Knits

I finished up a second section of the Cinnabar scarf. There’s a minor error in the pattern, maybe.

It reads:

*Work rows 1-16 of DRMC chart 3 times, then rep row 1 (WS). K 2 rows. Following directions for est Seafoam patt for border, work rows 1-8 of Seafoam chart**, then rep rows 1-4. K one row (RS). One section of main part of scarf has now been completed: note that one section is approx 8 inches [20cm] long, and you will want to end the scarf with a completed section plus border, which will add a little less than an inch.
Rep from * until scarf is approx 8-9″ inches [20-22cm] less than desired length, then work one more rep, working from * to ** ONLY.

Now, I am notorious for misreading patterns or misinterpreting them, but here’s what I’ve done:

Section 1: 3 repeats of DRMC chart, K two rows, 1 repeat of seafoam chart, rows 1-4 of seafoam chart, K one row

Section 2: 3 repeats of DRMC chart, K two rows, 1 repeat of seafoam chart, K one row.

Here’s my dilemma… is the ** misplaced in the pattern instructions? Should it really appear after the K one row seeing as just after that it says that one section of the scarf is now complete. Yet the instructions go on to say only … okay, see, I told you I’m unreliable. Now that I read the instructions AGAIN (honestly about the 20th time) and OUT LOUD, I see what they are saying. Oi. Seriously, I need patterns written for dummies.

Right so I was supposed to have done for section 2 what I did for section one and say I am going to knit 8 sections total, section 8 should be knit as I’ve knitted my section 2. I’m not far into section 3, but I have actually done a fair amount of tinking in this pattern already. I don’t know why as it’s pretty simple, but I keep making minor mistakes. (Note to self: really, when will you learn that you should not knit when you are so tired?! You always end up having to undo your work!) I will continue on with the pattern I’ve established and, hopefully, remember that my second to last section needs to be done a bit differently so it is symmetrical with sections 1 and 2.

So okay, no error, I’m just dumb. Is it just me or do others often misinterpret patterns? I guess because there’s really no standard way to write patterns, you have to decipher each author’s markings. (I’m big on standards - I’m a librarian, it’s in my nature to want things neat and tidy and done all the same so there’s no room for misinterpretation! That’s not to say that people can’t change things to suit their needs.) I probably would’ve written something totally separate for the last section to make it clear.

Well, my Cinnabar scarf will have even more unique character than it would’ve done.

I hadn’t planned on such a long post because all I originally wanted to say was I think there was a missing piece of the pattern (there’s not) and that I’d finished two sections and was now onto my third and that I’d moved from using straights to using circulars as I was finding the weight already to be a bit bothersome on my wrists. Also, when I do flat knitting on circular needles, my gauge doesn’t seem to vary as much as it can on straights. I know that I purl far, far looser than I knit, but it isn’t as noticeable on the circulars which is peculiar. I’ve used one skein of wool on a border, two sections and a few rows into a third section so I reckon I should have more than enough wool for a rather long scarf (at least 6′ before blocking!).

And now it’s time for me to get out from behind this computer today. I’ve spent much of today trying to write a CV only to decide my old one was quite sufficient with some minor tweaking! I still need to do a covering letter, but that can wait until tomorrow night!

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