I just wrote this big huge post about how it was that the Kauni is driving me insane because I am knitting the whole thing twice, in increments and whammo….my blogging software quit and took the entry with it and now…I am re-writing the post about re-knitting. (Damn it all. I hate pathetic fallacy.) Perhaps it is just going to be that sort of day. Fine. Fine. Fine. I have a chocolate drawer. I know how to cope.
Back to the sweater. I love this sweater and I think it’s going to be a treat when I’m done, whenever that is. I can’t seem to knit it in a straight line. All parts are taking two tries. Cast on, don’t get gauge, rip out and cast on again. Knit for a while, discover that you cast on the wrong number because you tried to get sassy with the sizing, cast on again. Knit for a while, miss a pattern row, rip back and re-knit. Decide a sleeve is too tight, rip back and re knit. It’s batty, and it’s simply not improving. Remember the last time I showed you a picture of the Kauni and proudly proclaimed how my strategy to get the sleeves the same colours had worked?
Yeah. Look closely. Duh. (This is what happens when one is cocky.) Ripped a cuff, added a repeat, re-knit the ribbing.
Next up, neckband. Picked up the stitches, knit the neckband, realized I hadn’t picked up the right number and who cares anyway because what was I thinking when I picked up that stitch dipping all the way down into the pattern?
Ripped it back, re-knit. Much better.
Cut the front steeks (luckily, there’s only one way to get that done) and picked up the stitches for the button bands. Knit the button bands, realized that I hadn’t picked up enough stitches and the thing was pulling in. Ripped back the button bands, re-knit them like the knitter of experience that I am.
Turned my attention to the other button band (on which I picked up the right number, since the pain from the first button band was painfully fresh)
and proceeded to knit seven of the worst looking buttonholes in the history of humanity.
What are those? Is that any sort of elegant way to put a hole in a piece of knitting? They all suck that badly, though not at all consistantly.
I have miraculously found a way to make seven different, yet equally horrific buttonholes. If I were another sort of woman than these buttonholes would be the first against the wall when the revolution came. As it is, I am going to dig up Sweaters From Camp and see if Meg Swansen can pull my arse out of the fire again. I do believe there is some discussion of how to do a buttonhole in corrugated ribbing in there somewhere. Before I do that however, I am going to spend a little quality time with my drum carder and the clean wool for Joe’s Gansey. It’s Tuesday during a finishing phase, I can scarcely ignore it.
PS. Jayme-the-wonder-publicist (who did get her socks and was photographed enjoying them at the office by a co-worker – see her holding my book? Once a publicist…..always a publicist.)
is, despite the bribe pictured above, going to phone me up and shriek (I got an email this morning in ALL CAPS) if I don’t remember to tell you that I am speaking at the Borders in Marlton, New Jersey on Friday the 19th of October (that’s the Friday before Rhinebeck) at 7:00 in the evening. (Please follow the link and RSVP if you are coming. ) Then, I’m doing the big author signing thing at Rhinebeck on the Sunday at 10: 00, when there will be me and Alison, Heather, Ann and Kay, Clara, Sharon, Kristin, Judith and Carol all be signing our books.
After that I’ll be speaking at 1:00, in Jayme’s continuing mission to have me give this speech to New Yorkers until they are so sick of it and me that they start spitting in my coffee. (Why, I ask you, can she not be obsessed with having me speak to Mel?) Never mind. We’ll have a grand time. How can we not? It’s freakin’ Rhinebeck – and, the featured breed is the Blue Faced Leicester. I love those guys.
PPS The Mystery Stole is blocking.
PPPS. I really hope my reward yarn comes today.
I am so impressed with the Kauni! And it makes my feeble ripping-back of hats seem like nothing. Points for persistance. Now I think I need to go find my UFOs and do some work on them myself.
I feel your pain!
Any plans to drop everything and spend some time speaking/ hanging out on the European side of the pond?!
Enjoy Rhinebeck everyone!
Wish I could go, but lack of funds kinda puts the kibosh t’that… (pouts)
My mystery stole is blocking, too! I think this finishing virus is catching.
The closest you’ve ever been to me and I’m out of town that weekend!
Just out of curiosity…are you one of the lucky ones who actually received a set of Harmony DPNs?
WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!Third’n’fourth post!!!
You have inspired me to finish – I’ve made a commitment that I need to finish THREE things before casting on anything new. THREE. Goodness me.
And the Kauni looks fab-u-lous.
Hopefully the reknitting of Kauni will make the FO that much more satisfying. See ya at Rhinebeck!
The sweater is beautiful. I hope your wonder publicist brings you to Madison, Wisconsin…or Milwaukee…or Chicago. Please! I went back and read your blog postings from the beginning after I found your blog about 9 months ago, and I remember reading your post about your first Rhinebeck, which came right after a meeting with your publisher pre-first book. You wrote about that being your first time traveling alone. My, how things change, huh?
Apparently some things are not meant to be finished all at once – Kauni wants a little time of its own, not in the queue with all other items being finished. That’s why it’s being a little rebellious. Being so beautiful, perhaps Kauni can get away with that? I have been inspired to do a little finishing myself, although the socks that have been on the needles since June are not getting their attention yet, I think they are next up. The Thanksgiving post was great, and I love the recipe responses – I’ve got a great recipe for pumpkin cheesecake (or check out Kraft Canada on the web) – it’s to die for!
I’ll be watching for more news of Kauni.
Chris S
Meg is the Greatest Saviour
I anxiously await the continuation of the buttonhole saga… in the meantime, my finishities is wavering, I feel a new project about to mysteriously appear on my needles.
No reward yarn YET???
What pathos.
I don’t know about you, but when I have done the equivalent of reknitting an entire project *three* times, I start to detest the project, no matter how lovely. I mean, I could have knit three whole [whatevers] by now! It takes a while for my miff to wear off, then I forgive the FO. At least if it looks good.
Nice socks, Jayme!
