Saturday, February 25, 2006

Bode Miller Moment

I’m the Bode Miller of the Knitting Olympics… no medal for me this year *sob*

Seems there might be an error in the border chart for the Print O’ The Waves Stole and I can’t figure out how to correct it. I’ve written the author of the pattern but she has yet to reply. The counts don’t add up, I don’t know now to make it work. So it sits with the center panel and the first borders done but no way to finish it unless I substituted another border which I’d really rather not do. So, I’ve withdrawn from the Knitting Olympics with a missed gate and a lot of frustration.

I’m a bit disappointed in several things about this project beyond the pattern error. The biggest disappointed is the yarn. It is the lace weight wool from Hand Painted Yarns and it is not the quality I was expecting. The yarn is definitely hand spun by someone who doesn’t know how to spin. It is thick in some areas and so thin in others that I was afraid to put any tension on it. You can break it with just a firm tug. It was “hairy” in a bad way and not the soft wool I wanted. I think once it is blocked out it will be fine but I’m not sure I want to use the other 3 skeins I have of this yarn (1 more black and 2 in a stonewash blue).

I’m also disappointed in how the back join looks. Since you have to seam the back to make the ‘waves’ flow the correct way on both sides, you end up with a visible join. Perhaps I’m a perfectionist but it just doesn’t look the way I wanted it to. I’m trying not to get too upset about it.

I’d post a picture but right now it just looks like a pile of black yarn since I have it on 32” circulars going around the entire circumference. I’ll post pictures once I can get the border figured out.

So, what is a gal to do? Cast on another project! I’ve received the yarn I purchased at Stitches West and have used the Socks that Rock in the Velvet Moon color way (not on the web site) to cast on another pair of Jaywalkers for my Sockapaloooza pal. She likes blues, greens and purples and this yarn has all 3. Maybe I can use the other skein of STR in Pop Rocks to make a pair for myself since the other pair of Jaywalkers went to a friend in Connecticut.

Off to watch Apolo Anton Ohno skate to see if he can get a medal.

Till Later ~~ Dene

5 comments:

Jessica said...

I just made a button for all of the Bode Millers out there. It's on my blog.

Mary said...

Jessica! Where is your blog? I can't get to it :(

Jessica said...

Here it is.

Anonymous said...

athletes are always being let down by their equipment :)

Mamma said...

I'm trying to use the border from the print of the waves stole and I'm having the same counting trouble. I think that on rows 9, 11, 13, and 15 the ssk on the edge should really be a second k3tog. Atleast that's what I'm going to try to do. Hope that helps a bit. I'll let you know if it works.
I'm just happy to see the problem is the chart and not my ability to count.