiping left and pulling out a needle. :)
I love knitting plain stockinette. It’s so relaxing and I can watch or listen to something without making mistakes lol. Sometimes if I’m working through a long project and my motivation is lagging, I’ll tell myself I’m only going to do this much or get to that place in the pattern, and that helps a lot.
Sometimes mindless stockinette bores me to death and so I pick up a quick crochet project. Mostly I knit projects that my daughter fancies, so I am motivated to finish it. If it were for me and it bores me midway, I usually abandon it.
Absolutely Vidya! It is our own deadline that suffers the most. If there is anyone else involved, we waste no time in convincing ourselves to GET IT DONE. I wonder why that is so, actually.
Again, your sage advice is so helpful Kavitha. I'm really enjoying this series and will incorporate your suggestions into my knitting practice. Such a gorgeous shawl, I love the edge design, such a lovely detail.
Yay!! I am glad you are enjoying the series. Thank you Jodie. This was my first attempt at holding mohair along with another yarn and I enjoyed coming up with this one so much.
Good old Ernest Hemingway has some pretty good guidance there! And your habit of setting yourself up to start with an easier part is the way to go for me, too! I used to treat myself for completing something I was not thrilled to be working on. Read 'treat' as in food, well I soon had to stop those kind of treats! 😄 Like you Kavitha I love to listen to audio books while I work. And sometimes when I have an audio book that I am keen to listen to, I pair it with the boring part of a knit to see me thru that part of the project. (I am a big fan of Susan Wittig Albert who has lots of audio books and a Substack with various interests in addition to her writing.) Other treats now include spending time in the garden, going for a walk or trying a special tea while I am knitting. I sometimes use that time to plan my grocery/meal planning, or general to-do lists of errands. But luckily knitting is in my blood and I still enjoy most of it!
Omg, 'treat' is the right word for it. Treating knitting success with some more knitting. I love hearing about all the little bits you do around knitting. Special tea is a great idea, I might borrow that one.
And thank you for this 'treat'! :)) I just looked up Susan Witting Albert. Historic + Mystery novels!! Count me in, I added one to my queue.
Sometimes a design will just grab me, like your Shirin Shawl did, and I have to force myself to put it down each day. I did like the balance of lace and garter stitch and bobbles I always tried to stop for the day with a few rows of just garter left to ease me in to the next session.
Linda, you just made my day. Thank you so much for your kind words and letting me know how you enjoyed the pattern. A few rows of garter is such a good way to 'warmup'. Btw, the 'first version' of Shirin Shawl had excessive bobbles and it wasn't fun after a while. It went back to the white board and came out better. :))))
I’m glad there weren’t ‘excessive bobbles’. There are just enough to make it interesting. By the way it’s one of my most complemented shawls. Everyone loves it!
Yay!!! I'm so glad to hear that. It's always wonderful when a hand knit is put to use immediately and gets compliments on top of it.
Oh my goodness, this is so relatable. Sometimes you just need to know when to put something down and step away. You might come back to it, or you might not but either is better than persevering with something that you know deep down isn't working.
Spot on, Louise. So many times knowing that deep down and not accepting is the problem. So much heartache can be saved if we can come to some acceptance at the right time.
I’m one of those sock knitters who immediately casts in the second sock and gets the rib going. I’ve not had second sock syndrome yet. I think getting #2 in the needles quickly helps. I tried TAAT but found it annoying. I also learn with the first sock and can make the second one better.
Larger projects are hard for me to finish. I have several afghans waiting. I’m not sure why. I’ve been pondering your posts. It may be they overwhelm me, but I do have one I really would like finished. Some day!
Good to know that immediately casting on the second sock works for you.
I see knitters are clearly divided on TAAT - some swear by it, some absolutely don't want to do anything with it. I have started taking my sock projects during my walks, so I don't want TAAT for now.
Hmm! Probably the idea of several of the same type of projects is overwhelming. I would feel that way. Setting a deadline for one and getting it done might help. Especially I believe there will be more clarity about how to deal with the rest.
I’m the same way with socks! It’s so fun to finish one and then get past the cast on for #2!