On Sunday, I was casting off a large moebius scarf with an applied i-cord edge, which I have never done. I messed it up by repeating steps 5-8, instead of steps 6-8. When I tried to rip the casting off that I had done, bad things happened. I ended up ripping back 1800 stitches. At my rate of 15 stitches per minute, that’s a lot to re-knitting time. Did I mention that I was casting off?! The end was in sight. I definitely feel your pain, but I keep reminding myself as I reknit that this is relaxing.
I am so excited that you’re coming close to Philly! Tell Jayme not to be too hard on you for forgetting to mention it, word has been out around here for a long time. I spoke with the RSVP lady a couple of weeks ago and she already seemed completely overwhelmed by the number of people who had called her. I pity her now. Hopefully they’ll be on top of it and the chair thing will be avoided though.
As gorgeous as is the Kauni, anyone who can rip-n-redo that much and still have any desire to finish the thing deserves major credit for stamina and stick-to-it-iveness. And you call yourself the Harlot. If that’s not commitment, I don’t know what is!
(Though there does come a point, in my life, at least, when a project ticks me off so badly that I refuse to let it win! That, too, is commitment, but of the type that borders on being accessorized by an oversized white jacket with really long sleeves! Please don’t let it get you to that point!)
Buttonholes? You don’t need no stinkin’ buttonholes! May I remind you of the existence of those wonderful items called “Snaps”? Then sew the buttons over top of them, nobody but you will ever know the difference.
Oh! Now I remember why I don’t want to try knitting a sweater. I get all buggy when I have to frog a few rows of a sock.
Where at the festival will you and the other authors be signing books and where will you be speaking? I’ll be at Rhinebeck and I’d love to be able to see you!
Best of luck on the Kauni. It’s positively smashing, and I can’t wait to see it on you.
And thank you, a million times Thank You, for using the P’s and S’s properly in your multiple post scripts! :o) That “PSSS” thing is such a pet peeve of mine . . . and now hundreds upon hundreds of people will see things properly done. Muaahahaha . . .
Yay, Mystery Stole! I’m looking forward to seeing it. Lace of that complexity is beyond me, so I’m going to look in silent awe.
Sorry the Kauni is kicking your butt. It’s coming out so beautiful, I almost wish I weren’t too cheap to buy some of that pretty yarn.
Watch out for that intersection in Marlton — that traffic circle is one of the worst in the entire WORLD! Enjoy the diner next door (or the one in Cherry Hill, just up the road)– can’t go to NJ without a trip to a DINER!
Hope your yarn gets there too, I know my honey goes nuts when she is waiting, haha!
If the reward yarn does not come today I shall (a) fling myself off of the roof of the building
and then
(b) call Steve and tell I’m not coming to Stitches because I must bring reward yarn to the Harlot since our collective postal system cannot seem to get the job done. It left here on 9/25.
Some days, it’s just easier to do it all yourself and today I am more convinced of that then ever.
augh — can you believe stuff keeps passing me by one day !!! First the mystery stole, now your book signing. Well, at least I’m ready for next year with pinklemontwist lady. I’ve even got the yarn on standby. As for Rhinebeck, Saturday is our scheduled day for this year’s visit. My kids couldn’t care less about all the wooly stuff, but they do remember the maple sugar cotton candy guy. Can’t wait.
Yay! You’re coming to New Jersey!!!!! I heard a rumor about this on Ravelry, and put in for Oct. 19th off from work, and have been telling everyone I know that New Jersey is going to be blessed with a Harlot visit, and then it wasn’t on your “Harlot on Tour” list. No problem. And then it still wasn’t on your list. No problem. And then it STILL wasn’t on your list. I was beginning to lose credibility. I mean, I wrote “Harlot Day” on everyone’s calendar here at work! I wrote it in ink! But I am vindicated! The Harlot is indeed coming to New Jersey! Can’t wait to see you in person!
can’t believe your finishing all this stuff up. who are you? and what have you done with the yarn harlot? i wish i could say this has motivated me to finish my stuff, i wish i could say it, but that would be a lie.
at this rate you’ll even have your christmas knitting done
I have no idea on the new book, any hints on that..buttonholing perhaps? Am eagerly awaiting the next installment. stephanie’s sequel….
Well, gosh, you already signed all my books, and I’ve heard you speak (twice — you were hilarious both times), so what’s left? Maybe you could sign my panties? It would at least have the benefit of thoroughly freaking out my husband.
Only 11 days to Rhinebeck! Have a wonderful time (since I can’t tell you that in person, since you will now be avoiding me).
It’s comforting that an accomplished knitter such as yourself can still have these issues (with the Kauni, I mean).
The Kauni is BEAUTIFUL. I hate having issues near the end of the project when you just want to GET IT DONE! I hope your buttonholes end up perfect on the second try and that the buttons themselves (you DO have buttons?) give you no trouble. 🙂 Have fun at Rhinebeck–I always enjoy reading about it and seeing the pics. Don’t come home with a sheep…surely that would deter the squirrels though. Hard to steal fleece on the hoof!
The post office must be waiting for you to finish something you haven’t tackled yet. Better dig deep in the WIP pile or it will never come.
The Kauni is so awesome looking. And I want to go to Rhinebeck. /me whines
“Ripped back the button bands, re-knit them like the knitter of experience that I am.”
You forgot to insert “and wit.”
The “knitter of experience and wit.”
I love it that you share the frustrations as well as the glee….even though my projects are on a much (MUCH) smaller scale, I can appreciate your frustrations and especially your personal standard of what makes a project acceptably “ok”…again, mine? smaller!
Will you be at Rhinebeck at all on Saturday???
I’m still loving your Kauni cardi despite what you think of your buttonholes. And I’m jealous that your Mystery Stole is finished and blocking. I have to put down the socks and work on my stole — easier said than done!
I’ll be in NJ on the same day though I’ll be in Ocean City visiting friends — I don’t think they’d think kindly of me ditching them to pop up to Marlton to see you.
i am beginning to think that the kauni yarns are cursed. i have knit the beginning of the autumn leavese cardigan twice, and i am about to rip it out for the third time. grrmph. i hope your reward yarn comes today too. you deserve it.
