Knitterly Confidence

Ever wonder if you should have any? I'm wondering lately. I've been knitting for almost 40 years, and steadily like a crack addict for the last five, but I've had a few patterns lately that have me absolutely stymied. And I'm starting to wonder if it's me...

I frogged a sock recently that I had knit to the mid-heel level. I don't want to mention the designer or where I got the pattern, but it was a full-scale battle throughout. Each new phase of the pattern was a new area I had to plow through, learning new techniques (which is always good) but having to also learn how in hell I'm supposed to accomplish it. After five such wars, I gave up. But I didn't give up easily. I hung in there longer than most knitters would have. There was a trail of blue curses behind each row it seemed. Finally, somewhat in shame, I gave up. I didn't want to give up...I wanted to win the battles...

Then I started a cotton baby sweater for our little Chase. The pattern is by Debbie Bliss and is called "Sweater with Ribbed Yoke." You can look at it in Ravelry. It calls for straight needles but since the sweater is stocking stitch to the arm holes, I thought I'd do it on a circular. The going was a bit rough as I started with the ribbing, and it continued to get rougher the further along I went. I finally decided, since I was experiencing my first mobius (without actually meaning to, sigh...) the circular needle was probably too long, so I ripped it out too.

I don't like starting new projects while others linger waiting to be completed, but last weekend I just needed a fresh start on something. Needed a band-aid for the confidence blows I was suffering. I've had some Fabel by GarnStudio laying around calling my name, so I heeded its call and started a plain-jane pair of socks for myself. Those are going fine. I put a short row garter stitch heel in the first one and this sock appears to be the best fitted sock I've ever made myself.


Nice fit, eh?



Last night I started my first shawl. I've had some Estelle Watercolour in a sensual deep red that has also been screaming for me.



I'm knitting it into Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Snowdrop shawl. This yarn has a good halo (50% mohair) and a pretty sheen that catches the light beautifully. Unfortunately, the mohair halo makes ripping stitches highly unpleasant so I'll have to just knit on it when I'm at my knitting best, not at night when my brain and fingers have had enough for the day.

I'm also teaching myself to crochet. It's going pretty good. I have a good grasp of single crochet.



So, my to-do list is growing daily: four or five projects on the go, spinning practice, crochet practice, day job, kids, husband, house, dog (NEVER in that order).

I'm feeling much better about my flagging confidence. Nothing like getting it off your chest, AND the joy of new knitting to make you forget...