Something Only a Yarn Purchase Can Help
If Dr. Laura would just answer her phone I would let her know that her whole Behave As If philosophy is a bunch of hooey when it comes to knitting woes.
What was I thinking....Just behave as if? What a bunch of Bunk. Hooey. Nonsense. Schmaltz. Yuk-Pooey. The Big Charade.
It just don't work.
Yesterday I was feeling good because I got five inches of the Corset Top finished after a good two weeks of mis-starts, re-do's. do-overs, and mulligans. Now I know that this behave-as-if stuff does not work when it comes to knitting. Now I know, when it comes to knitting, you just need to read the directions and follow them unless you want to end up like me: A knitter with a Corset Top that will now have to be renamed. It will now be the Wannabe Corset Top.
I realized, to my ultimate horror and displeasure, that I did the ribbing entirely wrong. You know, I'm one of those knitters who loves knitting ribs. I especially love 1x1 ribbing, and 2x2 comes in at a close second. But 2x2x2x1? Who ever heard of that? Apparently, I haven't, and the very clear directions and graph to back it up were not enough for me to follow the pattern correctly. Because when I got to that part, I was on such a roll that I saw the first K2, P2 and I was off on a ribbing tear. A total ribbing blow-out. A rave.
I have no business knitting this top. I am not worthy.
So, I will continue with the used-to-be-called Corset Top and finish it my own way. I can't bear another frogging session. I can't.
Since when do I listen to a radio pop psychologist anyway?
But there is a bit of happiness around here. Look what I found in the sale bin today. It's five skeins of Noro Sahara, an angora/silk/camel/wool blend in a gorgeous plum color. Forty percent off!
You're so lucky to find that beautiful yarn - and in exactly the color that I like best!
Don't worry about the Corset; I'm sure it'll be beautiful anyway.
Posted by: Josie | July 27, 2005 at 06:05 PM
The corset will look smashing on you and no one needs to know about the ribbing.
I never seem to run into such a neat bargain when I go into the yarn shop, normally about all I find are lone skeins with just enough yardage to make a swatch.
Posted by: Cheri | July 27, 2005 at 06:23 PM
That yarn is so gorgeous! Isn't it nice to live so close (CA) to Japan, where they have such great yarn?!
I'm having similar problems with my would-be corset top. I got the ribbing because I swatched so much but it's the darned beginning lace and points that are causing me to frog repeatedly. Good luck!
Posted by: Elspeth | July 27, 2005 at 07:04 PM
You will like the 2x2 ribbing better anyways. Who wants to mess around and try to remember 2x2x2x1???
That Noro yarn is awesome, and in the one color in almost every room of my house! It sounds heavenly... is it as soft as it sounds?
Posted by: Melissa | July 27, 2005 at 07:40 PM
I know. I read complex stuff at work and I would like to think I'm at least competent. But when I read knitting words or charts, I get them wrong all the time. Same reason as yours. I am in such a hurry to get on with the knitting. Hope the new yarn makes up for that silly little 2 X 2 X 2 X 1 !!
Posted by: erin | July 27, 2005 at 08:10 PM
Well that's it. I officially made the decision NOT to knit the corset. If you're frustrated i'm pretty sure you'd find me at the bottom of a very tall building by mid pattern. I don't do well with frogging! not. at. all.
I LOVE your yarn find! Bravo.
Posted by: Rachel | July 27, 2005 at 09:37 PM
Woo, any Noro yarn on sale is worth buying. That looks seriously edible. :-)
Keeping fingers crossed for your Corset Top.
Posted by: Tove | July 28, 2005 at 01:48 AM
Your noro purchase is awesome! At 40% off it's a gift! Wow! Is it as soft as it sounds?
Posted by: Audrey | July 28, 2005 at 04:27 AM
J'adore Noro. Any idea what it might become? The corset top will be fine and no one will know different. You've just varied the pattern. It's not like you're going to end up with one side longer than the other or anything. By the way, I almost made the same mistake. I saw the lead sitch and he 2 x 2 and mine almost ended up in 2x2 rib.
Posted by: Kristina | July 28, 2005 at 05:05 AM
Keep going on the corset top and make the best of it. It may not be a quick knit but I'm sure you can get it done. If it's any consolation, you aren't the only one having trouble with it. I've read a few blogs with similar comments.
I just went to the LYS yesterday to fondle some Noro but, unlike you, I wasn't luck enough to take any home. What do you think you'll do with it?
Posted by: Sauniell | July 28, 2005 at 05:37 AM
noro in a sale bin is always enough to cheer anybody up, from anything.
Posted by: uglyagnes | July 28, 2005 at 05:42 AM
Wow I never find anything I want in the sale bins. Great find. Maybe the corset is frustrating you because it's not as quick as you are used to? I'm sure you'll work through it and it will be fabulous!
Posted by: Shar | July 28, 2005 at 07:02 AM
That ribbing? Not a mistake... it's a "design feature" or "pattern modification."
:)
Posted by: Kathy | July 28, 2005 at 07:04 AM
Purdy Noro, Purdy! You are so lucky. Can't wait to see what you make with it.
Bummer on the corset. I hate it when a good project goes bad. Like everyone said, I bet you'll make it look fab. You always do!
Don't let the corset win!
Posted by: heather | July 28, 2005 at 08:07 AM
Purple yarn makes it alllll better.
You know, I think it was former First Lady Mrs. Hoover that said if you make a mistake, just do it again and make a pattern out of it.
Good luck!
Posted by: HibiscuitsGirl | July 28, 2005 at 08:13 AM
Don't despair. You're still following the "as if" philosophy. It's "as if" you were following the pattern and doing it the specified way, but you found your own design modification and finally got on a roll with knitting the top and making progress on it. People make these modifications and substitutions all the time with recipes in cooking why not in knitting?
Posted by: Julie | July 28, 2005 at 09:19 AM
OK, I'm not the most experienced knitter, but the corset top is doing me in as well. I finally got past the armholes, then noticed my ribbing pattern was off. I knew it would bug me to leave it and so I ripped and started over yet again. This is the last time before I give up, however....
Posted by: Lisa D. | July 28, 2005 at 09:32 AM
MMMmmmm. Yarn envy....
As to the alterna-corset top, I think this goes back to the idea of thinking of yourself as a designer-knitter rather than a pattern-following-knitter. Sure, sometimes one ends up improvisnig on a pattern through an, er, oversight. But this way, it'll be unique. It's the knitting equivalent of the happy culinary accident, in which one mistakenly adds cinnamon to the hamburger mix thinking it was chili powder and discovers that the cinnamon is much more exciting. "Oh yes, I thought the cinnamon would be more exciting..." one says to the admiring dinner guest.
Posted by: Lizbon | July 28, 2005 at 09:49 AM
Ooops, apologies to Julie. I just noticed that she'd made the same point (and with less excess verbiage) not two comments ago. Serves me right for not reading them all first, as I usually do.
Posted by: Lizbon | July 28, 2005 at 09:51 AM
So jealous
Posted by: Darci | July 28, 2005 at 10:28 AM
That's a beautiful color!
Posted by: brooke | July 28, 2005 at 12:40 PM
oh that is me all over - read a bit of the pattern and BOOM! i'm off and racing only to find i was meant to decrease 5 times 10 rows back. you'd think knitting would make me SLOW DOWN and read what i'm meant to be doing, like knitting is meant to be a soothing thing to do. knitting frenzy central over here.
love the noro by the way, i have yet to lay my hands on some, it's WAY $$$ in my country.
Posted by: Taryn | July 29, 2005 at 05:11 AM