A couple of my recent projects have called on me to "do the right thing" which means not throwing the entire thing into a bag and walking away. It means "backing up" to where you went astray.
The first is the Inspira Cowl I am knitting. I bought this as a kit from The Needle Emporium in Ancaster when I was teaching at the OHCG School last year. I finally got around to starting it and was more than 1/2 way through when I realized I was complicating the pattern by twisting my yarn behind as I carried it along (old school technique when doing stranded work - not necessary on three stitch pattern).
It wasn't awful, but I knew it didn't look as great as some of the others on Ravelry. So I frogged the whole thing and started again. It's amazing how quickly you can frog versus knitting - even stranded work!
Now it is perfect and I LOVE the colours. Just a few more rows to go and it will be off the needles and warming my neck. BTW, Julie at The Needle Emporium's kit is a much faster knit in worsted weight than the one shown on Ravelry. And she has about 6 of them on her blog A Really Good Yarn
The other exercise in patience is a wonderful new dress that I made to take to Barbados. It is from another Marci Tilton pattern - Vogue 9112. Since it is already packed, I am showing you an image from the pattern sleeve. I will take a picture when I wear it in the sun.
I made mine in a yummy coral red linen and it turned out beautifully. Like her other patterns, it is quite an architectural feat to assemble all the parts. I think there were 15 pattern pieces - here is a sketch from the pattern sleeve which shows how much stuff is going on. That's what make her patterns so interesting to sew.
The exercise in patience came when I attached the front to the back - about halfway through the assembly. Since linen doesn't have a wrong side, and since I didn't think to clearly indicate which was the right side, the fronts and backs did match and the side seams clearly indicated I had done something wrong. I had left front side to right back side - or something like that.
I decided it was easiest to undo the shoulders and the back seams - only FOUR! and re-do them. Note to self - check progress before finishing seams. About an hour later, I had reassembled and was on my way. Must confess there was a momentary urge to "bag it" and try again much later.
But my new "cup of patience" totally paid off. The dress is wonderful and I will definitely be making it again - having learned from my errors. Will make sure to choose fabric with a visible difference between right and wrong sides.
Is it maturity that gives us the ability to remain calm and "back up"? Or just the experience in knowing that if you take the time to undo - the end result will be worth it.
