See Eunny Knit!: Illuminated

I do believe it could be called real yarn.

It's curious - I like to measure progress in things like narrowing a range of movement; shaving unnecessary seconds off the execution of a technique; understanding why each thing happens and how improving one will improve the other. . . but spinning defies those standards. I'm starting to think that improvement in spinning just sort of . . . happens. I can see, yes, that I'm starting to learn the approximate amount of overtwist I want in a single, but I'll be damned if I can explain how I think I know when it's just right. Likewise with pulling out the same amount of yarn with every drafting motion, with knowing just how much to twist during plying . . . the things that feel right often are. Some shadowy, cobwebbed corner of my brain is immensely satisfied by this.

Too bad knitting isn't the same. The neckline hem is almost done on my basketweave shell:

Which is all well and good, except, um:

I somehow completely forgot to drop one of the cable-flanking stitches. 10 nearly 300-stitch rows of hem will need to be pulled out, the shoulder picked open, and the neck shaping ripped to free it. Gah!

Comments

But you will have the top done for me to try on this weekend when I'm up there and the pattern ready to give me, right? Just kidding! It's absolutely stunning, though.

Posted by: Stephanie | May 4, 2006 12:29 PM

Are you crazy??? Girl, that shell is awesome. Live w/ the 'mistake' and finish it! Hahah

Posted by: jen da purse ho | May 4, 2006 12:40 PM

You can do it!

And good work on the plying, you're so skillful.

Posted by: Carin | May 4, 2006 12:56 PM

d'oh! is the technical term for that according to Barbara Walker

*blank stare*

Posted by: yahaira | May 4, 2006 12:59 PM

Eunny, don't do it! Snip the stitch you were supposed to drop and secure with another piece of yarn! (I mean, hell, it is supposed to be dropped anyway, right?)

Btw, you are amazing.

Posted by: Monica | May 4, 2006 01:01 PM

Ai yu! That sucks. It's going to look awesome, though, when it's all said and done!

Posted by: Mintyfresh | May 4, 2006 01:03 PM

i agree with monica.. you can snip the stitch and (if it's wool) you can felt it back together after you drop the stitch! my friend and i did this with a clapotis and it worked nicely.

Posted by: gleek | May 4, 2006 01:07 PM

p.s. your comment form doesn't remember! i know how to fix it though (went through the same problem on my site) so let me know if you'd like the info.

Posted by: gleek | May 4, 2006 01:09 PM

i agree with monica -- snip and weave. you can always drape another piece of yarn across it while you're at it so you don't lose the continuity of the ladders.

Posted by: jody | May 4, 2006 01:19 PM

GAH indeed! Wine, STAT!

Posted by: mimsie | May 4, 2006 01:22 PM

Your spinning looks great. For me, the great appeal of spinning is that it's more intuition based. Does the yarn look "right"? How about the twist? I have a book the delves in the art and science of spinning novelty yarns, but I'm just not into getting my head around that.

Posted by: susan | May 4, 2006 01:36 PM

Oh, that sucks. But the yarn looks marvelous. I think spinning is much more about feel than about thought. Although there is some basic knowledge required. I wonder why it's so different from knitting.

Posted by: Stephanie | May 4, 2006 01:52 PM

Ouch. (Shell, not spinning.) You could try doing as Monica suggests; if you don't like, you're just back to doing what you were going to do anyway. I think the cable/dropped stitch/basketweave combo is great, by the way--very fresh and original.

Posted by: Angela | May 4, 2006 02:17 PM

Don't rip out the hem! You can (carefully) cut the stitches you need to drop. It'll be great.

Posted by: Theresa | May 4, 2006 02:35 PM

Oh, the pain.

Posted by: Gina | May 4, 2006 02:58 PM

Yes, I'm with Monica. Perfection is wonderful, but it's not worth THAT much extra effort to fix that problem, and that sounds like it will work just fine. Don't be a hero, Eunny! Think about what you're doing!! (melodramatic music swells in the background...)

Posted by: --Deb | May 4, 2006 03:42 PM

That's one of those ones you just can't do anything other than rip.

But oh, it hurts.

Do it quick like ripping a bandaid.

Posted by: Juno | May 4, 2006 04:31 PM

Is there a reason you can't snip, drop, and darn? On previous update shots, I thought that you were doing a yo there on both sides of the fabric, but I guess you're creating a st and dropping it every 8 rows or so?

Posted by: Lauren | May 4, 2006 04:35 PM

Well, I think you should rip back- but then again, I really like pain, (Yummers! Fun for all!) so, maybe you shouldn't listen to me?

But honestly, from what I have learned about you, you won't be happy if it isn't done correctly. Ripping back is the way to do ensure that, so that is what you will end up doing.

So this whole comments is basically useless. Hmm.

Also, I love the skein.I see a sparkling future ahead Eunny! You will finally be complete. I love that you now have a process that demands a totally different part of your brain. Just think of all the electricity zinging around in there!

Geeze. It boggles my mind!

Emms :D

Posted by: Emmie | May 4, 2006 04:57 PM

Long time reader, first time commenter.

I just wanna say that I completely adore that shell, mistake be damned.

Oh, and congrats on the Web Watch write up in the new Summer Interweave! So cool!

Posted by: Kelly | May 4, 2006 10:03 PM

I do believe it could be called real addiction.

Knitting is intellectual and creative... spinning is all intuition. You can explain why things work all you want, but the knowledge of when they work is deep in the soul more than anywhere else....

Posted by: Amie | May 4, 2006 10:47 PM

Welcome to the cobwebby side, Eunny! That's also what I love about spinning...it is intensely tactile, and you just kind of improve as you go along, in a very internal way. Can't really explain it, but I love that feeling.

Posted by: Lee Ann | May 4, 2006 11:49 PM

If it were my knitting, I would rip it up and drop it correctly. I know I would always know it is not as it's supposed to be, it it would disturb me to no end. But it is going to be beautiful when you're done with it.

Posted by: Maud | May 5, 2006 12:39 AM

It looks great. Could you cut it rather than ripping it or would that cause even more horrible problems further on?

Posted by: Abi | May 5, 2006 05:16 AM

oh my! you are very brave! good luck!

Posted by: betty | May 5, 2006 05:24 AM

Ouch..

Just have fun doing the yarn tango!

Posted by: Emy | May 5, 2006 05:53 AM

Yay for yarn!

Posted by: colleen | May 5, 2006 07:02 AM

What lovely yarn! You'll be a spinner of beautiful yarns in no time.

Posted by: Nancy | May 5, 2006 08:50 AM

I feel traumatized for you and will drink a couple of ? for you tonight after work!! The idea of snipping a strand appeals to the lazy too busy knitter in me, but I would be terrified that it wouldn't splice solidly. I'm afraid that I will have to offer my "support from a distance" card.

Posted by: Wannietta | May 5, 2006 09:30 AM

I. Love. This. Top.

It's just.....incredible.

Posted by: Dee | May 5, 2006 09:56 AM

Looks like the spinning is coming along! The drop stitches on the shell are great! A nice touch....

Can't wait to meet you tomorrow at Cara's meetup!

Posted by: Stacey | May 5, 2006 02:50 PM

Congrats on the spinning! So when are you buying a new wheel??

Beautiful knitting, btw.

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