Monday, September 22, 2008

Of Fear and Revelation

So there I was, knitting along on Mystery Stole 4, when I dropped a stitch. I didn’t know that I’d dropped it; I just kept merrily cruising along, counting under my breath and placing beads, happy as could be.

Then, when I shifted my work along my right needle to give myself some more room, the dropped stitch ran down 6 rows of knitting, right along a column of stitches that has a bead every other row.

I heard the beads plink down onto the table, and I kid you not, my heart really did skip a beat. Dropped stitch, dropped beads… I got kind of dizzy.

And then something happened which I didn’t expect. I got very calm. I picked the dropped beads with my 1 mm crochet hook, positioned my work so that the dropped stitch was between my needles, and very carefully hooked the stitch back up, putting the beads back where they belonged.

It was amazing; I felt as though I had finished my first marathon, or written “The End” after 1000 pages.

It seems like such a small thing, a skill that every knitter should have, but I’d never done it quite like that before. No hissing and cursing, just a calm marshaling of tools and knowledge.

Ever since then, it’s gotten easier for me. I finally understand what lace knitters are talking about when they tell me to read my knitting. I can see the pattern emerging and intuit where it’s heading. The yarn doesn’t seem so terrifyingly thin and fragile; the beads don’t seem to be waiting to slide off the floss.

All of a sudden, I don’t feel so guilty about all the lace-weight in my stash. I feel like I’ll be able to make things with it that I’ll be proud of.

And all because I dropped a stitch.

So, have you had moments of fear and revelation with your knitting? I’d love to hear about them!

10 comments:

TinkingBell said...

Oh well done!! The dropped stitch doesn't worry me - but the beads would make me sick!

Alwen said...

Well, there was the time the dog took the bag I'm knitting on 00 needles with size 30 crochet thread and chewed on it. This is a dog who chewed up a soup can so it looked like someone had shot at it.

I didn't even look at my knitting for a couple of days.

When I finally did, I found he had broken one stitch, which I repaired with an extra piece of thread and a needle. He bent a couple of the needles, too.

But when I saw that bag on the floor, o h oh oh, my stomach sank.

essjay said...

Good for your for just doing it!!! What accomplishment! Skeeter jumped on Juno just right to pull the cable out of the needle. There was recover, but it required tinking back about 10 rows. When I did Leo for Shane I had no qualms about dropping a stitch down 40 rows to fix a purl that should have been a knit (anal much Sara?). You are a fearless knitter!

Joanne said...

Wow. It sounds like you've just learned how to react under pressure to a *knitting emergency*. Ohhh. That's a serious zen master skill! Good for you! (I'm not being sarcastic here. Dead serious.)

I think my biggest fear and revelation discovery was when I first started doing design work and felt downright sick with anxiety over the notion that my sweater sample might be late. That was my first hint. Believe it or not, there are times when knitting isn't always fun/enjoyable/insert something positive here. Who would have thought?!

Karen said...

Well done!
I know what you mean about assessing the situation and marshaling all your knitting know-how: it's such a great feeling to know what to do, isn't it?
My "uh-oh" moments aren't usually so dramatic, but learning to read the lace is fairly new to me, too, and it's a skill I treasure.

JustApril said...

ooooooo awesome! Isn't it great when you can suddenly read a project after stumbling along for several rows or repeats? It's like music or something. I'll have to think about my latest knitting revelation and post it later this week, if I can get the brain tissue working in that direction.

Also... if you have an email address that you don't mind sharing, I'll answer your comments on my blog that way. (if ya want, no pressure or whatever. lol)

aprilynnekATyahooDOTcom for me

Kyle William said...

there was the couple times when I was making the "Dr. G's Memory Vest" when I crossed the cables wrong - I'd be 4 or 18 rows past my mistake and realize it - I would pull my needles out of the offending columns of stitches, drop down to the mistake, fix it (them) and knit back up row by row - until it was correct.... it's an amazing feeling - and gets easier with time (so I have heard) -

in the end, I tell myself "it's just knitting" and "try it" - most of the time I'm pretty pleased with the results!

I am proud of you for taking the chance and "just fixing" your boo boo!!! :)

Bells said...

what an inspirational tale. Well done. You've crossed a bridge into a wonderful new world!

Anonymous said...

WOw--I think you just found the knitting zone!! How cool...I haven't but glad you have!

Anonymous said...

That's great--you're in the "zone"!! Beads-I'm not ready for.