Oh, but the Kauni will be gorgeous when you are done with it! I have yet to make a buttonhole that I like. I actually have a really nice sweater that I wear with not-great-but-good buttonholes. It would even look better if I actually put buttons on it….. 🙂
You’re very virtuous! I would have kept the sleeves as they were, and encouraged the sweater’s recipient to always hold one shoulder up a little higher than the other.
Jen
Well, the Kauni is worth the trouble. It’s beautiful. And I’m not sure anyone will really notice the buttonholes. After all there will be a button covering them up. But I understand the perfectionism.
oooo goody!!! I will be at Rhinebeck and am now including copies of your books for signing in my luggage.
Hmm… I’m trying to remember what I did for my corrugated seed stitch (is that even a knitting term?) for my Sweaters From Camp vest. I have vague memories of reading the buttonhole instructions, not quite understanding what she wanted me to do, and then doing what I thought the instructions might be asking me to do. I think I bound off stitches in pattern, then cast on in pattern when I worked back for the next row. It’s been a couple of years, so my memories are fuzzy, and probably completely unhelpful. Here’s a photo, though my knitting photography skills have progressed so much since then that I’m almost embarrassed to share it. Oh, what a little natural light and macro setting would have done… http://www.flickr.com/photos/bowerbirdknits/65868819/
I sympathise with you. I just finished an Alice Starmore fair-isle vest and my button bands/holes weren’t exactly winning any blue ribbons the first 2 go-arounds.
Looking forward to seeing you at Rhinebeck! I hope you’ll be wearing your beautiful (and done!) Kauni.
Marlton is just across the bridge! And I’ll be home! EXCELLENT!
I have already RSVP’d. *grin*
Yay! Very excited! Can’t wait to meet you!
Ooh, I can’t wait to see your Mystery Stole! I really do intend to finish mine at some point, I have fallen in love all over again from seeing everyone’s beautiful FO pictures.
I was perusing the Rhinebeck page today and noticed that you’d be in the author tent AND speaking! Since you haven’t made it to my area of PA yet I’ll take the opportunity now! I’m making my campsite reservations. Can’t miss that!
Oh, and the Kauni looks fantastic!
There are cursed patterns. The forums at Ravelry say so.
Yee-haw! I will be in Rhinebeck Saturday.
I’m wondering if I can make it to Marlton Friday and still maintain the illusion that this trip to New York is about seeing my dear friends and not all about the fibre.
Freakin’ Rhinebeck indeed! I live here (there) and feel like a kid at Christmas. I get to see the Yarn Harlot speak. I can not wait….and BTW the sweater is freakin’ beautiful.
I just RSVP’d for your gig in Marlton. I heard that the store had reserved 250 chairs (not to make you hyperventilate or anything). They underestimate the power of the Dark Side.
I am available for a South Jersey yarn crawl prior to the gig. Just sayin’.
Have a great trip! Just a quick observation, I’m afraid I’m missing Rhinebeck but going to Stitches East,just in case someone doesn’t click through to find that you’re referring to Alison Hansel,the author of Charmed Knits, and by chance might be expecting me (“Wrapped in Comfort.”) I wish I could be there too!
I’ll happily lobby Jayme to send you to a speaking engagement over Kel’s (not Mel’s) way! (Wanna send me her e-mail address?) Love, love, love the Big Isle and I think you will to.
Come to think of it, the Honolulu SnB would dearly love to see you on Oahu too! That way I can fly home to see you and my family at the same time!
I think your cardigan is looking great! 🙂
Oh, darn. First I missed you in Doylestown, now you’ll be just over the Ben Franklin Bridge from me – and I have to cover a co-worker’s conference that day, as he’s on vacation. And, I can’t get to Rhinebeck either because of family commitments. Ah well, maybe next book.
All this talk of Rhinebeck…I’m so very jealous. You know, Orlando is awfully nice during the winter- maybe you can come and speak down here and throw in a visit to Walt Disney World at the same time! A girl can dream…
Your sweater is gorgeous-too bad about all that knitting twice. Makes the sweater twice as valuable though, right?
I started spinning for a sweater for my man. I’m taking the easy way out though, and bought the roving already prepared. Joe’s a lucky man!
That sweater would have left me for road kill long ago. I really admire your persistence. Or madness. You know, whatever gets it done 😉
I’m having such a major commitment thing with Rhinebeck. I should have bought train tickets weeks ago. And now you have to go and throw yourself in there and invoke the mighty Blue Faced Leicester. If you tell us you’ll be wearing the Kauni, I’ll be rendered completely helpless.
Kauni is gorgeous – your ripping out is confirmation that it is OK to rip to get it right; as in, doing it perfectly the first time doesn’t always happen. Kauni does sound very Hawaiian…so perhaps you should just pop over there next time you are on the West coast. It doesn’t take much time; I’d fly over. Just think: workshops on a sun-filled lanai, beach walks for fresh air, glorious waterfall-filled valleys for inspiration…ahh…I can feel it now. 🙂
I was so MAJORLY bummed that you are going to be practically in my backyard on 10/19 — and I will already be in Rhinebeck, setting up the Coopworth breed display, which has to be done that night. I did wonder if your trip to Marlton was on your way to Rhinebeck, and crossed my fingers that I might see you there. And it turns out I just might. I will keep a lookout for the mystery stole? Or maybe the Kauni sweater…
Symmetry is not art…..remember that the next time you wonder if it is really worth it to rip back.
I used to quilt. In quilting there is something called the God Patch. That is where someone leaves a purposeful mistake in their sewing in honor of the fact hat only God makes things perfect.
You can chose to believe in God or not, but I find knowing this makes all my mistakes in knitting just fine with me. If I wanted perfection in stitches, I’d buy a sweater at the store.
Personally I think that your reward yarn probably arrived last Friday – but someone has paid your family to hide it just so we can see how long you last out with this finishing thing……. I’d be checking under the couch and behind the washing machine by now!
Oh, great, another book I have to buy, in fact already did. One day my husband is going to reach his wits’ end with me and on the divorce papers it is going to say “Irrational Knitting-Related Spending.” Oh, well, we had a good twenty year run ;-).
do you have any idea how many people you have made happy by showing us that even experts can make mistakes? It gives us renewed hope that maybe we too can turn out beautiful stuff if we hang in there, and learn from your persistence and sticktoitiveness!!!
