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| From: Action For Greyhounds (click to visit) |
November has become synonymous with Na(tional) No(vel) Wri(ting) Mo(nth) but some wag on Ravelry (basically - it's knitting porn) came up with Na(tional) Swe(ater) Kni(tting) Month where you have to knit a sweater in a month.
My lovely knitting pals Viv and Ania are doing it. It seemed churlish not to join in. But I know my limitations. They have chosen beautiful sweaters entwined with cables and bobbles and all sorts of gorgeousness. I am kitting a sweater too. For my dog.
Like I say, I know my limitations.
I decide to begin with a snood because greyhounds really feel the cold in their wittle ears. This one in the picture is pre-made - you can click on the link and BUY one from the girl who knits them!!
So, here we go: My diary of Day One of NaKniSweMo
I download the pattern and get my needles organised.
I spend an hour and a half looking for my needles.
I find them. With all the other needles after all.
I start knitting Nero a heather-pink snood.
Three rows in, I decide that his pride won't allow him to wear a pink snood.
I rip it out
I run out to buy different, butch, wool
I buy black wool.
I cast on four times, each time I have
not enough wool in my tail to complete the 84 stitches.
I rip back the fucking aborted casting on four times.
I settle down to start knitting properly with the lamp on, my specs on the end of my nose.
The greyhound is sleeping soundly beside me.
There is some hideous pedigree chum inspired farting.
I pull my poloneck up over my nose and mouth and knit, hijab style.
During Autumnwatch I get engrossed in
an owl eating a starling.
I get my stitches wrong.
I realise that I have my stitches wrong
in the FOLLOWING row.
I am knitting rib.
The shame of getting ribbing wrong is overwhelming.
I rip all the fucking knitting out again and re-cast on.
I am so stressed that the stitches have
been cast on so tight that the wool squeaks and I barely force my needle down through the stitches to complete the
first row.
Emboldened by this first row success, I decide to knit another row in bed.
I get halfway down that row and realise
that I've made a mistake.
I cannot bear ripping it out for a
sixth time.
I jam the wool onto the needles and
fling it onto the floor beside the bed.
I fucking hate knitting.
Lay your bets - how much of this Grouse will be left by the end of the NaKniSweMo.
Clue: I have another two bottles.
You need to learn to think rather than frog :) Akshully, I'm test knitting a shawl atm and if it's any consolation i have restarted said shawl 6 times now due to the setup instructions being a bit iffy. I may do a dog sweater for nanoswemo at the same time depending on how frustrating I ring this shawl :)
ReplyDeleteYou are ripping back a SHAWL. I'm ripping back RIBBING!!! *hangs head in shame. Also in whisky*
DeleteNot ripping back - tinkling :)
DeleteLOL let up on yourself :) x
ReplyDeleteIt's got worse since I wrote this up :-D
Deletei always found knitting rather relaxing. then again, my idea of "knitting" is letting someone else start it for me and finish for me, because i don't know how to do either, and then just knitting very badly until i get tired. i made myself a gorgeous rustic infinity scarf on which i get lots of compliments. people think i *meant* for the rusticity. i didn't; it's the direct result of my being crap at knitting.
ReplyDeletekeep going. the whisky will help relax you.
My idea of knitting is quite similar to yours - except I would rather just pay someone to do the beginning, middle and end. I am on a spiritual mission to manage to knit this for the dog. Then I may retire the needles entirely!
DeleteOh, dear! I feel for you, dear, but you should try again. I am procrastinating my ripping out process at the moment. Messed up the last yarn over row and bind off, so must re-do. Actually, though, I still like knitting. Wine has been a good knitting companion for me, though. It is more relaxing, just not as useful when I have to concentrate…;)
ReplyDeleteIt's Day 3 and I am about 6 rows in. It's not perfect - I've made a mistake somewhere, but it should lead to an interesting pattern lol. Knit two, purl two....how can I make a mistake in that?!
DeleteHaha If your knitting is anything like mine, the whole bottle will be gone! You CAN do it!!
ReplyDeleteI love your faith in me lol!
DeleteWonderful, I laughed so much: if it's any consolation your way with words is worth a hundred miserable knitted snoods. I'm looking forward to the next episode of this....
ReplyDeleteWell, thankee kindly, Tarotdon Tarot! I'm a few rows into it now - the odd error has crept in thanks to trying to knit through Strictly Come Dancing lasdt night. But he's a dog, he won't complain :-D
DeleteI think it's a shame you didn't stick with the pink - it would have been a beautiful contrast with his lovely black coat ;D Good luck!
ReplyDeleteCx
I love knitting. I find it a very relaxing sound to hear and a similarly pleasant thing to watch.
ReplyDeleteOh no, not ME doing it!