Cat Days

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This weekend marks the traditional end of summer in these parts – though if we’re lucky we’ll get a few more weeks before nature gets the memo.  Already it is certain that the dog days of summer are over.  The days are still hot, but the evenings and nights are cooling off, a sure sign that the real meat of summer is behind us. The Sock Summit so completely defined the first part of my summer this year, that I’ve tried hard to make August make up for it. I’ve still got a few boxes to tick off, and I shall apply myself desperately in the next few days to get there.  I’m yet to eat dinner on a patio, host a summer spin-in out in my back garden, swim in the pool in High Park, or find myself in a canoe, but I’m working on it. As much as I might have failed in the summer department, I feel like I’m going to nail autumn.  I’m making plans for sweaters and Rhinebeck and long walks in the leaves, during which I will have a shiny new scarf thing, because Catkin is almost finished.  It’s still wet, and it has no buttons, but it’s still a vision.

It took only 4 days of knitting, if you disallow most of the day before yesterday in which I discovered an absolutely critical error that resulted from nothing more that my own belief that I know what I’m doing, which clearly, I don’t.  I had to rip back about five 500 stitch rounds, and I’m really rather proud of how I behaved during that time. 

I’d like to stress that the pattern isn’t complicated or difficult.  At the outset of the chart for the  knit/purl chevron pattern I thought it was complicated for a second, but it’s not.  Each row follows a totally predictable k2/p2 pattern that’s a walk in the park once you realize that all you have to get right is the first few stitches of each row.  After that it’s a simple matter of looking at the rows before, and keeping the 2X2 flowing in the right direction.  It’s a pretty easy maneuver for the thinking knitter.

Perhaps that- the idea that this was all fine and made total sense and the comforting feeling that I totally understood the pattern was what led to my downfall, which was the inexplicable belief that if I understood the first chart I probably didn’t need to really pay any meaningful attention to the second chart, which turned out to be a completely ludicrous example of knitterly idiocy – and I accept all the blame for it. The two charts have nothing to do with each other.  It was like thinking I wouldn’t study for a Swahili exam because I did pretty well in grade 11 French.    

Whenever I have trouble with a pattern (and you may have noticed that it happens often enough for me to be able to sense themes about it) I always end up seeing some warnings about it on other blogs, or on Ravelry.  Knitters typing "Watch out!  Stephanie had a hard time with that pattern" or worse, some sort of subtle slag that implies that the pattern is as well written as a 14 year old girls diary.  (I shouldn’t have said that since some 14 year old girls are fine writers.  It’s mostly a problem with content.)  

I just want to point out that before anybody decides a pattern must be hard or tricky or whatever because I suffered briefly at its hands… keep this in mind.

It’s really, really hard to knit a pattern well if you don’t read it.

103 thoughts on “Cat Days”

  2. It looks beautiful!!! Are you planning to wear it when you go to Rhinebeck? I’m hoping to finish mine in time to wear it there. I just started chart 1 today. Great job!

  3. “It’s really, really hard to knit a pattern well if you don’t read it.” You raise a very good point!! Id does look nice now, though.

  4. My father always used to say…if all else fails…read the instructions.
    Hey…I’m 3’d !!! a record for me.

  5. I finally decided yesterday that a Post-It note to mark which row of Fair Isle I was on was the only way keep track of myself- but only after I thought to myself that a two colour diamond pattern was really easy and I didn’t need to keep looking at the chart and…you get the idea.Beautiful Catkin, by the way. See you at Rhinebeck!

  6. I feel it’s entirely reasonable to be asked to read the instructions, and yet I continue to wish I could skip them altogether. One nice solution is to read the whole thing through while I knit the gauge swatch…but then that’s doing two things I resist. Better, or worse? Hard to say. Glad I’m not alone.

  8. yeah, as my no-longer-14-y/o says to me, RTFM. we’ve all been there; I have a few that have ended up in the bottomless UFO pit because I can’t bring myself to the “take out X rows of Y stitches”, and that seems to apply for all values of X and Y over zero. still, I may have to try that pattern…

  10. Oh,yeah…I’ve been there! Imagine having to actually READ a pattern! I usually get tripped up by things like decreasing at the same time as I’m doing a pattern. I get so excited about the pattern stitches that I ignore the “AT THE SAME TIME…” notes.
    I’ve been looking for it, but haven’t seen a mention of the pattern for Jen’s baby blanket. Is there a pattern, or is this something you did out of your own head? It’s beautiful!

