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Wednesday, May 03, 2006

The Horror & The Honor

Oh, the horror of it all! I can't believe this finally happened to me. I mean, I knew eventually that it would, but not just now! I bet you're wondering just what I'm talking about. Well, wonder no more for I will tell you.

I experienced the WWF for the first real time this morning!! Oh, I am in utter disbelief that I would have to experience this right now. Why couldn't it happen much later down the road instead of now? Oh, yeah, I should explain what WWF is. No, it is not the world wrestling federation (and I think I heard they actually changed their letters now to something else, but since I'm not a fan of the stuff I don't really care, lol). Is it the World Wildlife Fund? Nope, though I think their little panda symbol is so cute!

No, WWF stands for World Wide Frogging! What does world wide have to do with it? Well, nothing but I thought it might make help me create a post about my frogging experience. Yeah, I know, I'm lame.

Remember my
Let's Party Cardi that I have been working on? Well, I have the back completed, both fronts, and was nearly completed with the first sleeve - I just had maybe 5 or 6 more rows to go until I would bind off. Then I discovered it. A huge mistake. The directions said to "work in pattern, and at same time, inc 1 st at each edge..." Ok, well somehow between reading that and following the pattern to the first row (every 4th row) that required the increasing, I somehow overlooked or forgot about the "at each edge" part of it. What I ended up doing was only increasing one stitch at one edge. It said to keep doing this until you get 54 stitches, and works out 11 times. So, as I'm working away at it and am nearing 40 stitches, I somehow did the math and 4 x 11 = 44 right? Well it wasn't adding up for me. How can you get 54 stitches if 4 x 11 = 44? So I read further and it said to knit until it measured 10 inches. And I'm thinking 10 inches with 54 stitches at the rate I'm going isn't going to happen - either that or it is going to be as nearly as wide as the back. What 4 year old kid has arms that big?

So, I decided there must have been a printing error and it should have read 44 stitches instead of 54. So, I followed the pattern until I got to 44 and then knit until it reached the required 10 inches and started to do the first part of the binding off for the sleeve cap. I held the sleeve up and folded it together to see how it would look as a sleeve. Well, it looked a little thin, like it might not be big enough to go around an arm. It was at this point that I went back and looked over the directions and found where I went wrong.

Yeah, yeah, I know...all knitters experience this, but it's my first real frogging experience and it made me sad (insert sad, pathetic looking face here). At least it was on the sleeve of a childs cardigan with just knitting and purling stitches though, and not some intricate piece of lace or something. Though since I plan to try some lace this summer, I am fearing this will happen then too. Ok Shelley, suck it up and get on with it....

Now, comes the honor! If you are still reading this by this point...I checked the comments on my previous post before I started my blog entry just now, and found out Stephanie had left a comment. Lot's of Stephanie's out there right? Well, I hadn't recalled a Stephanie leaving a comment before (at least that I can think of, but I could be wrong - it's been known to happen before (case in point, see the first part of this post).

So, usually if I don't recognize a name, I click on it to go see the blog and if it is one I have visited before or not. Anyway, to my great surprise, the blog that appeard was none other than the Yarn Harlot's!!! Woot! I got a comment from the Great Yarn Harlot! I feel so privledged and...faint! Ok, maybe not faint - that would be a lie and I don't want to lie. But hey, it made for good theatrics didn't it?

Now, I am a consistant reader of the Yarn Harlot. I may not always leave a comment, but I have in the past. Anyway, I know she says that people are surprised when she tells them she reads their blogs. Well, I now know how those people feel. Woot!

I just wish I had one of those witty cool blogs, or one of those blogs that show fabulous pics of hard intricate patterns that have been made, or one of those blogs full of items designed by the blog owner/operator. Sadly, mine isn't like that. It's a blog with a few pics of mediocre items knit by a somewhat newish knitter. Now, I've been knitting for about 4 or 5 years now, but I tend to stick to the easy patterns and fear the more advanced ones. I think maybe I could move up to intermediate now though...which I think I'm starting to do in some cases. Anyway, the bulk of my knitting prior to now has been making mittens and 3 sweaters for my soon to be 3 year old nephew. But, I'm sure Ms. Harlot understands. I just hope she wasn't bored to tears...

Now I am all inspired to go back and work on the sweater sleeve of the Let's Party Cardi and hopefully get it completed (the whole thing, not just the sleeve) before I start work on Monday.

Happy Knitting!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's so cool about the Yarn Harlot! I would be totally over the moon if she ever commented on my blog. Go you!

As for the lace (and more advanced projects in general), you'll do great! One of the keys with lace is to use lifelines (yarn threaded through ever few rows so you can rip back easily to a certain point if you make a mistake) -- they've definitely saved my life (or at least my sanity) a few times!

Ruth said...

Yea, I think Stephanie regularly posts comments on blogs that mention her name. I mentioned one of her books just ONCE, and that got a comment onto my blog almost instantly. Pretty cool huh? =)

As for your cardi - I totally feel your pain!! I made almost the same mistake on this one lace shrug (I was supposed to decrease in the lace pattern every # of rows, and totally did it wrong). Frogging back lace was a really scary thing back then (I was only 6 months new into my knitting). And it's STILL sitting in a bag upstairs, untouched. Still scared and discouraged at it. =P

Rhonda the Stitchingnut said...

Nobody likes to Frog, especially when you're so close to the end. But [and this is key] you discovered your mistake before seaming it. LoL, think of it as being "saved-in-time" and you'll be so happy with the newly knit sleeve. Happy knitting, Shelley!

p.s.
I thought the Yarn Harlot was very nice when I meet her. She even autographed all 3 of her books for me. Now that's a regular NICE knitter!!

Sharon said...

Shelley you know there is a real positive to take out of this, you will ALWAYS check that from now on and NEVER make that mistake again, how do I know this? I did it once too and now I double check the patterns, oh yes it can make you slightly paranoid!!!

You must have been pretty chuffed when the Yarn Harlot left a comment on your blog, how exciting. She has discovered what we already know, that you have a great blog :)

Lynda said...

Ok - pick yourself up and Party Cardi Hearty!!! And, 8 lbs - you go!! I'll cheer you, and you can cheer me!!

amylovie said...

How neat to have a brush with fame!

Amy

lexa said...

Been there, done that, with misreading a pattern! I know how you feel.

So cool to get a comment from the Yarn Harlot!

Maggie Ann said...

I'm glad you are you! Your knitting is just great and I like the patterns you choose. I learn from your posts sometimes too. Like blocking before seaming. I just don't have enough hours in the day to do everything I want to and yes, I am a slow-poke! smile.