To Frog or not to Frog...
Frogging. Yes I've moved onto the darker side of knitting. Instead of fighting a losing battle with Cat Borhdi patterns I, with much encouragement from the Frog Queen herself (Melissa), I frogged not one but two UFOs this week. I consider myself to be somewhat accomplished in knitterly pursuits. I like to think that the needles and yarn will do what I tell them. I've fearlessly taken on cables, tackled simple lace and numerous sock patterns. However, I have met a match in Cat Bordhi.
First, let us discuss the Flow Motion socks found in The Ultimate Sock Book by Vogue. I'm sure you will agree they are beautiful and look simplistic. Don't let the picture fool or the flowing seemingly simple lace pattern lull you...
They are nasty little critters intent on reaching the frog pond. The author has purposely created these beauties to lull us unsuspecting sock knitters into believing that we too can end up with a pair of toe warmers with ease and perfection. It is NOT true, I tell you...
I had the right size needle, the right yarn and even got gauge! Whatever was the problem, then, you might ask? The lace was too tight, the foot was too long (even though I measured every few rows and followed the directions to the T. I didn't take it personally until...
I decided to give Leaves and Tendrils in Socks Soar on 2 Circs (a book by Cat Bordhi). Even though the pattern explicitly states, and I quote,
"This is the most challenging of the socks in this book, and will teach you the most new skills."
I naively cast on, thinking, this isn't too bad, since the pattern summary also noted the following:
However, it may be knitted by anyone who can follow directions.
I can do this, I thought, and it is so very pretty...
Others have done it, said I (a search on Ravelry produces many a successfully completed FO). So off I go... I completed the Turned Toe (no frogging yet) and even understood and executed the close curve (tendril), the embossed motifs (leaf). All was going well until I came to the "upside down heel." This pattern is indeed "an education in itself..." - and education in expanding one's vocabulary, an education in how far needles do indeed fly across the room, an education in the RELAXING concept of knitting, and an education in how to avoid all things Bordhi.
Two sock patterns - two successful Frogs. They have been ripped and reclaimed yarn is now making a pair of cabled wonders straight from my own brain. I am now left to wonder just what I did to anger the Knitting Goddess for I have indeed received punishment in spare. Even my Cabled sweater received a bit of frogging (when will I learn to READ a pattern and not skim) for the neck line was out a few stitches. So, I frogged...
My disillusionment with knitting came to an end today as I met up with good friends at our Garter & Giggles (thanks Melissa for the influx of new creativity). Speaking of Melissa, the Frog Queen, she has finally made significant progress on her BSJ. It is beautiful, but since I forgot my camera today we'll leave the posting of pictures up to Melissa (check out her Yarn Ramblings at All Yarn All the Time ). She provided much needed encouragement and comfort as I waffled between frogging my two disasters or to continue with the experiment in insanity.
Speaking of insanity...Kate had finished the socks that caused her a minor breakdown last week. She willed the stitches into behaving and achieved success! However, she forgot to bring them to show and tell today (but that is alright as my own forgetfulness wouldn't have allowed us to capture it anyway). Gale worked on some summer time socks with a pattern. Pam stitched away and reached the toe portion of her own sock. Jan continued stitching on her sweater attempted to climb out of the black hole of knitting. Mary was at the retreat, Leanne was missing in action and so was her Aunt Alison. Jeanette completed her Rainbow toes and even boasted about her newest creation...socks for her gal pal's 16 th birthday. Yes, she's been converted to stitching up socks. I think she just might be addicted.
Even though our numbers were small, our voices were boisterous and a good time was certainly had by all. But what is the point of my musings, you inquire? The point is frogging has its place. It is almost cathartic to rip out days, weeks, or months worth of effort. It is scary, tear filled, and even stressful in its own right. But, once you have resigned yourself to the fact that the author of the horrific pattern is truly at fault, you can frog with some comfort. Knowing that we have each other to commiserate with and for encouragement makes it worth while in the end.
(Let us join this knitted Kermit and smile as we frog...)
Frogging. Yes I've moved onto the darker side of knitting. Instead of fighting a losing battle with Cat Borhdi patterns I, with much encouragement from the Frog Queen herself (Melissa), I frogged not one but two UFOs this week. I consider myself to be somewhat accomplished in knitterly pursuits. I like to think that the needles and yarn will do what I tell them. I've fearlessly taken on cables, tackled simple lace and numerous sock patterns. However, I have met a match in Cat Bordhi.
First, let us discuss the Flow Motion socks found in The Ultimate Sock Book by Vogue. I'm sure you will agree they are beautiful and look simplistic. Don't let the picture fool or the flowing seemingly simple lace pattern lull you...
I had the right size needle, the right yarn and even got gauge! Whatever was the problem, then, you might ask? The lace was too tight, the foot was too long (even though I measured every few rows and followed the directions to the T. I didn't take it personally until...
I decided to give Leaves and Tendrils in Socks Soar on 2 Circs (a book by Cat Bordhi). Even though the pattern explicitly states, and I quote,
"This is the most challenging of the socks in this book, and will teach you the most new skills."
I naively cast on, thinking, this isn't too bad, since the pattern summary also noted the following:
However, it may be knitted by anyone who can follow directions.
I can do this, I thought, and it is so very pretty...
Two sock patterns - two successful Frogs. They have been ripped and reclaimed yarn is now making a pair of cabled wonders straight from my own brain. I am now left to wonder just what I did to anger the Knitting Goddess for I have indeed received punishment in spare. Even my Cabled sweater received a bit of frogging (when will I learn to READ a pattern and not skim) for the neck line was out a few stitches. So, I frogged...
My disillusionment with knitting came to an end today as I met up with good friends at our Garter & Giggles (thanks Melissa for the influx of new creativity). Speaking of Melissa, the Frog Queen, she has finally made significant progress on her BSJ. It is beautiful, but since I forgot my camera today we'll leave the posting of pictures up to Melissa (check out her Yarn Ramblings at All Yarn All the Time ). She provided much needed encouragement and comfort as I waffled between frogging my two disasters or to continue with the experiment in insanity.
Speaking of insanity...Kate had finished the socks that caused her a minor breakdown last week. She willed the stitches into behaving and achieved success! However, she forgot to bring them to show and tell today (but that is alright as my own forgetfulness wouldn't have allowed us to capture it anyway). Gale worked on some summer time socks with a pattern. Pam stitched away and reached the toe portion of her own sock. Jan continued stitching on her sweater attempted to climb out of the black hole of knitting. Mary was at the retreat, Leanne was missing in action and so was her Aunt Alison. Jeanette completed her Rainbow toes and even boasted about her newest creation...socks for her gal pal's 16 th birthday. Yes, she's been converted to stitching up socks. I think she just might be addicted.
Even though our numbers were small, our voices were boisterous and a good time was certainly had by all. But what is the point of my musings, you inquire? The point is frogging has its place. It is almost cathartic to rip out days, weeks, or months worth of effort. It is scary, tear filled, and even stressful in its own right. But, once you have resigned yourself to the fact that the author of the horrific pattern is truly at fault, you can frog with some comfort. Knowing that we have each other to commiserate with and for encouragement makes it worth while in the end.
(Let us join this knitted Kermit and smile as we frog...)