  12. One of my college roommates used to have an acronym for test-taking success: RTFQ, which stands for Read the ____ Question. Over time, I’ve found this advice useful in a lot of areas outside of academia. Catkin looks like knitting magic. Beautiful.

  14. When I saw that first picture…I started MMMMing like I was eating chocolate or something. What is it with you and enabling new projects? ha ha. Gorgeous, gorgeous. And, of course, I am completely envious that you can complete something like this in 4 days with a super honkin’ mistake along the way. Ms. Speed Knitter indeed. Have an awesome autumn.

  16. Really, really nice outcome – despite a slight error in pattern reading mojo. But – honestly – doesn’t it just seem like you OUGHT to be able . . . . .well – never mind. It’s lovely.

  17. Wow! It is beautiful—I can not believe how fast you get things done—it would have taken me 4 months not 4 days—you are amazing—-when you made the mistake I figured your next blog would start from where you frogged not that you were finished!!!!

  18. What defies explanation to myself is the fact that I’m more likely to screw up an “easy”pattern than a complex one! Beautiful shawl. Have a wonderful autum.

  19. It’s looking lovely in its almost-finished state! Personally, I hosted a pattern bonfire on my blog today to exorcise the demons of a badly written pattern. But I could see how user error might come up from time to time. Good job persevering!

  21. Good Luck with your Autumn check-off list! I’m already wearing hat and mittens to bed in my little houselette on Vancouver Island. (No time in the room = no fire in the stove = cold space!) This is the first year I haven’t swum in natural waters. sigh
    Catkin is good looking – I bet you’ll just love wearing it! Thanks for the constant encouragement.

  22. Well done! Well said! I bought the pattern a while back, but after looking at it, I decided it would be too hard. Now that you’ve put my mind at ease, I will read the pattern carefully and give it a try. Thanks Stephanie and have a great weekend! Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

  23. i made this a few months ago and not only is it not a bad pattern, it is actually an exceptionally well-written pattern!
    i love charts that have the rs rows numbered on the right side and ws rows numbered on the left. there are so many little touches like that in this pattern.

  24. That was an impressively quick shawl-knit, especially with the (depressing! anger making! head bonking! sigh – do over) rip.

  25. darn reality anyway. my analog is teaching. i have a master’s degree in science. i have been teaching algebra for almost 10 yr at a community college and university.
    i can still walk into any class and go thru my lecture and come up with 1+1=3 somewhere.
    in too much of a hurry, or the ol’ pride go-eth before.
    has nothing to do with the algebra…the students love to catch me out, though.

  26. It’s like reading a recipe: always read the instructions first. Still, it looks quite nice.

  27. I’ve enjoyed watching this pattern go from a concept in the Ravelry Designer forum (of which I am a member), to a pattern release, to an almost viral knit! I don’t usually get to be in on the process from the planning stages (not that I was at all involved in the planning…just that we were all chatting in a thread about issues with projects and this one was discussed). And I also really love that you took a minute to tell people not to have a knee-jerk reaction about a mistake in knitting a project. You know your audience well 😉

  28. Beautiful Catkin.
    I’m so happy I saw your name on the October calendar at my local book store (Vromans in Pasadena). I’ll be there! Happy book tour.

  29. Better jump in the pool soon – I assume they’re closed after Labor Day (can’t believe it’s already here). Canoeing, patio dinners and spinning can happen all month long. I hope you get some of the hot weather Detroit is having today to extend your summer a bit. Catkin is beautiful – what a clever pattern to use slipped stitches instead of 2-color knitting.

  30. Lovely, as usual. I often find that it is when knitting the second sock or second mitten that I become over-confident about knowing my way in the pattern. Easy to do and refreshing to know that even an experienced knitter like you succumbs to a bit of egotism. And I certainly hope you get to experience autumn more than you did summer. See you at KnitEast.

  32. The same day you posted Ego, I had the exact same problem. I read the chart for the first half of the row and just thought I’d had it memorized for the second half, turns out I didn’t! ripped it back twice, but there were less than 100 sts.

  33. Oh, your Catkin is so inspiring me to get on with mine! (Baby sweaters etc have been putting it lower in the queue lately.) What I noticed in your first post about it was that there were absolutely no stitch markers on yours. Mine is simply bristling with them–even different colors and styles of markers to differentiate the borders and the interior repeats. How on earth do you keep it all straight? May I borrow your superior brain sometime?

