Current Project Progress: 
This week there hasn't been enough time to knit. I know that seems like I wasn't trying hard enough, but it's true. I've had a lot of work stuff going on and a guest coming in to stay with us next week. (I still have cleaning to do for that...) Or maybe it's just been the past few days that I haven't had enough knitting time. Or maybe I'm knitting but because progress is so slow it feels like I haven't had enough knitting time. Or maybe making/playing with my blog options has kept me from knitting.... Either way I feel like I'm missing out on some critical knitting time.
I think part of it has to do with the fact I'm doing a pattern for the first time. It's a simple pattern (in theory) just some stripes on a dishcloth. It's just the way the stitches are put together. I have to be patient and take my time. I have 15 rows of 5o stitches since Thursday. That seems so painfully slow to me. In my defense I also haven't had as much time to knit. Last night while knitting I decided that using my stitch markers might be a good idea. The pattern I'm doing has me repeating 5 stitches 8 times per row. Then every other row has a different pattern. I have it written down but my brain can only hold so much information. It helped a lot. I could look back at the last few stitches and see where I was. Is it sad that I can't remember what I did 2 stitches ago or even what I'm in the middle of doing? o.0
I also decided to switch over to metal needles from my bamboo. I found it's much easier to frog with the metal needles. Although since I started using the stitch markers I haven't had to rip anything back. :D So I'm mostly just giving them a chance. (I love my bamboo needles so much!)
I'm not really seeing any stripes yet. I believe I am doing as the pattern requested. At this point I'm just waiting to see what happens. *L* On the plus side my edges look much better than before and I don't have frumpy lumpy corners. :D
I choose a wash cloth to do as my first pattern project because it is small and unless I do something really tragic it will be useful in the end.
In other news this morning I placed my first KnitPicks order. For about 20 minutes I thought I had found a 10% off coupon code. *sigh* I did, but it was from a few years ago and in my excitement I didn't notice the date until I went back to use it. Ah well. I still got my goodies, but 10% off would have been nice.
I need to start thinking/looking for my next project. I'd like to do a Panta and it would give me an opportunity to learn to increase and decrease... not sure yet. Still thinking on that. I'm not sure I'm qualified to make more than a square at this time. *L*
I think you could handle a panta.
Decreasing is easy. You knit or purl with two stitches rather than just one.
Increasing is a bit harder and takes a little work to look okay from what I can tell. You knit or purl into the back of the stitch. Then into the front.
I think a panta would be a great way for you to learn those two things without feeling like it's the end of the world if it's not perfect the first time.
Do you want me to make you one and send it up to you? Then you can see what it is and get an idea of what you need to do. Assuming I can follow the actual pattern for once. *L*
Posted by: Cookie | April 08, 2006 at 05:22 PM