Darn. I was just typing out a long comment when I accidentally swiped left and lost it. I feel like I just pulled out a needle from a lace project without a lifeline.
I often find it difficult to finish a project because while I am planning and knitting, I get a vision in my head of the finished project. When it’s done, the actual object can never live up to the vision, whether the “flaws” are caused by my technical skills (or lack thereof), the fiber, the color(s), or even the design.
In the midst of a project, I do sometimes put down a boring section. More often, the project requires attention I’m not capable of at that time. And then resuming the project takes extra energy. Where is the pattern? If I have to reprint it, did I make modifications? What row was I on? I have learned to always keep the project on the original needles and to keep my handwritten notes with the project or in my knitting journal. As for keeping track of the row, the biggest aid has been a row counter by Twice Sheared Sheep (https://twiceshearedsheep.com/collections/original-chain-style-row-counters). It’s invaluable for stitch patterns and useful for shaping (ie increase every fourth row). That helped me finish a stroller blanket in time for my friend’s second child which I started when she was pregnant with the first.
But I do have a blanket I started for my late brother and somehow I can’t bear to finish it. It’s too late to give to him. And sometimes I come back to a project and just frog it!
Finally, I have learned the hard way never to cast off a project late at night or when I’m in a hurry.
I am so sorry for your loss. Our knitting is all tangled up in memories and it is difficult to get past them.
Thank you for bringing up this GREAT point. A lot of energy can be saved by making it easier for ourselves to "resume a project".
I have heard good things about chain style row counters too. It reminds me of an abacus somehow. Speaking of keeping track, I recently came across some stitch markers that has a teeny tiny clipboard to hold a post-it note. I thought that was clever.
Also I LOVE how you compared swiping left and pulling out a needle. :)
They remind me of an abacus as well!
I love knitting plain stockinette. It’s so relaxing and I can watch or listen to something without making mistakes lol. Sometimes if I’m working through a long project and my motivation is lagging, I’ll tell myself I’m only going to do this much or get to that place in the pattern, and that helps a lot.
I love stockinette too. Yes setting little goals like knit one more inch (and then you can have pie!)
I love that Katie! Stockinette can feel like a reward sometimes.
Sometimes mindless stockinette bores me to death and so I pick up a quick crochet project. Mostly I knit projects that my daughter fancies, so I am motivated to finish it. If it were for me and it bores me midway, I usually abandon it.
Absolutely Vidya! It is our own deadline that suffers the most. If there is anyone else involved, we waste no time in convincing ourselves to GET IT DONE. I wonder why that is so, actually.
Again, your sage advice is so helpful Kavitha. I'm really enjoying this series and will incorporate your suggestions into my knitting practice. Such a gorgeous shawl, I love the edge design, such a lovely detail.
Yay!! I am glad you are enjoying the series. Thank you Jodie. This was my first attempt at holding mohair along with another yarn and I enjoyed coming up with this one so much.
Good old Ernest Hemingway has some pretty good guidance there! And your habit of setting yourself up to start with an easier part is the way to go for me, too! I used to treat myself for completing something I was not thrilled to be working on. Read 'treat' as in food, well I soon had to stop those kind of treats! 😄 Like you Kavitha I love to listen to audio books while I work. And sometimes when I have an audio book that I am keen to listen to, I pair it with the boring part of a knit to see me thru that part of the project. (I am a big fan of Susan Wittig Albert who has lots of audio books and a Substack with various interests in addition to her writing.) Other treats now include spending time in the garden, going for a walk or trying a special tea while I am knitting. I sometimes use that time to plan my grocery/meal planning, or general to-do lists of errands. But luckily knitting is in my blood and I still enjoy most of it!
Omg, 'treat' is the right word for it. Treating knitting success with some more knitting. I love hearing about all the little bits you do around knitting. Special tea is a great idea, I might borrow that one.
And thank you for this 'treat'! :)) I just looked up Susan Witting Albert. Historic + Mystery novels!! Count me in, I added one to my queue.
👍🤗✨ Wishing you happy treating and knitting!