Hello All
I have ADHD and am getting older. I LOVE knitting lace, but am finding I lose concentration on long rows. I’ve tried using stitch markers on every repeat to help me know if I’ve done it wrong, (by the number of stitches between the markers), but it isn’t the only help I need. It’s very difficult to see on lace if you’ve dropped a stitch or whatever. Any ideas, please??
Do you use lifelines? They won’t help you see a dropped stitch, but they can help it from running too far.
Other than that, I try to stop every row or two and spread my work out on the needles and actually look at it. It’s awfully easy to just keep knitting, and then a dropped stitch can be several rows back. It’s also easier to spot those mistakes if you hold it up to the light.
I second the use of life lines.
Something I did recently, for a totally different reason, was reduce the size of the pieces i was knitting. It meant more seaming than usual but that didn’t bother me. I made a sweater with traveling stitches and cables and the front was made from 3 pieces instead of 1. Making a lace sweater, shawl, or blanket this way would also work. For a blanket or shawl, where seams can be seen you’d want to consider what sort of seaming you used or use an attractive crochet join but ut would be possible.
For me, with the travelling and cable stitches it felt amazing to make a third of the front, it was much easier to count stitches and follow the chart. It was a pleasant change to how I worked and I think I’ll do it again.
You might want to change your user name as it looks like your email address and spam bots could get hold of it.
Thanks.
Thanks, but can’t see how to change my user name. 
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It’s a very good suggestion to change your user name.
In the upper right of this page go to the purple circle with the initial M and click. Then click on your user name in the upper left of the box that opens. Click on Preferences in the list that opens and you’ll see your user name with a pencil icon the the right of it. Click that icon to change your user name.
Mine doesn’t have an option (edit pencil) on my user name, only to edit photo or email address…, but not username. I think it might be something that looks different for mods than members??
Ah, that may be. Thank you, I’ll take care of it.
Same here!
That’s an interesting suggestion. I had thought of it, but wasn’t sure how to work it out so that the pattern came correct. Can you help me on that, please?
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What pattern are you making? The name/number and designer would be useful, or a link to the pattern.
It would be helpful to see a picture.
Markers are a very good suggestion and to me, essential. Counting sts between markers is a sure way to find dropped sts or accidental yarn overs.
I also look for signposts in the lace. Maybe a k3tog, a certain increase or a central motif to make sure that I’m on track. It also helps to look at the stitch pattern and make sure it’s continuing as it’s supposed to.
Right now I’m not doing lace, I gave up on it because I tried 3 times and just couldn’t get it right. The first pattern was ok, then I made mistakes I couldn’t rectify, so I made something simpler. But would love to try again with lace. I’ll
be in touch. 
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Sometimes it helps to take a break. I do hope you get back to lace and enjoy it when you do. It can be slow but the results are worth the effort.
Let us know how it’s going.
I am currently knitting a sweater with 20 stitch lace sections. I messed up the pattern a couple of times and had to rip out an entire row of 267 stitches.
Now I use markers and count each section completed before knitting the next one. Tinking 20 stitches isn’t too bad.
I also put in a life line every 4 or 5 rows.
Thank you
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When you decide you want to have another go, if you post a pic of the pattern we might be able to help with ideas of how it might be made in smaller sections.
Of course, changing a pattern means it won’t be exactly like the pattern in the end, but if it means being able to enjoy the making then I think the possible compromise on seaming or joining sections may be worth it. Knitting is supposed to be fun and relaxing as well as a bit, but not too much, of a challenge.
Good idea! Thanks. Agreed
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