I almost didn't share these pictures. Oh the shame! I was so embarrassed when I realized the rookie mistake I made while knitting on the fawn-cho. I guess I was so stressed about midterms that my mind was distracted and I flubbed a few too many stitches to ignore. Ah well...we all make mistakes. Once I discovered the mistake, I made my way through the five stages of knitting mistake grief...
Stage One: Acknowledge the mistake. Force yourself to say, "Hi, I'm Meredith. I messed up my knitting beyond repair and I have to start over." It's so hard to face this ugly truth!!
Stage Two: Remove the knitting from the needles. There's no turning back.
Stage Three: With every stitch you rip out it's like ripping out a piece of your own soul. No I am not exaggerating. ;)
Stage Four: Put on some good, relaxing music. Dean Martin doesn't judge me for skipping a few stitches. Just look at that face.
This was silly, I know. Silly but true! Thankfully I'm back on track with the fawn-cho and will be much more careful this time around so I won't have to go through these stages of grief again...
Do you go through a similar routine when you goof up your knitting, crochet, or other craft? I'd love to hear how you deal with that awful feeling!
oh god yes, I just had to pull out loads of a blanket I'm crotcheting, so so sad! x
ReplyDeleteThe worst. But then you realize that part of the joy of knitting is the process. So frogging and redoing allows for more "process".
ReplyDeleteLol_I've had some definite issues with my Doctor Who scarf-which is like the easiest thing on the planet to knit. I've become more than excellent at frogging my work now unfortunately. Sometimes easier projects give me trouble, because I go into robo-knit mode and stop thinking about row counts or simple things.
ReplyDeleteI taught my grandma how to crochet over the summer, and every time she was nearly done with a project, something about it would upset her and she'd unravel the whole thing and start over. This happened about four times! It killed me every single time, over and over. I convinced her to stay with the last one, though. Hurrah!
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith!
ReplyDeleteThe grief, yes! The first time that I learnt to knit a sock, I had to frog the whole thing for more than 5 times. It was frustrating but I was very determine to learn, so that spirit actually kept me going. I succeeded in the end. I agree with Mary, the joy of knitting is the process. I wish you all the best with the fawn-cho. Don't give up, you're an inspiration.
Lots of love from Malaysia :)
Having to unravel knitting or crochet projects is awful but at least you noticed it now and didn't get any further. I always try and keep in mind that if you unravel it now and make it right, it'll be awesome when it's finished properly! Also, that it's good that we can just unravel it, rather than just starting again, and not waste the wool - tis one forgiving thing about knitting / crochet. Hope you're enjoying the project overall!! Can't wait to see how it progresses further :-).
ReplyDeleteI would say my first step of the process is some hefty denial. I get a little upset when I realize I've messed up, but more often than not I keep going a row or two more because I don't want to face the facts. It's funny though, I think I do that because I love knitting so much. It's therapeutic to knit, so I keep on knitting. Starting completely over is so daunting to me, but in the end it makes you a stronger knitter and it is all part of the process. Glad you shared this side of things!
ReplyDeleteMegan
ugh, that was not an exaggeration at all. it feels like knives stabbing m heart when I have to do that!!! Most of the time I'm making things for me so I'll complain to my husband about how stupid of a mistake it was, put it down, then come back and look at it and say, well its not that bad, then keep going. haha. i just did that on a sweater not too long ago and realized i knitted when i should have purled on stockinette and it was waaaaaaaaay to late. like 50 rows too late. but oh well! the rest of it looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that if it's a mistake that doesn't alter the shape on an item in a dramatic way, then i don't tend to fix it (especially if it's for me). I tend to have to cast on a million times when making a hat in the round without a pattern, it takes me forever to get the right size!
ReplyDeleteHi! I know, what it feels like...I wrote a post about it here (http://kolora-kolora.blogspot.com/2011/10/lacheln-ist-nie-ein-fehler-to-smile-is.html)as well...in the end you are so much more happy when it's right again! Thanks for sharing this with us and have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I just messed up the sweater I'm knitting SO BAD. I basically had the stitch markers in the wrong place since the hem. But it pains me so much to rip back that I just adjusted the pattern to fix my mistake. Is that.. bad? ;)
ReplyDeleteI feel you. I have a sweater I started in November and then had to put aside...and I am starting to think I will just need to frog the whole thing and start over. Sigh. Every time I have to frog knitting, I want to cry with every single stitch pulled out. Frogging crochet doesn't bug me at all, but knitting? Oh boy...
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY understand!It is grief! And torture! Sometimes it takes me a good few hours to get over it and face starting again. It thoroughly depresses me, but I have 6 stages - denial, it lasts a good few more rounds/rows trying desperately to rescue it before finally angrily/depressedly accepting. Breathing through it and dismissing the mental beating up until I've moved on helps too....and cake.
ReplyDeleteHaha I forgot the denial stage...
DeleteOh yes. Cake always helps! ;)
i'm the kind of person that will convince myself that a little mistake gives it "character" and keep on. hahah! i'm sure the case is different when it comes to knitting. good luck with it! can't wait to see this finished. xo!
ReplyDeletekelly-christine.com
1. Notice mistake.
ReplyDelete2. Ignore mistake for several more rows.
3. Acknowledge mistake and try to strike a plea bargain.
4. Admit defeat.
5. Frog project, all the while Flinstone cursing the mistake.
6. Get coffee, chocolate and a good movie.
7. Rewind yarn while plotting plan to show the mistake who's boss.
8. Cast on again, determined be all Chuck Norris on any other mistake who dares to step in on my project again.
Haha!! I love this! :-D
DeleteI have seen that frustrating pile of yarn many times from crocheting. The important thing is to just keep at it. Mis
ReplyDeleteI Understand Completely!!!!
