"I'm not slow. I just savor every stitch"

Twitchysticks!

Recipe For Frustration
July 12, 2008

Recipe for Frustration


First, begin with a yarn that has a lot of promise. Knit Picks Essentials in the Meadow Multi colorway should do nicely.

Pattern is important. Check out what others are doing on the Summer of Socks board on Ravelry. Be sure to choose one that most people are warning has a little bit of bias which can be annoying. Invest in knitting it until you get to the heel of the first sock. At this point it's important to note that the yarn looks fine, but really the biasing is more than you can stand...even if it doesn't show when you wear it.

Frog the entire first attempt and go for a simple 2x2 rib sock. Be sure to underestimate the power of 2x2 pull. You want the sock to be narrow enough to resemble a snake. As you increase for the gusset and work the heel, the yarn will begin to change. Swirling is to be expected.

Try on the sock. Go ahead and admit now that it is too narrow. Do not invest any more time. Frog the second attempt. The yarn is almost ratty enough.

Begin 3rd attempt. Cast on and frog false starts until yarn is good and ratty (almost to the point of being felted.) On the final attempt, resurrect a variation of a pattern you've already done twice (and weren't so crazy about the second time.) It works well for the yarn. Work three inches, then stir in the new yarn patterning. When you get to the gusset increases, add the third yarn pattern. A marked difference among the three patterns must be achieved, otherwise the frustration will not be complete.

When the heel is finished and you've arrived at the cuff, you may slowly introduce the fourth and (hopefully) final pattern.

The final magnificent step is to throw in the towel and just knit the stupid things. Even it they are ugly, you can count them as the spoils of war. If you finish the pair, you have the satisfaction of knowing that they did NOT drive you to the loony bin and your confidence was NOT completely destroyed!

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Posted by Sara at 3:52 PM

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