Dude.
I would have had a bonfire in my driveway ages ago if I had a sweater that fought with me the way Kauni is fighting with you.
Your persistence baffles me. I wish it were inspiring me. Maybe I’ll read the post again and wait for the inspiration. Then maybe, just maybe, I’ll get past the first chart on this dragon shawl.
I mean, honestly, I had no idea that I could still mess up yarn overs, and in different places each try.
also, your humility!
I think that we all Have to have these days (weeks, decades!) in which nothing goes right. Everything takes an extra effort. If we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t be able to truely enjoy those times (rare though they may be) when everything just falls into place without fault.
Also, once it is FINALLY done, you will feel such a sense on accomplishment! and you’ll enjoy wearing it all the more, because of it!
Hang in there. It is worth it with the kids, and it is worth it with the knitting!
I love your Kauni. In fact, it inspired me to order the yarn for it. I did that a couple of months ago…but have been afraid to start it. I have only made one sweater, have never steeked, and have never done colorwork. I am taking a colorwork class at Stitches this Friday. Hopefully that will lessen the fear of starting, because I really want to make that sweater.
Love those socks! (Are the STR? I have a pair that looks just like that colorway). At least the re-knit of the cardigan is proving very good looking. And you’re almost done!
I think you mean Kel, dear, not Mel. The Kauni cardigan is so pretty, but I know I already have enough on the needles. Not to mention that I’ll be casting on a Venezia soon. Doh!
Hope you had a great thanksgiving!
K
Glad to read that I am not the only OCD knitter out there who cannot – CANNOT – just say ‘whatever’ and go on without fixing stuff. Stick with it, it will be worth it all.
God, this makes me feel so much better. When even the Yarn Harlot herself rips back 50 times a project, I am redeemed!
Hmmm. Perhaps I’m not ready for color work…
So, did you reinforce the steeks or decide to live fearlessly?
It’s something in the air, I tell ya’
In the past 2 weeks I have finished a Sea Silk scarf, a silk shawl, the Shapely Tee and a honkin’ big Log Cabin baby blanket. All of these are projects that had been languishing for months.
Oh, and I know about sweaters kicking arse! I am reknitting the Sahara top … again. Did a guage swatch and everything was cool. Of course, I then picked up a different pair of needles and knit for 6 inches on the back and another 6 on the front before realizing I had the wrong needles. Yeah, the needles were two sizes smaller and the seater *did* look rather small. (There’s that Knitter Denial thing again.) RRRIIIPPP Reknit. Get to the same point in the pattern. Then the pattern said to knit flat for a number of inches before joining and continuing in the round. Uh huh. Yep, started in the round immediately. RRIIPPPP!
The alignment of the stars seems to be dictating finishing, but not starting!
Good luck with the Kauni.
Barbara L in MA
Don’t worry about repeating yourself to New Yorkers. You’ll be getting lots of out-of-staters in the audience at Rhinebeck, including me. I’m so glad to have an opportunity to see you speak!!
Isn’t Jayme cute in your bribe socks!! I have to hand it to you, you have WAY more knitting fortitude than I do, I totally would have left the cuffs (and probably the weird picked up stitches, and–quite possibly–the strange button holes). I was just looking it up in Casts Off and I don’t seem to find a category for a knitter such as myself who will–when fate is unkind–start pre-emptive “it’s a design feature” chanting until I’ve convinced even myself that I did it on purpose. Have a blast at Rhinebeck. My friend who owns a woolen mill will be there but sadly not selling her wares. Her coopworth is quite nice and super easy to spin.
Oh, that first paragraph has me laughing so hard I’m in tears. We can relate! Do check out Meg’s book on buttonholes, and I think there’s a bit on that in the Glossary DVD too (I think every technique ever invented is in the glossary DVD. Plus there’s that little dance EZ does at the end in fuzzy slippers.) What would we do without Meg? She’s gotten many an arse out of a sling, I tell ‘ya. The Kauni is gorgeous and worth doing right–I can relate to all the ripping. I have a feeling that this cardi will be like the Birch shawl–you are frustrated with it now, but you’ll so think it’s worth it when you’re done. And I predict you’ll wear it often and love it. A worthwhile reward for all that good work. Now go spin a gansey, and beware of squirrels! (If Blue Faced Leicester ate squirrels, you’d have an excuse for a flock in your back yard.)
P.S.: Have you seen the new Selbuvotter book yet? I’m in love! http://www.selbuvotter.com/
Why not make the buttonholes in the other direction (vertical, not horizontal) ? Just sayin’.
Wahh!! I’m going to Rhinebeck for the first time this year…but only on Saturday!! You won’t be wandering around on Sat by any chance will you? Have fun!
Harlot in Jersey…check Mapquest to see how close to Wilmington, DE, where I currently reside. Woohooo, about an hour away, I can totally do this!! Yippeee, I am going to see the HARLOT!!!
Wait, what was that date again…??? The 19th, you say??? Oh. I will be on a plane. The only weekend this month I have something booked. Of course. Ah well. I’m sure there will be another chance…
I’m so excited you’re going to be close to Philly! I have enjoyed reading your blog since March of this year, having taken up the hobby this past Christmas. I look forward to hearing you in person!
I feel your pain on the ripping and re-doing. I think I’m on my 4th cast on of one side of Anouk.
Must look into the Marlton event…that’s not too far from here!
Now that we’ve left New York, I think it’s a much better idea that you give the speech to Portlanders over and over and over again. The coffee is so much better here.
The Kauni is amazingly lovely and will, no doubt, get whipped into shape in no time at all. We scoff at buttonholes, HAH! And any sweater that tried to give you lip is no doubt going to be very very sorry – you can threaten it with banishment to the freezer if it doesn’t behave. Of course, that would deny you the joy of knitting and frogging interminably. Be judicious in your punishment choices!