ReplyDeleteI SO know how this feels! oh dear! I have been knitting my boyfriend a hat (for his xmas present) since October and I can't even count how many times I have had to start over. It may be time to face the fact I'm not very good at knitting! hehe.
ReplyDeletehttp://jothestrange.blogspot.com/
so true! Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what you mean. Happened to me a few times while I was knitting a scarf for my beloved....But I was too far already and the deadline was nearing. I just hoped he wouldn't notice.
ReplyDeleteOh dear me... feel your pain. I have Dino up as my blog post today (love that man).
ReplyDeleteOh the pain! I can so understand! I have another phase to throw in there...first I acknowledge the mistake, then I stop and observe for while and ponder whether it is tiny enough to be barely noticeable or whether it is big enough to bother me. In the first case I carry on with my work convincing myself that tiny flaws give handknit objects charachter and charm, in the second case I take a deep breath, die a little inside and start frogging. And before I cast on again I have to work on something else for a few rows to help me ease the pain!
ReplyDeletewhenever possible i try to incorporate the 'mistake' as part of the design. sadly that doesn't always work, and then there'll be loads of cursing and usually some demented housecleaning - which is what i do when i'm in a really bad mood - and finally when i've calmed down i start again, and hopefully learn from past mistakes :)
ReplyDeleteOh I totally understand your grief! I'm actually in the process of preparing (lets say it's been a "few" months worth of preparing) of unravelling a whole cardigan :-( The reason being it just doesn't look/feel right - I think the yarn would be more suited to another project. I've been putting it off but reading your blog post has encouraged me to face up to it soon!
ReplyDeleteGlass of wine!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL
Make infinitely more mistakes.....
Wake up in the morning to a miss shapen beanie instead of gloves....
I actually blogged nearly the same thing when I had to rip out a sleeve of a heavily cabled sweater. It's true. Your soul cries just a little bit with each ripped stitch.
ReplyDeleteHa this is great! When the mistakes happen I throw a little fit, take a break, then start over. :)
ReplyDeleteha! totally true! for me there's sometimes a stage of tears. and maybe cursing at the pattern.=)
ReplyDeleteYou forgot my personal biggest stage - lots of half-cussing and yelling. "Dang it!" "Crap!" "Shoot!" "Seriously?!" "UUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!"And then I always go for the wine. haha
ReplyDeletewww.erinsplayinghooky.wordpress.com
I feel your pain, I have been there more than i care to admit. Glad I am not alone.
ReplyDeleteOh Meredith! This winter I am determined to get better at knitting specifically so I can make that poncho! I am so desperately in love with it, but I foresee much unripping of stitches in my future...
ReplyDeleteKatie x
Loving your turquoise round pillow! smocking love.
ReplyDeleteLove your illustration of the 5 stages of grief. you never said what was wrong though. size?
I find the hardest bit is when you only unravel SOME but not all .. cos its knowing when to stop and having to pick up stitches.
barnicles
If I find a drastic mistake, I spend a day or two trying to convince myself that I can live with it or fix it going forward without having to rip it. I am working in a sweater with raglan sleeves and I apparently forgot what row I was on, so I didn't increase where I was supposed to and ended up with 10 less stitches than I should have. Soooo I increased a couple stitches on non increase rows to catch up without ripping, haha! It actually looks fine thankfully but I guess only time will tell...I just couldn't bring myself to start over so here's hoping I don't regret this immensely when I try this thing on.
ReplyDeleteOooh I know this so well. I started my boyfriend's christmas present no less than five times because I kept getting the pattern wrong. It's all part of the joy of knitting, though ;)
ReplyDeleteI tend to add a step after your step one, which is make the project sit unfinished for a week and think about what it's done. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't feel bad about ripping back or totally frog a project. My usual problem is that my gauge was off a bit and my project is too big/small and I would rather rip out and start again knowing it will fit better. My husband is the one who is upset by my frogging projects. All he keeps saying is "your doing what! But you spent so much time on it!"
ReplyDeleteI definitely pretend I don't care for a while.
ReplyDeleteOr sit there wondering if it will really be worth it in the end to frog it.
then once I do frog it goes one of two ways.
1) cast on again
2) tuck it away somewhere until it chooses to behave.
Okay usually it's 2.
It's always worth it though when you've re-knitted all that you frogged and it looks so much better than before! Lovely blog, came across it with a google search of "young knit bloggers". I just started my blog and am so glad there are other young knitters out there :)
ReplyDeletei-like-to-knit.blogspot.com
Eep. You missed a step. It's the pre- admission stage where you set the project aside and work on something else for a bit just to see if you've made a mistake thinking that you've made a mistake;)
ReplyDeleteRage usually - pure rage! For about 3 seconds then I calm down. I'm just learning to knit, so my projects are just full of mistakes. My boyfriend asked me to knit him a scarf and I've attempted it about 5 times now. So frustrating!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a knitter but I've done a little crocheting. I have a half step between one and two, which is a moment to think about if the mistake might just add a bit of 'homemade uniqueness' to the work...then I rip it all out lol. But I'm still at a beginner level with my crocheting. Loved this post!
ReplyDeleteAh so relatable. I've done this so many times. I pulled out a pair of knit shorts about 20 times before they were 'just right'.
ReplyDeleteI'm still a beginner at knitting so I just class it as 'character' but my crocheting is intermediate and when there are one too many stitches I get annoyed but it's not as heartbreaking as trying to pick up knit stitches is a task and a half for me.
ReplyDeleteI still love the colour of this yarn! Bummer that you had to frog, though :(
ReplyDelete-Nicole
Knit, Nicole, Knit!