  34. Your shawl came out really well! I looked and looked at the pattern when it came out. Thought about it, delayed, thought some more, delayed some more. It has such a unique look, but I already had so many patterns in waiting. But now you’ve inspired me again.
    Did we know you have a kitty?
    Also, I know what you mean about fall. Late August here was already feeling like fall, with its cooler nights.

  35. It’s so lovely! Just wish it was simpler for a less skilled knitter like me! Is there a way to make it easier without messing it all up?

  36. Oh my, I am in love! Don’t tell my husband.
    I’m going to have to find a way to work this into the queue. Right, finish school sweaters this weekend… next week I will cuddle up with this pattern.

  37. I always consider the instructions as the last resort to figuring out what I’m supposed to be doing. For some reason my brain thinks that they all start with these words: To be read only when all else fails.

  38. Good job! This pattern is still giving me a tickle in my ribcage… can’t wait to get through my wips in order to start it.

  39. I love everything about this design. It flows elegantly from one section to the next, tying them all together with catkin filials. I have a gazillion other things waiting their turn, but this one just might jump the line.
    🙂
    p.s. you are *such* an enabler! thanks!

  40. Milly has got such a hack-a-hairball look in her eye, there. “Only room in this house for one catkin…”

  41. Do you make your bed every day so that you have a place to block your finished item? Or just on the days when you’re posting a picture in your blog? 🙂

  42. I don’t need instructions.
    I read on Stephanie’s blog that she didn’t use directions for a complicated pattern… 🙂
    Glad it worked out in the end. I remain in love with the China Apple.

  43. I decided it might be too hard right off. For me, that is. 🙂 Now I’m looking at the closeups of your Catkin and thinking that I could knit that. It’s beautiful! Going off to think about it…

  45. Hi, I run a non-profit group called W.E.L.L. (Women Empowered and
    Loving Life). We’ve got a craft event going on until the end of
    October making slippers for women and kids in battered shelters. We’re
    coming up pretty shy on the number of actual slippers donated, and so
    we’re trying to involve local teachers and groups. Please check out
    the event, and please pass the info no to any/all people you know who
    might be interested. It’s easy to help and a great cause.
    Thanks for your time,
    -Brittany Whittenberg
    well.neworleans@gmail.com
    http://www.facebook.com/?sk=inbox&action=read&tid=id.233097890055634#!/event.php?eid=228661383821823
    http://womenempoweredandlovinglife.weebly.com/index.html

  47. The shawl is lovely. Your last sentence made me laugh. So many of my errors are directly related to me not having read the pattern with thoroughness.

  48. I have done customer support, and you wouldn’t believe the number of people who might as well just *say*, “oh, that book, well it looked like the manual, so I threw it out”. But they don’t admit it, true though it must be!

  50. Ha! This reminds me of a very funny Onion bit that talks about the educational system being biased against students who don’t care, because they’re more likely to fail the tests if they don’t read the questions. I think we’ve all done it a few times, right? (I know I have!) But it’s absolutely gorgeous!!

  51. Well, Steph, it’s all your fault!
    I bought the catkin pattern today, and I’m about to start knitting it with some yarn from stash, and I’m contemplating knitting it two more times. Some of that yarn is already ordered, and I’m only hesitating on the second order of yarn in case I might want to order needles especially for the project at the same time.
    I can tell this is going to be addictive!
    I’ll be sure to read ALL the charts before I start a section.
    Yours looks really nice.
    Did you think of making one of these with the new glimmer fingering yarn from Knit Picks for Christmas or dress?

  52. It’s a beautiful piece, but I’d keep an eye on that cat. She looks like she’s about to pounce.

  53. And so amusing that if someone asks for help with their knitting and your immediate response is “what does the pattern say?” that they become annoyed. But really? What *does* the pattern say?
    It’s good to know this can happen to any and everyone.

  54. I really love this shawl-scarf thing. I went over to Ravelry to see the finished one and it’s beautiful, and I’d really like to make it. Except that I have a tiny little issue with charts. I once made a Peruvian earflap hat with alpacas or llamas on it and some of my llamas ended up upside down because I didn’t read the chart right. And that was really a pretty simple chart. I had to rip out a lot and fix the roadkill llamas. Eventually I had a nice hat and I wore it a lot. But I really like my instructions to be written out in English.

  56. I have been working on Catkin since July and you finish in 4 days. Cries. No pattern problems. Just slow.

  58. In computer user land we call that RTFM– Read the Manual. I have the same issue but also because I often think I know more (or at least as much as) the person who wrote the pattern… so I think “Why did they write it like that instead of like this?” Then I knit it like *this* and go… “Oh, that’s why they wrote it like that” and rip it back and start again.
    Knitting often proves to me that I am not as smart as I think I am… but not often enough that I don’t think it anyway.

