Some long time ago glittrgirl or skitten posted a favored and favorite quote from Samuel Beckett, playwright and novelist. As I am an avowed Beckett fanatic, I cheered the exellent blog post and promptly turned the quote into a document to tape on the door.
Given my last two posts, I thought you should see what I see today and everyday.
Ever tried. Ever failed.
No matter. Try again.
Fail again. Fail better.
-- Samuel Beckett
Worstward Ho.
18 May 2009
17 May 2009
Lessons From Failure
1. If you really think you might not have enough yarn, you might be right.
2. If you swatch, you can risk believing your swatch.
3. Save the swatch to check later.
3. Wash the swatch so you won't be tempted simply to anticipate possible changes.
4. Note: If it fits the dress form that's much smaller than you, heed the message.
5. Move the yarn to other purposes.
6. Think about Not Knitting for a little bit.
7. Do something else.
=========================
I'm going to frog this. I already gave away a sweater that didn't fit. I'll repurpose some of the yarn.
Marcy, would you like three skeins of the light grey?
2. If you swatch, you can risk believing your swatch.
3. Save the swatch to check later.
3. Wash the swatch so you won't be tempted simply to anticipate possible changes.
4. Note: If it fits the dress form that's much smaller than you, heed the message.
5. Move the yarn to other purposes.
6. Think about Not Knitting for a little bit.
7. Do something else.
=========================
I'm going to frog this. I already gave away a sweater that didn't fit. I'll repurpose some of the yarn.
Marcy, would you like three skeins of the light grey?
16 May 2009
Not Afraid to Fail
I've cast on twice for Brigitta. I'm using some indulgent yarn from The Fibre Company - Pemaquid - I picked up from a sale basket. No surprise it's from Maine. Sounds very Maine. Since there hadn't been enough of the black heather (Starry Night, the name of the colorway)in the sale bin, I picked up what was on had of the lighter grey heather (Granite, that one).
So I'm launching into a very fast knit of a sweater. It may be abominable. Or I may not have enough yarn. But I've been agonizing for a few days here about what to knit. It's not matching all the other agonizing (what work projects for next year, blah blah), so I needed to step out and just DO.
As I said, I've cast on twice. I made a hasty swatch, figured out a hasty gauge, ripped it out and cast on. The garment would be the real swatch. After about 4 inches up from the hem of the garment (front and back in one), I realized my gauge expectations were flawed. I've started over. This is the type of yarn that blooms and grows at blocking.
I know I'd much rather have had this sweater all in one color, but I haven't minded the idea of the monochromatic contrast, so here goes.
As a bonus challenge, the front bands are meant to be knit as the garment is knit. The "intarsia? not after that last ill-fated attempt" challenge is at least a mild one.
You know, it's just a sweater. I bought the yarn because I liked it - a blend of alpaca, merino, and soy, of all things. I wear black all the time. The contrast may be be a good thing. It'll leave fuzz, but I always have fuzz or lint or cat hair. It's the nature of my job, my surroundings, and my housekeeping.
It'll work or it won't, but I'm going to give it a go. Hopefully there's enough to eke out a sweater.
So I'm launching into a very fast knit of a sweater. It may be abominable. Or I may not have enough yarn. But I've been agonizing for a few days here about what to knit. It's not matching all the other agonizing (what work projects for next year, blah blah), so I needed to step out and just DO.
As I said, I've cast on twice. I made a hasty swatch, figured out a hasty gauge, ripped it out and cast on. The garment would be the real swatch. After about 4 inches up from the hem of the garment (front and back in one), I realized my gauge expectations were flawed. I've started over. This is the type of yarn that blooms and grows at blocking.
I know I'd much rather have had this sweater all in one color, but I haven't minded the idea of the monochromatic contrast, so here goes.
As a bonus challenge, the front bands are meant to be knit as the garment is knit. The "intarsia? not after that last ill-fated attempt" challenge is at least a mild one.
You know, it's just a sweater. I bought the yarn because I liked it - a blend of alpaca, merino, and soy, of all things. I wear black all the time. The contrast may be be a good thing. It'll leave fuzz, but I always have fuzz or lint or cat hair. It's the nature of my job, my surroundings, and my housekeeping.
It'll work or it won't, but I'm going to give it a go. Hopefully there's enough to eke out a sweater.
11 May 2009
Done. Now what?
Baby Blanket - Anna Bell's Old Shale Baby Blanket
(An old standard, but she wrote up the proportions so I didn't have to think too hard.)
The needles: 7 US / 4.5 mm
The yarn: mercerized cotton, 4 skeins
The length: 63 cycles of the 4 row repeat
The leftovers:
I'm pleased.
It's been washed and is on the last bit of drying. Packaging and shipping are all that's left.
Continuing with the aunt socks, as I don't have a lot of time this week to figure out what to cast on. I keep THINKING about what to knit next. (Frankly, that's what kept me going during the last stretch of baby blanket.) Can't decide, though, much less swatch and feel like I'm thinking clearly. I have so much other stuff going right now, though, that swatching feels like a crazy indulgent lawbreaking activity. (I need less stress and more knitting.)
(An old standard, but she wrote up the proportions so I didn't have to think too hard.)
The needles: 7 US / 4.5 mm
The yarn: mercerized cotton, 4 skeins
The length: 63 cycles of the 4 row repeat
The leftovers:
I'm pleased.
It's been washed and is on the last bit of drying. Packaging and shipping are all that's left.
Continuing with the aunt socks, as I don't have a lot of time this week to figure out what to cast on. I keep THINKING about what to knit next. (Frankly, that's what kept me going during the last stretch of baby blanket.) Can't decide, though, much less swatch and feel like I'm thinking clearly. I have so much other stuff going right now, though, that swatching feels like a crazy indulgent lawbreaking activity. (I need less stress and more knitting.)
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