I’ll be in Hamilton and Toronto next Tuesday/Wednesday – would anyone like to meet up? I know I’ll be free Wednesday afternoon (I’m temporarily being a travelling babysitter for a musician and there’s a concert then…) I would love a mini yarn-crawl if there’s anyone who’d like to play guide to a wanna-be Canadian!
Thank goodness for finishitis. That sweater is beautiful and worth every rip and do over. You do know of course that now that Jamie has home knit socks that she will want more ! oh oh
Horaay for the Mystery Shawl! Except think of the way you could have thrown it in our faces if your reward yarn had come and you still got it done.
It must be so tragic to have such a fondness for cardigans. . and yet hate buttonholes with such passion. You have my sympathy.
You rock! That sweater is beautiful, and I am confident that you’ll come up with some fabulous buttonhole fix, even though I think they look fine. Don’t forget – they will be covered up by buttons when you’re actually wearing it. So no stress! =)
wow-thanks for the kauni update! I walked in to my LYS the other day and saw one & then wondered whatever happened to yours… Sorry it’s been such a pain in the arse-makes for very entertainig blogging, though! Small consolation, huh?
You have my undying admiration for your perseverance with the Kauni. It is undoubtedly beautiful, and probably worth all your trouble, but if it were mine, it would be spending the next four years in the bottom of a black garbage bag in my closet, followed by a quick trip to Value Village.
I am flying up to Rhinebeck all the way from freakin’ Florida, and knowing you’ll be speaking is really putting the cherry on my sundae. Details? The festival folks haven’t put you into the online schedule, so I’d really like to know what building to be stalking… I met you briefly at Rhinebeck last year, and am looking forward to seeing you speak!
I’ll be at Rhinebeck on Saturday, my first visit ever. If I manage to come away without buying several pieces of spinning equipment it’ll be a minor miracle as I’ll be accompanied by a seriously-invested spinner/pusher. 🙂 Have fun!
Last night, I dreamed that I was knitting the Kauni.
I’m pretty sure it was a nightmare.
I have been dying to knit a kauni, though I want to do it with a different pattern not the blocks. I’ve been dying to get to Rhinebeck too. As it turns out, DH is about to lose his job and we will have to leave the US with no jobs and only one prospect ahead of us.
Thank you Stephanie! I am currently suffering mistake-itis with a nursing shawl I’m trying to knit – trying being the operative word! It’s a feather and fan pattern and not too difficult, but still beyond my advanced-beginner skills I’m beginning to fear. I dropped a stich a row or two back and realized it was unravelling. Panicked, I raced to the Lamb Shoppe in Denver where darling June coached me through 4 hours of learning how to run a lifeline through a 390 stich row, held my hand as I frogged back 4 rows to get to one without mistakes, then finally almost collapsed when I realized I was never going to be able to twist all the stiches the right way around without dropping some more and began to consider simply casting off and calling it a scarf! But to give up on something I’d poured so much love for my daughter & my grandson (my 1st grandchild!)??? It was breaking my heart. Suddenly, June was there – offering to take it home over the weekend and help turn the stitches the right way! I don’t know how I’ll thank her but it has to be something very special for a very special knitter!! The shawl sat on my table all last night, and I sat staring – too frightened to pick it up. But today’s blog gives me hope and courage and companionship. If even Stephanie can knit and knit again, so can I. Thank you.
[I have miraculously found a way to make seven different, yet equally horrific buttonholes.]
I have a dozen, unique ways to get lost heading toward Yankee Stadium. Welcome back to New York, btw. Hope to see you again at Rhinebeck. Hope to be at Rhinebeck!
The sweater is Amazing, btw.
I see I’ve been trying to work my hoodoo on the wrong individual.
Apparently, it’s Jayme-the-wonder-publicist that must become obsessed to getting you to I-O-W-A in the very near future (Look, Jayme! Hyphens just like yours! Wwe knit socks here, too! I’m sure someone will knit you a pair if the Harlot pops into our wee bit of the US!).
Des Moines is good! Quad Cities is better! Just sayin’…
The Harlot is coming!
The Harlot is coming!
The Harlot is coming!
Can’t wait to see you in Marlton!!!!
Maybe you can wear the Kauni :~)
It looks beautiful and you are sure to have it finished by then.
Thanks for mentioning spinning for the gansey. It frees me up considerably.
I honestly admire you for even picking up the scissors to steek in that kind of situation.
Well if the New Yorkers get sick of hearing you, we’d love to have you back in So. California anytime!
Thanks for mentioning the Mystery Shawl… I was beginning to question your faithfulness to it, with so much time/space devoted to the Kauni.
Is this where you mutter to yourself, “I don’t just *like* knitting, I *LOVE* knitting”? Or do you just mutter to yourself?
You’re an inspiration on so many levels. Now go have a drink.
Shawl, stole, whatever. At least it’s blocking.
I know this is going to be lost in the comments section but I have to tell you *you are making me feel sooooo much better*. I thought I was the only one who reknit and reknit and reknit. Now, I don’t do it all the time but I’m knitting a small, easy sweater for my granddaughter that is kicking my hind-end.
Thank you, thank you for that wonderful sweater and the words of (unintended) encouragement.
Despite having knit numerous sweaters in the last seven years and mostly wearing button-front cardigans in purchased sweaters, I’m about to embark on the button bands of my first knitted cardigan. I’d fully expected to rip back a few times, but now I can go into this knowing that even very experienced knitters arse up button bands on the first try or two. Thanks. That will help enormously when I reach the point of thinking I should chuck it all and take up remedial basket weaving – which would be really stupid as I’ve done basket weaving and it’s not that simple.
I’m giving away that extra signed copy of your book this week on my blog for my six-month anniversary. Thanks for the extra signiture, too.
I know it’s evil, but I am SO glad that I’m not the only one whose relationship to Kauni involves as much ripping as knitting (and frankly, that yarn doesn’t rip back easily). I was so cranky after ripping back almost the whole thing that I put it into the knitting dog house and peacefully knat socks for a while. I am now back at it and hoping that the curse is broken (your story does not inspire hope, however). Have fun at Rhinebeck!
I have two things to say about button holes…replace with zip or Norwegian pewter clasps. Much less painful!
