When knitting rebels against you…
…or, “when you’re a monogamous knitter and can’t bring yourself to knit anything else, even when you’re tired” – that could be the alternative title, it just slides out the tongue, doesn’t it?…
I am the sort of weird person who can’t stand multiple unfinished projects, I’ll definitely forget they exist if I don’t give them my full attention until completion. Sadly, this means I am stuck with a knitting project that challenges the brain even when said brain is clearly too tired to work on it. I’ve been very busy lately but also very stubborn and insisting I can knit something complicated even when I can hardly keep my eyes open.
Clearly this is headed for success!
Let’s backtrack: I got obsessed with a colourwork jumper I saw on Ravelry a while ago called Side Eye. To my eyes it is magnificent and just the sort of thing my wardrobe is wanting. I had some precious baby Yak yarn that would be perfect for it.
Of course, I apparently also crave chaos, because the version I really wanted to knit was one that had some colour changes. I wanted the same version as a Ravelry user called Viorelknits had made. Their version took my breath away and I needed one just like it.
To the unconfounded mind, this version might seem like a simple question of creating a couple of extra rounds in the knitting to switch colours and Bob’s my uncle. To my very confounded mind though, this was a bit of a nightmare. My tired braincells just refused to compute the change. Did this mean I rested and came back later? No, this meant lots of swearing and persisting!
I have so far managed to knit the bottom successfully, but had trouble interpreting the changes Viorelknits made to their version to make the colour change possible in the section shown on the needles above. This means the beginning of my ram’s head doesn’t look as neat, and now there’s a possibility I might have to frog part of the top bit – can you imagine how much work it’ll be undoing colourwork?
So, wish me luck and keep me accountable, let’s see if my next blog post features a finished jumper, or whether I have instead gone into hiding and hate all yarn until infinity.
See you next time 🙂
15 thoughts on “When knitting rebels against you…”
I do hope you manage to finish it Leonor, it’s a fantastic jumper and I can see why you want one. I can also see why you would like a different colourway. I have a thing about kits and other people’s patterns – I want the project to be mine, not theirs so I tend to make alterations or rather try to.
I suggest you eat lots of brain food, and lots of chocolate, to give your brain cells the best chance of sorting this problem out. It would certainly be beyond me, since I can’t knit and I’d have to try to convert it to a crochet jumper too.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
Ann
Ah ha….a fellow no knitter, everything in crochet 😉
I hope so too! I *really* want to see this jumper finished… here’s hoping I can bring it out of time-out this weekend.
I don’t need much encouragement to eat more chocolate! 😀
So crochet is your language – I couldn’t crochet anything to save my life. I guess the Universe is balanced, then! Hehe.
Thanks for reading, Ann!
Wow Leonor….you certainly like a humongous challenge! Even the ram is challenging you to get him completed.
Ewe are certainly not usually sheepish with your endeavours….so stop butting heads with your pattern (that is baa,d), just shepherd your thoughts and with shear determination – gambol to the finish.
Although it sounds like you have no problem being tired, you know what to count….😜
Looking forward to seeing you modelling your woolly creation
Xxx
Thanks for the laugh, Antje! 😀
Fingers crossed this hasn’t been tossed into the Naughty Project Pile to think about what it’s done! I so want to finish this jumper…
(Also, well done for understanding crochet, it’s a mystery to me!)
No wonder your brain is fried – it is so complicated – but wow what a design! Love it and hope you finish it 🙂
Ha, my brain came pre-fried, I think! The pattern is just making it well cooked 🤣
Wow. What a fabulous jumper, Leonor, I can absolutely see you wearing it with pride. I’m a poor knitter, and only fractionally less bad at crochet, so have nothing technical to offer.
In terms of managing a making challenge, I find it helpful to remind myself I’m doing this because I can see how lovely it will be but also because overall I’m supposed to enjoy the process. If I’m not enjoying it, or worse still hating it, then put it on one side for a short while and pick it up when I feel I can conquer it. It’s not unfinished, just resting while my mind works through some solutions. So more temporarily ‘on the naughty step’ rather than in the more permanent ’naughty project pile’?
Thanks, Lindsay! I really love that pattern and hope I’ll manage to wear it. The yarn is dreamy, too 😀
This jumper is definitely on a time-out for now, until I feel like tackling the ram’s head. Worst case scenario I’ll have to frog some with the aid of an extra pair of hands, let’s hope it doesn’t get to that!
My problem with putting things on a time-out is, if it’s not in front of me, I’ll forget about it. I have a shawl I started years ago in a bag that will have to be completely ripped out, I’ve no idea where I am in the pattern 😮
What a complicated project. I admire your knitting abilities. I can’t knit or crochet so your skills are admirable to me. I’m sure you will get it worked out and I look forward to seeing you wear it.
I’m only following instructions! The problem arises when I decide to change them to suit my needs 😉 Thanks for reading and here’s hoping I do have something to show next time!
Wow, what a wonderful sweater. I can see why you like the second one, the ram stands out much more. I don’t knit or crochet but I wonder if you could have a accomplished the same effect by making the background or the ram in a darker, more contrasting shade? Why not the whole sweater black and the ram and decorations in cream?
Hi, Ann! Thanks for reading.
The “regular” version of this jumper makes you choose either one main colour (MC) and one complementary colour (CC) and that’s what you go with for the whole project. The problem is, I don’t do light neutrals in my wardrobe, and the whole jumper in black made the ram’s head look like a photo’s negative (who remembers going to the shop to develop those?).
By switching MC and CC midway, I achieve exactly what I think this pattern should be – a neutral, yet badass, jumper for this middle-aged goth 🤣 If only the pattern creator would offer such a change in her original design…
Leonor,
First, let me say that sweater/jumper is so you! We haven’t know each other too long, but I can just tell it’s meant to be yours. I would be going cross-eyed, and there would be nonstop curse words. (I pretend to be so sweet and nice, but frustration brings out the underlying “sailor mouth” in me. 😬)
I am wondering if you tried reaching out to @Viorelknits about how she approached her version? I have found most Ravelers very eager to help those s who appreciate their work. It might be just the tip you need, and save you time, and lost 😵💫brain cells.
Anyway, that’s what I would do. I also find that telling the person you will be make your own changes, that keeps their sweater unique, helps.
I look forward to seeing your new jumper, soon!
Capi
Thanks, Capi! You’re right, that jumper *is* very me 🤣 And yep, my inner sailor also came out during the colour switching, you’re not the only one!
I didn’t reach out to them, I kept thinking I should but they didn’t offer any pattern notes and for some reason that convinced me they wouldn’t have any specific written instructions on how to make the switch… I still might, if I ever decide I’m insane enough to knit this again in the future!
I’m happy to report I’m now above the second band and will be creating the markings for the sleeve openings (which will be steeked 😱). I’m on my way to a completed project, who knew?!