Knitting

19 March 2014

Progress is interesting isn't it.  Every Wednesday lots of bloggers come together and write about what they have been making with yarn.  Usually the pictures show more rows of crochet or knitting than previous weeks, a work in progress is a project that is getting nearer the end, or is it?  What about the project that grows very slowly, or grows a bit shrinks a bit, grows a bit, stalls a bit, is that progress too?


For the last few weeks I have been sharing one project, my Shalom, which is doing just that.  I knit a bit, frog a bit, knit a bit more, frog a bit more.......and yet I am making progress.  Frogging, the art of ripping out stitches, is often seen a negative part of a project, a sign of a mistake but if we were to turn this on its head and view it positively what is it now?  Learning, improving skills, progress.  So my shalom as pictured here is not to stay, I have knitted a lot of rows this week but it needs frogging again I am just debating by how much.  I had spent all my time ensuring that the front of the cardigan looked right, the front as the pattern is written is not meant to meet, I wanted to be able to button the cardigan all the way down.  What I had neglected was the back, when I tried it on a couple of days ago I realised that the back was flapping about like a flag in the wind.  I was also a little perturbed  at the amount of yarn I had left, this project seemed to be eating up yarn at an incredible rate there was not going to be any left for the sleeves.  Not surprising really as I was knitting up a garment for two and as I am not proposing on mutating any time soon there is little call for that round here.  So now I am pondering my next move, progress it is, if a little different!


I have been busy, in the meantime, knitting up a bowl.  The pattern can be found here.  It is fulled or felted depending on your take on such things.

It would of course be rather odd to read a book by flitting about between the chapters, depending on the book, it may make no sense.  So my progress in reading has been forward through a book, an excellent one in fact.  I am nearing the end of Kith by Jay Griffiths, but I am sure I will return to it again and again.  Her take on childhood and all its many facets is inspiring, thoughtful and, for me, reassuring.  She laments the loss of so many aspects and offers her own explanations of why this may have happened.  What she doesn't do is preach or suggest what we should be doing.  This is her essay, her opinions and she leaves you to decide for yourself whether you agree or not.

As it's Wednesday I am joining in with Tami and Ginny head on over to see some progress!

13 comments:

  1. I've been posting mostly about my never ending sweater but switched it up with a pair of gloves on the needles. I like long knitting projects and short knitting projects equally.

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  2. Knitting is a process and knitting and ripping are a good way to get in some always time with a project. I have plans to knit another Shalom, this time in black and want to put buttons all the way down and long sleeves, I just have to figure out how.

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  3. I too have been working on the same project for a while. Some times I feel like casting on something new just to liven it up a bit.

    I love your shalom though, the colour is exactly something I would have chosen and I am positive it will be stunning

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  4. I know exactly what you mean about 'progress' but I love your take on it!

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  5. love the bowl. i have wanted to make felted bowls for awhile, not sure why i haven't yet. and the shalom, such an easy pattern and yet i have frogged them a lot when i knit it as well. interesting. still yours is looking lovely.

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  6. It is still progress! I love the Shalom. It looks great so far!

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  7. Yes, definitely still progress! Although I can relate to that feeling of showing the same thing every week as my year-long blanket was a looong project and I felt like I was boring everyone with blathering on about it for so long.
    Shalom was the first cardigan project I ever attempted and my skills weren't up to frogging back then so I laboured over those ribbed rows very diligently. Have you read Soulemama's notes on her shalom? I seem to remember that hers buttoned at the front and had sleeves, too. It eats less yarn as you get past the ribbed yoke.
    I love your felted bowl - I fancy a go at one of those.

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  8. There are these sort of projects, indeed :-) Love the bowl!

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  9. I always find my knitting stops and starts. It usually gets there in the end though. I so love that bowl, such a beautiful colour and texture.

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  10. I love your frogging philosophy!!! I've never had a problem with undoing any knitting---I'd be knitting something, so why not this piece over again? But your explanation makes it so positive!!! Great looking bowl, too!!!!!

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  11. That is such a better way to look at things. Learning, improving, growing. I will have to remember that. I love bowl. I have made a few, but never felted any of them. I may try that soon! I hope you have a great weekend.

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  12. Gosh you really are making the shalom your own! Looking forward to seeing it finished with all your personal touches.

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  13. I started a shalom when I was last pregnant...messed up separating for the sleeves, frogged it, then restarted it last fall (after baby)and it has become my absolute fav! I made mods to the pattern...you can check out my notes to see if they might be helpful to your situation.
    http://www.ravelry.com/projects/inharmonymama/shalom-cardigan
    Good luck with your cardigan!
    -Laura

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