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July 10, 2007
Centered
So I've finished the center of the Spring Shawl.
Sure, it's pretty now. But all has not been sweetness and light between us.
About halfway through the center, I made a rather Glaring Error, which I only noticed about five rows later. Usually I'm pretty cavalier about lace knitting mistakes (i.e., "Fuck it--no one will ever notice"), but this error was, well, glaring. Now, you must understand that I don't use lifelines (out of laziness? hubris? a little of both?), so the only way to fix it was to either painstakingly tink back six rows (not going to happen), or pop the whole thing off the needle, rip down to the offending row, and then attempt to get all those tiny slippery stitches back on the needle in the appropriate order.
Which is what I (after taking a very very deep breath) did.
This nightmarish process took the entirety of a Darkman viewing (believe me, I could completely empathize with his uncontrollable rages and mental instability at the time). At several points, I came very close to ripping the whole damn thing out and starting over (or stomping on it and setting it on fire).
But in the end, knitter somehow triumphed over shawl. And the rest of the center was totally delightful, honest.
On to the border!
Posted by missalicefaye at July 10, 2007 09:38 AM
I don't use lifelines either, but I can tink forEVER.
That is a lovely, lovely shawl. But it has a great wide border, doesn't it?? :(
Posted by: Janice in GA at July 10, 2007 10:17 AM
Oh, and I actually threw down some knitting on the floor and trampled it once. It wasn't lace -- it was about the 12th time I'd tried to start a toe-up sock and buggered it up.
Interestingly enough, after I'd trampled on the yarn, I was able to actually cast on again and have the stupid toe WORK correctly. I'd either beaten the yarn into submission, or got enough frustration out of the way to do it right.
I like toe-up socks in theory, but I've yet to find a version that's as easy for me as kitchenering the toe together.
Posted by: Janice in GA at July 10, 2007 10:20 AM
It's beautiful! Painful as it must have been, you did the right thing.
Posted by: Valerie at July 10, 2007 10:32 AM
Well, it certainly is beautiful, and I love the color! I don't use lifelines either, and leave small mistakes. But glaring ones - those have to be fixed even though it is so painful and irritating to rip out the lace. Pretty sure I've actually thrown a shawl across the room in anger once!
Posted by: Gena at July 10, 2007 11:08 AM
I don't use a lifeline either! I believe for me it's out of this not being a habit ... every time I just started and kept kintting ... the idea of lifeline never went into my big head! Except when I made a mistake, that is!
Posted by: Agnes at July 10, 2007 11:22 AM
holy moly you are really plugging along.
Posted by: lisa at July 10, 2007 11:26 AM
eegads, woman. don't you have enough frustrations in life with school, etc. that you have to go ripping out 6 rows and picking up tiny stitches? i fully understand the compulsion to have it done right, but...well, hopefully this shawl is destined for greatness and someone who will appreciate the agony that it's creation entailed!
Posted by: jessica at July 10, 2007 11:35 AM
Oh, it's so gorgeous!! I haven't done a lot of lace knitting, but enough that I can really appreciate the amount of work that's gone into that so far... beautiful!
Posted by: Rete at July 10, 2007 11:44 AM
Add me to the list of those who don't use life lines but like Janice, I could tink forever. The shawl is looking great. How do you like the yarn? I'm always looking to try new yarns and have never used Tencel.
Posted by: colette at July 10, 2007 12:26 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Laritza at July 10, 2007 03:10 PM
It was well worth the effort, Alice. It's stunning!. I am afraid that I use lifelines a lot. Chicken knitter here :)
Posted by: fleegle at July 10, 2007 03:49 PM
It looks really gorgeous! I feel so sorry you had to rip it down. had same problem lately :(
Posted by: Ille at July 10, 2007 03:50 PM
Looks great, but I can't believe how quick you've done it...
Posted by: Littleberry at July 10, 2007 03:51 PM
What?! No lifeline?! Oh No! I held my breath for you. Glad you didn't have to start over! Beautiful as usual! :)
Posted by: miyamojo at July 10, 2007 08:21 PM
Sometimes I think mastery is more about a willingness to fix mistakes and/or start over than it is about achieving perfection in the first place.
Another beautiful shawl!
Posted by: Kirsten at July 10, 2007 10:49 PM
It's beautiful, well done.
I must admit to a ripping incident myself too. At the early stages of the border on the Princess I dropped a stitch, and wasn't quite quick enough to pick it back up. I lost about 10 rows. I couldn't see myself tinking 8000+ stitches, so I took it all off the needles and ripped. Boy that was nerve racking, but I always had the knowledge that I could go back to the edging.
So I can sympathize, it is a painstaking process to return it all to the needle. But well worth the effort.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy at July 11, 2007 12:42 PM
that sounds like when i spend 2 hours on a picture. 20 psd layers later and photoshop locks up. i lose everything because i am too much of a dumbass to save periodically as i go. i won't be enduring a locking computer much longer though, i am picking up the new Mac on saturday!! :)
btw... this is my favorite yet. have i mentioned how much i LOVE that color!
Posted by: Roni at July 11, 2007 04:29 PM
Dear missalicefaye,
I totally feel your pain! I tried a lifeline just once and really hated it so I never use one either. You are a brave soul to just take out those needles and rip back. I've done it before but not on gossamer weight yarn. I'm surprised it didn't take you a double feature to pick them back up again! Your shawl is just magnificent and, darn it, I just had to go buy that pattern too! I can't wait to see the border. I know it will be fabulous. Your yarn is so pretty I'm almost drooling on the key board. Beautiful work!
Posted by: Jane at July 12, 2007 01:55 AM
Oh my...congrats on that one. I've done the tinking back row by row on the fine lace, I think it would take a martini or two for me to just take it off the needles and punt!
The red is really showing off the pattern and making it stand out, goregous work!
Posted by: mari at July 12, 2007 02:11 PM
oh, now, THAT is lovely. the color is really incredible.
Posted by: anne at July 19, 2007 11:55 PM
Oh how I wish I my neighbour hung such wonder on the washing line.
This shawl, as all your shawls, beautiful.
Love the deep red.
Posted by: Ailsa at August 6, 2007 08:37 PM
Once again, beautiful work! I can understand not wanting to use the lifeline. It is quite a bit of work when you have to put a line through hundreds of stitches.
Taking lace knitting off the needle? I have not tried that again after my first experience. :-)
Posted by: Jason at August 8, 2007 10:42 AM
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