That's the sort of knitter I am. I would rather un-knit 455 stitches than rip back in a hurry and have to deal with sliding everything back onto the needle without twisting. I may grow braver as time goes on, but for the present I'm more tortoise and less hare.
I remain hesitant regarding claims that knitting is "the new yoga" (unlike yoga, it has done nothing for my midsection), but I will admit that it is drawing out of me reserves of patience and calm I never knew I had.
Mystery in Maine
Meanwhile, over at my sister's house it seems that tinking is also on the agenda. She also seems to have a fiber-obsessed poltergeist. That's what it looks like to me, anyhow. Do read it yourself and draw your own conclusions.
19 comments:
have you ever read Knitting for Anarchists by Anna Zilboorg? You will no longer fear twisted stitches after you read it. If they are on the needle the wrong way, you just knit them off differently and that straightens them up. It is really quite cool (but i am a geek and get excited about that kind of thing). This advice coming from someone who used to tink long stretches for the exact same reason.
When you say tink, do you mean frog?
P.S. I want that Wild Thing.
Mush dear, the Wild Thing was a present from my friend Amy back in college and has been a treasured companion ever since. So no can do.
The way I learned it, one "tinks" by un-knitting a piece one stitch at a time, hence the term (t-i-n-k is k-n-i-t spelled backwards). One frogs by removing the needles and ripping the stitches back.
That's how I learned it, anyhow.
Xmasberry, that's a very festive handle. Also, I thought I'd at least seen the titles of most of the knitting books out there but definitely missed Knitting for Anarchists. Thank you for the tip, because I'm going to go check it out.
The hat is looking good. I love the color. What are you planning on knitting next?
I love reading your blog.
Franklin, remind me when you're out here for the Rhinebeck festival to butcher some knitting for you so you can see how much easier it is to fix a few twisted stitches, than it is to 'tink' thousands.
You'll realize how little there is to fear.
Well, not that Wild Thing then. Just a Wild Thing of similar plush ferociousness.
I have a Where The Wild Things Are poster in my bedroom. True story.
And thank you! I'd never heard of tinking before. (It sounds hideous. I'll tink no more than ten stitches; any more than that and I just yank that needle *right* out of the work.)
Ooooh...the hat looks very exciting and wonderful! Knit and tink away (but try mostly to knit, ok?). Question: how come I'm still listed under "they knit not"? Do I actually have to make something other than a swatch to get moved?
I like the hat...but don't worry too much about ripping and putting the stitch on the wrong way. Just make sure to always go into the "front" of the stitch...even if it's behind the needle instead of in front of it. Does this make sense?
Sister Sue, I had wondered that myself. I'd considered the possibility that it's as much for symmetry as any other reason (lists of fewer than three items look funny, doncha know). Franklin may have to find another non-knitter to take your spot.
At least I hope that's what he does, rather than just kicking the "knit nots" off his blogroll entirely...
Where the Wild Things Are!!!??!!?!? Maurice Sendak is the best!
Another tip when frogging -- use a smaller needle to pick up the stitches. That way you don't accidentally pull some out.
Nice hat.
THat hat looks great and thanks for the etymology (or is that bugs?) on the word tink. i tend to frog, or as my friend rebecca says, just rip it out! i heard about knitting for anarchists at boyznite but i can't find it anywhere! i actually met and struck up a brief friendship with Maurice Sendak when I was working reception at HarperCollins children's books. Interesting guy.
Franklin - Franklin - Franklin,
You need to use a "lifeline" to keep the entire thing from going to pieces. I always have a darning needle handy & DENTAL FLOSS to establish a lifeline. First, pick a place just below where you fu_ked up, & insert the dental floss in each stich as if you are sewing a tiny hem or whatever. Then after you have all stiches in one round "saved" you can then FROG as fast as lightening. Your lifeline will prevent you from losing any of the beautiful work you wish to keep & as a bonus, all your stiches will be oriented correctly. Just pick 'em up on a smaller needle for ease of insertion (lol) & begin as usual. If you "seem" to be losing one, just pull both ends of the floss upward & yeah, your stitch will appear ready to be saved. If this is still confusing, send me an e/mail & we'll get together on the phone & I can walk you thru it. Bye----hope to hear from you---IRV
I prefer not to rip the needle out, if I can help it. I invariably have stitches ladder down and such. I would rather tink back a couple of rows. Nothing like tinking lace tho. Ugh.
You may want to learn that lifeline technique if you seriously like lace knitting.
here's a trick I used to do when I was still wary of frogging... rip the needle out, frog as many rows as necessary (just pull that yarn, it feels good!) and then put the needle back on anywhich way you want, pay no mind to how your stitches are seated. THEN, tink back that one row and you'll have all your stitches seated properly. That way you can rip and tink and you only have to tink one row. :)
and, lifelines are a must for lace-knitting (maybe life too?)
love,
sep, the frogger extraordinaire!
SEP (aka Loopy) is definitely in the running for the Frog Championship of the World. I think she's frogged at least three times as much as she's knit, and since she's knit a lot, that's a lot of frogging. She's the fearless-est frogger I've ever seen. Another reason I doubt I could ever knit... I don't have that kind of equanimity or whatever it takes. :-)
Can you believe I recently heard that needlepoint is the new knitting?
You are a very clever individual!
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