Are you coming to Europe at all, specifically London or Paris…
Ah, Rhinebeck. The mecca of spinners and knitters everywhere. But alas, those of us in other parts can only glean bits and pieces from you who are lucky enough to attend. Please take lots of pictures and share stories.
Steph, hope you won’t take this the wrong way…but: I’m teaching a what-to-do-now workshop to newbie knitters at a wool festival in a few weeks (not THAT festival, though I’ll be there too) and I wanted to coach them on how completely normal it is to screw up. Er, make a mistake. Er, knit creatively. Yes, that’s what I’ve decided to call it. Getting “creative”. If it’s okay with you, can I offer a snippet of this as a “even if you’ve been knitting since you were four and you’re knitting unbelievable intricate and beautiful colourwork cardigans – even then you’re still human sometimes” kind of thing? I think new knitters get discouraged by mistakes and think mistakes shouldn’t happen and it must be that they’re lousy at it and they should find another hobby – my poor husband has thrown the same inch of sock cuff across the room and huffed that he sucks at this no less than 10 times. It always helps me, anyway, to see that someone who’s been doing it way longer and doing way-challenging knits can still blink and miss something once in a while…all you can do is rip it and fix it (or not and live with it, which is also perfectly respectable) and post a funny blog about it. (And since “read Yarn Harlot daily” was one of the first pieces of knitting advice I was given, it will also be one of my pearls of wisdom to my students.)
Yay Rhinebeck, hope to see you there. I’ll probably be the one in the Big Pink Thing stockings. Again. (I have but one holy grail of knitting in my possession. Sad but true.)
I’m afraid I’m of the school that if you wear your cardigan done up ALL the time, no one will ever know your buttonholes are less than perfection.
The sweater may be a harsh teacher, but it certainly is lovely.
Have fun at Rhinebeck. I love Blue-faced Leicester. It is my favorite wool.
YES! Be OBSESSED! Be very OBSESSED! You want to come to Hawaii on your tour! You know you do! Especially sometime in the dead of winter when you really really want to take photos of the travelling sock on the beach…
Oh, honey–I’ve got to say it: there’s more than one way to cut a steek!!!!
I’ve had to do my share of creative save-yr-ass fixes around steeks, let me tell you.
I love that sweater! I want to make one so bad. My birthday is coming up, hoping for a gift certificate to somewhere that sells the yarn!
In case anyone clicks through to Kristin’s link, it leads to a page for one of her earlier embroidery books, Colorful Stitchery. Kristin Nicholas will be at Rhinebeck in the authors’ tent to sign copies of her new *knitting* book, Kristin Knits.
In am all done except for the front bands on my Kauni and have had a terrible time trying to find info on how to do buttonholes in corrugated rib, though I own a lot of knitting books and mags.
I found this, which gives two methods. (Scroll down) http://handknitter.sarahpeasley.com/Archived/200310_archive.htm
I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe I should buy Sweaters from Camp.
OK, Steph – you have just perfectly described why many knitters never get past scarves. They don’t have ‘fit’ and ripping them back is not so traumatic.
Ah, one of those more-ripping-than-knitting projects. I know those well. Regardless, it’s turning out to be very pretty. Worth the trouble.
If your reward yarn doesn’t come before New Jersey/Rhinebeck, tell me and I’ll personally raid the WEBS warehouse and bring you a cone at Rhinebeck. Or two. Or whatever you need. I have a big trunk.
So glad to know you have to frog back zillions of times like the rest of us! (Well not glad for you, just glad for me because I seem to do a lot of it).
Is your publicist like 15? She’s gorgeous and all, but she looks like a teenager (in the nicest possible way :))
Skip those New Yorkers and come to Wisconsin!!! We have lots and lots of knitting gurus come to us, including many of your friends. Tell Jamie to send you to Madison. We will NOT spit into your coffee. We will bow down in front of you. We will bring you micro-brew beer–Wisconsin is the home of American beer. We are the home of Meg Swanson and Elizabeth Zimmerman. And, true Midwesterners that we are, we are modest, we rip out our mistakes and we need wool for warmth.
Oh, I forgot, as for buttonholes. I’m not a fan of ribbed edging on anything. I have been converted by EZ and her youngest daughter to do applied I-cord, putting invisible buttonholes in the I-cord. Beautiful. No problems.
It may be giving you trouble, but the Kauni is still beautiful to look at. It will be an awesome FO once it’s FO’d (finished off). 🙂
OHmigawd!! Jaime is soo pretty—and looks VERY young? Is she old enough to work legally????? 8-}
OKay…I’m rooting for the Kauni–it’s SO pretty it MUST be completed. And as for Rhinbeck? rub it in that I’m out here on the West Coast, why don’t you! (And didn’t I have Jayme in a class, like two years ago? No? She looks that old…she must be bang-up at her job though–she earned socks!)
Golly gee, Steph, what color was it that you ordered? I’ve got four cones of it – two brown, two I can’t remember. I think green. And I need a Dream in Color kit. And maybe Lathy would cover my driving and I could chuck it across the border to you, and you could throw a baby sweater kit back…
geezz can you get further away in NJ from my neck o’ the woods than Marlton?! how out… Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Summit, Chatham, Madison, Westfield? Any chance we’ll see you soon? We are sooooo very ready to spoil, pamper, feed, and entertain the harlot! 🙂
I’m just impressed that you’ve stuck with it so long! I would have frogged that bad boy and let it sit in the corner for a year or so!
It will be a divine sweater, so way to persevere. Just remember to wash your hands after eating therapy chocolate, you don’t want to have to rip out an oily section! 😉
bwaahhaaahaaa … from the original evil enabler! I feel your pain – went through it about – um – 9 months ago!
don’t worry, it’s (a) gonna be beautiful and (b) wearable by you ;o)
See Harlot’s picture wearing Kauni in dictionary next to commitment…..or was that insanity ;o )
It’s all part of the process. It’s all part of the process. It’s all part of the process. It’s all part of the process. It’s all part of the process. It’s all part of the process. It’s all part of the process…
You have a whole chocolate drawer? You are brilliant!
