Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Knit faster - that'll work

I've been happily knitting away at a lacy shawl/scarf in the evenings, using a beautiful gradient teal yarn.  (I'd show a better picture, but it's for a gift and I don't want to spill all the beans...)


When I hit the part where I was to start the last chart, for the lacy edging, I stopped for a bit of a think.  It looked to me like I was going to finish that last chart with a lot of yarn left over, which meant a good bit of that gradient was going to go to waste.  A bit of geometry was applied and I figured that I was at the halfway point knitting wise, but I had lots more than half the yarn left.  Hurray!  I could do one more repeat of the lace pattern used for the body of the shawl!

Famous last words, right?
As I inched up that last chart, row by row, I watched my rapidly-diminishing ball of yarn with increasing alarm.
There's a time-honored technique deployed by knitters everywhere when they find themselves in this situation - I knit faster and faster, hoping I'd finish before I ran out of yarn.
(Note to non-knitters:  No, this doesn't work.  It has never worked, but we keep doing it anyway.)
One moment I was lying to reassuring myself that it was going to be fine, just fine, don't worry, fine, and the next moment I'd start to get a little panicky again.
I had a row and a half of chart left -


but only this much yarn.


I needed to work one wrong side row, then the last row of the chart, and then I figured I could cheat and skip the last wrong side row and just head right for the bind off instead.
So, over, back, and over once more.
Yeah, yeah, this'll work.  Yeah...
I marked the halfway point of that little ball of yarn and set off knitting.  I barely made it over once, before hitting that mark.  Even cheating, I was still going to end up a full row short.


Rip...  Rewind.  I went back to before the last chart started, then took out two extra rows from the body of the shawl (never miss them, right?), and started that last chart again.
I'm only a couple of rows from where I was last time, but I've got way more yarn left.


I'm sure it's going to work this time.  Absolutely.  Yep.
It's going to be fine.
Though I might start knitting a little faster...






9 comments:

Libby in TN said...

That sounds like me and the gas gauge .. I just drive faster.

Such pretty yarn!

Mystic Quilter said...

Whoever received this lovely shawl is going to be thrilled, not only the lacy pattern but that glorious colour!

Gretchen Weaver said...

I love the color of the shawl. This is why I stick to knitting dishrags. No one cares if you run short and just add a different color. I hope it all works out for you.

Louise said...

Do you call this "Knit Chicken," like we play "Bobbin Chicken" when quilting? Crossing my fingers that you have enough of that gorgeous yarn!

Wanderingcatstudio said...

It's amazing how much those last rows can eat up, and how much we can underestimate it!
I like the look of that last chart... I hope you'll show a finished pic after its been gifted!

Cathy said...

So that's what you've been up to! From what I can see it's gorgeous- lacy and turquoise and variegated has to be gorgeous. I promise I won't notice any problem with it when you send it to me and I'll wear it with pride 8-)

I have a crocheted shawl that is so far a pattern, balls of yarn and hook. Yarn might be dusty now. A mouse probably tore up and used part of the pattern for a nest.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

That is a pretty color and a pretty design. Making sure there is must the right amount of material - not too much, not too little can be downright tricky. That's why I like scrap quilts, so adjustments can be made. I always get nervous with more planned quilts, no matter how much I have of the fabric. What if I run out?

Chantal said...

Lol. Oh my! You are so cute. I could just picture you knitting faster as the blood pressure was getting higher. Hilarious! We have a lady at work who eats like that. The more she has to do the faster she eats. I can't watch her because I choke for her every single time, lol. I wish I was the lucky recipient of that shawl. What a gorgeous color this is and the lacy pattern, sublime! Can't wait to see more pictures of it after Christmas. Good luck with your running. :^D

The Joyful Quilter said...

Been there. Done that. Put out a call on Ravelry for leftover yarn!!