The Guy in the Yarn Section (2 of 2)
The Guy in the Yarn Section (2 of 2)
Today's post comes under the heading of "a stranger's gem".
Several years ago I was in the yarn section of the local big chain craft store browsing through the pattern books, looking for a new project to take on a trip. People were coming and going around me, but I noticed an older gentleman also perusing the books. Now up to this point, the males I had observed in this kind of establishment had generally been dragged there by eager crafters, commonly referred to as "mom". For me this was like sighting that rare bird you've wanted to lay your binoculars on all your life. My curiosity was stirred and naturally I had to strike up a conversation.
It paid off. He was a rather experienced knitter. In the course of our conversation, he shared a fantastic, creative tip...
Every knitter is familiar with tackling a new, complicated pattern, missing a step, dropping a stitch or messing up in any number of ways. Then comes the agonizing decision to pull it all out and start from the beginning. It's something I both loathe and love about knitting; something I'd accepted as part of the process of improving skills. But this tip was so simple, but ingenious. It saves time and alleviates lots of frustration.
At the point where you have finished a section of the pattern successfully, take a length of a different colored piece of yarn and thread it through that row's stitch loops while it's on your needle, before beginning the next row with a new sequence of stitches. Not only does this mark your place at a transition point in the pattern, but if/when you have to pull out your work, you pull to that row and the length of yarn is holding the stitches for you to transfer on to the needle. Instead of starting from the beginning you can now just take up the pattern from that transition point.
I've been knitting since middle school and slogged through a good number of patterns through trial and lots of errors. This felt like a real gift! He didn't share where he'd picked up this technique, maybe a master class, maybe he thought of it himself. I'm just really grateful he shared it with me. And I've had the opportunity to share it with other knitters since that eventful day. Honestly, it makes me look like a more knowledgeable knitter than I am. What a glorious domino effect, helping each other to overcome stumbling blocks in our creative pursuits.
Today's post comes under the heading of "a stranger's gem".
This pattern is from Sock-Yarn Shawls by Jen Lucas
Several years ago I was in the yarn section of the local big chain craft store browsing through the pattern books, looking for a new project to take on a trip. People were coming and going around me, but I noticed an older gentleman also perusing the books. Now up to this point, the males I had observed in this kind of establishment had generally been dragged there by eager crafters, commonly referred to as "mom". For me this was like sighting that rare bird you've wanted to lay your binoculars on all your life. My curiosity was stirred and naturally I had to strike up a conversation.
It paid off. He was a rather experienced knitter. In the course of our conversation, he shared a fantastic, creative tip...
Every knitter is familiar with tackling a new, complicated pattern, missing a step, dropping a stitch or messing up in any number of ways. Then comes the agonizing decision to pull it all out and start from the beginning. It's something I both loathe and love about knitting; something I'd accepted as part of the process of improving skills. But this tip was so simple, but ingenious. It saves time and alleviates lots of frustration.
At the point where you have finished a section of the pattern successfully, take a length of a different colored piece of yarn and thread it through that row's stitch loops while it's on your needle, before beginning the next row with a new sequence of stitches. Not only does this mark your place at a transition point in the pattern, but if/when you have to pull out your work, you pull to that row and the length of yarn is holding the stitches for you to transfer on to the needle. Instead of starting from the beginning you can now just take up the pattern from that transition point.
I've been knitting since middle school and slogged through a good number of patterns through trial and lots of errors. This felt like a real gift! He didn't share where he'd picked up this technique, maybe a master class, maybe he thought of it himself. I'm just really grateful he shared it with me. And I've had the opportunity to share it with other knitters since that eventful day. Honestly, it makes me look like a more knowledgeable knitter than I am. What a glorious domino effect, helping each other to overcome stumbling blocks in our creative pursuits.
Thanks knitter guy!
😊
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