The Kauni is beautiful. Or will be. Or is so far. You know what I mean.
would you please ask jaymie if i
do not win the one skein wonder
contest could i have the socks
she has on as consolation prize
put the knitting down the two
of you need go to your corners
and cool off
Your sweater is so beautiful and almost you persuaded me to give in and get in on some of that Kauni action, almost… then I saw what Sally is doing with her Kauni yarn http://theraineysisters.com/ – I’m done in, you win.
Two words on the buttonholes: Lucy Neatby.
Okay, three words: Lucy Freakin’ Neatby.
Seriously. After also mangling buttonholes nine ways to Sunday, I took a buttonhole course with her, and learned how to do stunningly beautiful buttonholes nine ways to…well…okay, maybe five ways to Friday.
You gonna be at Rhinebeck Saturday, sweetie? I can’t make it to the author stuff on Sunday because we go back to get small person. Who would like the knitting world to know that I am making her miss the Haunted Tunnel. There, I’ve done my job.
Friday night before Rhinebeck in Joisey. Dude. Sigh….
(snork)
chocolate drawer. What have you been doing, going thru my dresser? And, yes, some days I do need that much……
hehehehe
Kauni is looking very nice. If only my yarn would get here. Sigh.
And I was about to ask if you did finish the MS. Thanks for telling.
🙂
It’s nice to know that you are human and every so slightly imperfect!!!
I had always thought you were quite perfect and never made mistakes like me!!!
Well done on the whole persistence thing!!! You are so much more a perfectionist than I (the kauni wool is here, but the cardiagan waits upon a ball winder ) I’ve already decided that I’m going to be happy with stream of consciousness sleeves and just go where the yarn takes me and if it doesn’t match – well that’s it’s beauty – dammit – I should have been a Japanese potter – deliberately including imperfections!!
I think I will print out the Kauni-ripping part of this post and hang it someplace where I can read it every time I knit. It will remind me that when genius knitters screw up, they FROG IT AND FIX IT. I tend toward the galloping horse theory and sometimes it shows, to my shame.
Kauni is beautiful no matter what!
Cant wait to see you at Rhinebeck since I was able to make the Represent gig in NYC.
Remember fiber does a body good!
I’ve always thought that “Blue-Faced Leicester” sounded like a nickname for a cheap New Jersey gangster.
PhilB
Of course I was too busy when you were twenty minutes away at FIT, but miraculously, sucked in by the fleece to shawl and the sheepherding, the beleaguered husband is up for a trip to Rhinebeck.
Yay!
There is a really good buttonhole in the back of one of the first 2 Barbara Walker treasuries. I can’t guarantee that it’s the best thing for corrugated ribbing, but it’s terrific for everything else.
I picked up one border stitch half a stitch too far in on the baby blanket I just finished. I didn’t notice until I was well into the border. Left it in; it’s the obligatory mistake.
The not-yet-arrived-baby’s family likes the blanket just fine.
How could you not have gotten your reward yarn by now?
Thank goodness I am not the only one that makes mistakes like those. It’s nice to be part of that knitting group that is human!
Whatever planet rules knitting is in retrograde; that’s the simple explanation. I started a sweater Monday and I’ve already ripped it all the way back to the cast-on four times. And now I’m thinking the gauge is looking awfully iffy. . . .
Gee, the Kauni sounds like most of my knitting! Are you sure we didn’t accidentally exchange projects in some weird sort of black hole/time discontinuum freak screw-up thingy? Not that I even have a sweater on the needles at this point, but still.
And I bet I could do even more horrible buttonholes than you managed. The only buttonhole (singular) I’ve ever done was in the course of making Jacqueline Fee’s sweater sampler–back in the 80’s, when the *first* edition of her book came out. We may see. I’m dreaming about cardigans right now, and finally got the yarn for the first one. (I had a slight contretemps with our PO system, too. See? Synchronicity. You might want to look into doing something about that, or you could end up knitting at only 20 sts/minute on socks!)
On that cheery note – ok, it’s early, but have fun at Rhinebeck! [g]
Dude – a subsection of the Waterloonies are on the road. I will totally see you at Rhinebeck. Mail me a quickie if you are up for a lobby-based fibre party on Saturday night ;-D
You’re living my life! Well, the button hole part at least … I too spent the better part of my evening with Denzel Washington (Deja Vu — pretty good movie) and my Kauni, trying to get a reasonable buttonhole. Ain’t gonna happen. I’m this close to clasps.
Please accept my condolences for the frogging, re-knitting and dastardly buttonholes. I think it is gorgeous. I’m wondering how this yarn would work in a Circumnavigated Cardigan… or some other EZ pattern…. Steeks scare me. Although my local guild has asked us all to bring something to steek next meeting. EEEEK.
thanks for making the rest of us feel totally okay about the number of times we reknit 🙂 truly. I appreciate it. Somehow it makes facing the same part of my sweater (yet again) seem all the more bearable.
Does Jayme the WP have a work permit? When *I* was 14, you had to have a permit and parental permission to work. Why isn’t she in school?
I am very impressed. ALSO- I will see you at rhinebeck! my first one!
You know Douglas Adams! (…first up against the wall when the revolution came…hee…)
I didn’t think you could possibly be any cooler.
I was most obviously wrong.
I beg your forgiveness for underestimating you.
(I ripped a sweater from finished to balls of yarn twice and plan to rip same sweater again if it makes you feel any better.)
I kind of want to laugh because just last night, I ripped out these leg warmers I was making because I realized that they were knit wayy too tightly. It’s clearly the season to rip out stuff.
Sorry about the ripping. At least you don’t have to rip out and reknit every, single, sock heel you’ve ever knitted at least twice. (Some of us are just really challenged when it comes to sock heels and no it doesn’t matter whether they are traditional or short row heels! I just can’t count when it comes to knitting those darn things.)Your sweater is absolutely stunning, even though you’ve had to repeatedly frog it. The colors are great! Thanks for the heads up about Rhinebeck. Do you know where you’ll be sitting and signing books? Please let us know when you find out because I’m sure that there will be people asking!