  59. To celebrate my lights comimg back on after 6 days of darkness, candles and no shower…I shall make this shawl. already got it on my desktop.
    bjr
    Shelton CT

  60. Yes, I’ve been eyeing Catkin. Only eyeing right now because I am up to my knees in circular shawl, and almost to the final chart…ALMOST! I have about 2 more repeats to go before I start the last chart, which will run one or two repeats (it’s only 47 or 49 rows, can’t remember), so I’ll need to pay close attention, and cannot divide my time, else neither will get done–and I want my circle shawl for Christmas Time. Sigh. Catkin must wait…but it’s going in a cart.

  61. Your cat looks like it really wants to pounce on the Catkin. Might have something to do with the name. Lovely item 🙂

  62. I’m resisting Catkin because I’m concentrating on Blunnies at the moment. Oh yes, and my sweater yarn has shipped from Blue Moon. I need to clear the decks,not add another WIP. Your “scarf thing” is lovely. Cheers and red wine, Hazel.

  64. The only alternative to reading the instructions is to complete a Vulcan Mind Meld with the designer. And that means the designer would be reading your mind, too. Do you really want a lot of knitting designers knowing about that night you and Joe —– with —– and —–, and then —– while —–, and woke the kids???
    I thought not.
    PS: Nice pic of your employer eyeing your latest peace offering. Yes, it’s true: cats do not have owners, they have staff.

  66. Ah, well. What a ripping! 500 stitch rounds and you still finished the scarf in only 4 days and there it is being blocked. You’re an amazing knitter!

  67. Ninapenda Catkin ambayo ulifuma. Ndiyo, ni lazima tusome maelekezo!
    Someone mentioned Swahili? *waves from East Africa*

  68. Speaking of Rhinebeck…. will the new book make a special appearance? I’d love to be able to purchase it there; buying knitting books while at a festival devoted to wool somehow makes them even better!!!

  69. Ouch!! That makes me feel a whole lot better about the knitting I’ve had to rip out – more rows but many fewer stitches. Mine was a pattern that should have gone left, right, left, right etc but actually went left, right, left, right, right, right…. D’oh!
    I do sometimes worry about the notion that knitting keeps the brain alert. Or perhaps it’s just me.

  70. Some years back I was making a Christmas stocking for an about-to-be-born great nephew. There was a band of “Noel”s to be knitted into the stocking, and I was in a hurry and the “Noel”s came out as “Leon”
    We asked our nephew and wife if they had picked a name for the baby and encouraged them to think of “Leon” as a possibility. Somehow it did not fly with them, so I frogged extensively and paid more attention to the directions the second time around…just sayin’

  71. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who does that….lol I’m sure I would have finished Boneyard long ago if I followed the pattern. It is an affliction that jumps crafts…..I’ve just run out of floss for a cross stitch project…..I didn’t check how much I had before starting! There are some things we will never learn, aren’t there?

  73. I did a “knitting stooopid” the other day, too…and I actually read the pattern!
    I’m test knitting a shawl for someone on Ravelry and it has a bunch of repeated sections…I managed to screw up two sections to the point that I wound up fudging them and hoping (praying) that they turn out correctly. I read the pattern correctly, I had the correct number of stitches to begin with. Honestly, no idea what happened.
    And it’s not like it was the first two sections of repeats….they were somewhere in the middle. And it’s not like I took a break before doing them…I was just going along, going along, and then…BAM! Total screw up.
    I fudged it, finished the row, and then checked every section for the correct number of stitches and found a completely different section where I didn’t make a YO so I stuck a stitch marker where the YO should go and I’m just going to fudge it again.
    Needless to say, it’s been on a bit of a time-out and I’m already not going to make the deadline.
    *sigh*

  76. OBVIOUSLY, the Catkin is still wet. My kitty, Scarlett, does the ‘test run’ for dryness. Of course, my non-knitting friends are getting wise to my disclaimer, “Honestly, the yarn had cat fur spun into it!”
    My socks=3 weeks. So glad you LOVE knitting as you give a new meaning (to me) for looking ahead. WAY ahead!
    I’m with everyone else about the baby blanket, but would have to start now, prior to the wedding! Give up the pattern!
    bam

  77. PS I told my husband that you finished your Catkin in four days (as opposed to my 3+ weeks and not done yet) and he says he has a theory: that you acutally knit all your projects in 1/10th scale for the blog and then show the “finished objects” laid out in a doll house for scale. I told him of course not! (…Right?)

