September 16, 2011

epic knitting fail

Since I'm currently working on stuff that's taking awhile I thought I would amuse you with something else. About 2 months ago I decided to make cookie a's Clandestine socks from 'Knit.Sock.Love' and I swatched with many yarns until deciding on some fabulous Malabrigo sock yarn in a deep red (tiziano). Putting aside my misgivings about using a yarn without nylon content for durability I succumbed to its velvety softness; likely swayed by the word 'sock' in its name.

I proceeded to spend many hours knitting happily along, progressing through the charts (which are much more complicated on the leg than the foot. By then you're home free). Very time consuming but very enjoyable as well, so I was looking forward to sock #2. However, as I went along the nagging voice in my head persisted and it said "you've knit a million socks. You always cast on over two needles to ensure there's enough stretchiness on the cuff. You didn't this time because you're insane and you followed the instructions to the letter and they just said 'cast on' not 'cast on over 2 needles' and you were busy thinking about the charts and you weren't really paying attention to what you were doing and now you.are.screwed."

Of course, I completely ignored the annoying nagging voice until the very very end when I was confident I could try on the sock without pulling out a needle (thus letting fall a row of lace stitches I would never recover from). And, as you've guessed, there is a certain undeniable tightness to the cuff I am completely unable to come to terms with and the sock has been banished out of sight ever since. It doesn't even deserve a colour photo right now.

I'm starting again. LATER. With something with a bit of nylon, over 2 needles. Because it has to work next time.
Posted by at

9 comments:

  1. kimmiekatSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    I'm tempted to respond with, "Aww, wouldn't that rot your socks?" but somehow that's no help! I have two wips in the basket now with similarly annoying features- a Levenwick with a droopy, too big collar (but the rest looks fantastic, maybe I can ignore the collar? and a Shibuya sweater with really amateur-looking side increases that could have been avoided with a larger needle choice. Stupid stupid. The sock looks awesome, by the way;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. dwSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    Oh dear. I just HATE it when that happens. What possesses us to ignore that self-preserving naggy voice, anyway? Geez, you'd think we would have evolved past that...

    ReplyDelete
  3. KarSeptember 17, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    I feel your pain Chris. I did that once a few years ago with a pair of socks for myself. I thought I was going to get sick. I just know it will work out this time for you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. SheilaSeptember 17, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    Oh no!!! I am a newbie....consider your 'pain' my 'gain'.....I will keep this in mind when I finally get to knitting the socks on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SuviSeptember 18, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Oh no, sorry that happened to you! I've done this too, several times, ignoring the nagging little voice. And then, much later, noticed that the voice was right.
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  6. craftivoreSeptember 19, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    Argh, how annoying. That darn annoying nagging voice is always right. Any way to unravel the cuff and knit a little picot edge cuff on there?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    but it is so beautiful. maybe you can just put it on display somewhere. SP

    ReplyDelete
  8. EvelynSeptember 20, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    I recently banished a WIP to the corner, too, and felt so frustrated by how I wasn't getting the project right. It can be a little exhausting. But as you say, onwards and upwards... lessons learned, right?

    ReplyDelete
  9. At Home Mommy KnitsSeptember 20, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I'm so sorry!! So disheartening when that happens.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)