Thanks Stephanie. I had to wipe tea off my monitor after reading the buttonhole remark. I have spent the last ten minutes sitting in my office, sniggering quietly under my breath and snorting occasionally. (I don’t want anyone to ask why I’m giggling, I’m not sure a bunch of railwaymen would quite get the whole buttonhole thing.)
You have my sympathies, and good vibes are being sent your way from the UK. Nail the sucker.
As a total knitting numpty, it is a great comfort to me after, for example, showing my devastating ability to turn ribbing into moss stitch, or finding my first attempt at knitting on DPNs results in two empty needles (???) and two full ones (My Mum nearly had a heart attack laughing at me), that experienced, demon knitters with mad skillz such as yourself can suffer these little indignities. It helps me to maintain my philosophical approach…
Stephanie,
Given your speed and persistence, you’ve probably already got satisfactory buttonholes, but I’d like to pass this tip on, to tuck in your bag of tricks:
Barbara Walker’s “A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns” has a contributor’s ‘Self-reinforcing One-Row Buttonhole’ (pg 354 in my copy) that is a gift to knitters. As Walker wrote, it didn’t belong in a book of patterns but was so good she couldn’t leave it out.
Neat, tight, works on any kind of stitch or yarn, and good horizontal or vertical.
“… for neatness and durability combined with easy of working, your author has never seen a buttonhole to beat this one.” (Walker).
Happy stitches!
The Kauni is looking great ! And after all, you have got plenty of knitting for your money. Still, I know how you feel about reknitting – I have been doing some of that lately on my Hanne Falkenberg ballerina also. It’s in the corner now – I am comforting myself by knitting some BFL socks.
The Kauni will be totally worth it! I applaud you for your tenacity! Sadly, I won’t be able to attend your book signing at Rhinebeck. I don’t think my kids (or my husband, for that matter) can handle 2 days of sheep :). Any recommendations for a first-timer at Rhinebeck?
OMG! I can’t believe you are going to be close enough for me to see you! I am rounding up a couple of my knitting friends and hopefully we can be there.
If New Yorkers are fed up of you – COME TO THE UK – please 🙂
If I told you that I have re-knit every comonent of my current gansey for almost identical reasons, would you feel better?
Torso to armhole: Measurwed and re-measured. Long enough, so I made for the armhole divide. Knit a bit, measured from armhole down again. Four inches too long — FOUR — due to the Black Hole of Knitting. Ripped part of upper torso and four inches of lower torso. Knit front. Neckhole came out wonky. Ripped. Knit back. Too long for same reason as torso, it was just right laid out flat but not when put on. Got 3/4 of way down sleeve, decreasing was too tight, had to rip. Other sleeve, OK. Neck, didn;t like the first version, rippped, second version, too loose, winner on third try on one size smaller needles. And this is my own gansey recipe that I have made several times already.
After a little relaxing spinning, I’d put the ruch on that buttonband. Mercury retrograde starts tomorrow.
Such beautiful knitting…
I am in awe.
Bev Q
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com
I think the Kauni should come out on tour with you!
Beats a pathetic phallusy. Pathetic phallus, eh?
It’s not my fault. They’re making me read John Cage. Off to class.
Those did put the “butt” in button holes….
nicely fixed though- you give us so much hope… and so many giggles…;)
Your knitting stumbles make me feel so much better about mine, basic as my knitting is. Do we fall asleep sometimes while knitting or what else can explain the very obvious errors we sometimes make? And only notice many rows later.
Absolutely love your comment about knowing how to cope, that you have a chocolate drawer!
No. No. Not Rhinebeck on Sunday!!!! I’m only going to be there on Saturday!!!
That’s it. I am absolutely never going to knit a sweater. It looks terrifying. (not the one you made, but the idea of knitting sweaters in general).
Reading this post made me think of…me! Me and my recent trials with the beautiful-but-pain-in-the-arse Cherie Amour, which I have ripped out and re-knit…well. You know the drill. XD I feel for you!
I will be making every effort to be at Rhinebeck on the 21st. ^_^ Good fortune has smiled on me in the temporal department, it seems, as I have a show on the 20th, making the 21st the ideal day to bring my yarn-obsessed self to Rhinebeck. I’ll see if I can’t get a couple of friends to tag along.
Also, as a Remus Lupin fan, I must agree: chocolate cures all ills!
Try this one for your buttonhole:
http://www.knittingonthenet.com/learn/bh5.htm
I think this one looks about the best of any I’ve ever tried.
Stephanie, I deeply apppreciate how you share your mistakes and show corrections. I don’t know why I have an intense need for validation, but I do and that is what that gives me. Mistakes happen. It’s part of knitting, not a failure to knit properly. Thank you.
Have you tried writing your blog copy in Word then copy and paste the posting? That way, if the software craps out again, at least you have it saved in Word.
Damn, your Kauni experience sounds like my Anemoi experience. I ripped those suckers like 6 times (so far). And all of my errors?
Failure to read carefully.
I mean, all of the info is RIGHT THERE in the pattern. I have a bewildered email from Eunny to prove it (she was quite nice about it, of course).
*sigh*
My SnB is wondering if there’s going to be someone collecting hats at Marlton.
(if there isn’t and you need one, i will volunteer…)
those are STILL super awesome socks! was there ever a link to the pattern?
Even the socks are smiling!!
My mother will be thrilled as well – now she has something else to give me as a birthday gift next year!!!!
Good lord woman! I would have given up on the Kauni long ago…I definately admire your determination!
I say leave the holes as they are, and whipstitch around the edges later to make them tidy. (Yes, I’m lazy. All your talk of re-knitting has exhausted me!)
For your buttons, I know that on the Lucy Neatby DVDs she shows several elegant ways to make buttons, in rib too! Hope that helps. I think you mentioned a while ago that you had at least one, maybe you can find the buttonhole one somewhere (or come to Montreal and you can watch it here!)
The Kauni looks amazing! The ripping out part is way too reminiscent of my recent trials with the Fair Isle Cardigan I’m attempting. The bottom ribbing was ripped out at least three times. I can’t count!!!