  78. Violet – Actually, she knits them, takes photos, and then posts them with false dates, so it LOOKS like she knit them in jig time. Or so I tell myself.

  79. I’d have never thought to put those two colors together for a shawl, but your Catkin looks absolutely stunning.
    Thanks for sharing your hilarious daily adventures with us and for bringing a smile to my face. I always look forward to reading your blog!

  81. Iris–Aha! I knew one of our theories had to be correct. Otherwise she’s just a depressingly fast knitter and the rest of us *are not worthy.* (Is it a mere coincidence that only knitters with “flower names” have figured this out? Any Roses, Daisys or Ferns out there want to corroborate our theories?)

  84. I know it’s only a spelling mistake, but seeing the word ‘slag’ in the same sentence as ’14 year old girl’ is giving me horrible flashbacks to secondary school bullies – please change it ! (Unless I’ve misunderstood and ‘slag’ means something completely different in Candian English than it does in British English ! Still getting the flashbacks though…)

  85. I don’t think of it as “Stephanie says this pattern is hard.” I think of it as “Stephanie says to pay attention to the instructions.”

  86. I’ve added Catkin to my overly long queue. Thank you for showing that even the most accomplished knitters (I am not one) are prone to error. The end result is absolutely gorgeous.

  87. Thank you. You have given me the motivation to continue. I just ripped 6 rows of 330 stitch rows for the SECOND time on my lace shawl (Roxanne) and I only had 4 more rows to go before finishing. I was about ready to throw it in the trash can until I read your post. Must try again. Must try again. Must try again. Did I mention this is my first lace project.

  88. Stephanie, I love your Catkin – you have great taste!
    Thank you for introducing me to this designer. I have cast on her Scalene scarf, which I will not get done in 4 days, in spite of the size difference.
    Ponytail – slag in Canadian means to belittle or ‘bad-mouth’. Just read the urban dictionary definition and wow! I see why you were bothered!
    thank

  89. More canoe time is good for all! just back from BWCA (so close to Canada we could wave!) and everyone should be so lucky. Thanks for all your inspiration and when is the book tour for the new book? Thanks to you, I have socks.

  91. I have the absolute joy of having Carina, the pattern designer, in my circle of friends and knitting group. I was extremely grateful that she wasn’t there the night I had to rip back because of my own failure to read the way I should have!

  93. I cast on 2 different lace projects this week (they were rewards for finishing two other projects that had been OTN for months). Both are very easy lace, and one row of the lace pattern on the vest happens very, very similar to one row of the lace pattern in the scarf. Similar but NOT exactly the same, as I discovered this afternoon when started row 2 of the pattern on the vest and discovered I had knit row 1 from the scarf pattern. Only had to rip back 2 300-stitch rows, though (but when I reknit that row correctly on the vest it will be the FOURTH time I have knit it and the rows right before it). Poor pattern reading and lying gauge swatches… suck.

  94. And the cat lurking in the window says: silly humanz…this will be mines, all mines…. you will not notice me sleepingz on your knitting… you will not notice me sleepingz on your knitting…nothing to see here….
    That’s really beautiful, the neutral and the warm brown. And just in time for early fall. I’m jealous!

  95. The Catkin is intriguing. I was knitting a complicated bit (for me) and speechless because I kept goofing it up. Then a Knit Sister (we were on a knitting week-end) suggested I a) read the pattern and b) put in markers. Astounding!

  97. You know it fall when you wake up to three cats on the bed,especialy if they don’t get along.Lovely knitting worth the effort.As for baby, mine was born on a labor day (5 weeks early).hang in there Jen.

  98. For some reason I couldn’t even accomplish the cast on. I’m such a loser!! But yours is beautiful!

  99. So true! There have been lots of times when I’ve had problems with a pattern and the pattern is not to blame. It’s hard to admit the truth, but there it is.

  100. I fell in love with Catkin and just had to do it. However it is the hardest thing I have ever tried so I don’t think that I will finish in four days. So far I have done 15 rows without frogging. Yay!!

  102. Dear Stephanie,
    I am tragedy-adjacent this week and I now understand why people say “my heart is heavy”. I came over to your blog for a moment of relief and you lightened the load. Thanks for my first genuine smile in a couple of days 🙂

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