Feeling discouraged

#1

Has anyone felt discouraged because what you knit doesn’t look like the picture.

There is always an imperfect seem, or thread hanging out somewhere. Imperfect tension or just something that makes you feel like your knitting is substandard?

I just finished knitting one panel of a lace curtain for my kitchen. It looks great! However, once I had it out on the blocking boards, I noticed two spots where I had misplaced a yarn over. Of course that did not disturb my knitting. It was simply a Yarn over in the wrong spot.

Now blocking, I am not going to take it back! But it bothers me. I would consider myself an experienced knitter. I just feel a bit discouraged that I am still making silly errors.

I duplicate stitched over my spare holes, and pinned open two new ones where the yarn overs should have been…but I know they are there…no one else will notice, but I know they are there…

sigh…

Anyone commiserate with me today?

#2

You know, I do this to myself all the time too. Finish something grand and then see mistakes that tick me off something fierce. My sister told me that I should just treat the mistakes as my own personal flair so that I know the piece is mine and I could pick it out of a line up.

That’s what I try to think of them as now. I know I’m going to make mistakes. I accept them. As long as it’s not something that will make the piece look awful, I’m good with it.

#3

It’s unavoidable to make mistakes. I just ignore them, and pretend it’s meant to be that way, should someone ever notice it or ask about it. :smiley:

#4

Remember that you don’t know how many times the designer had to knit, frog, knit, scream, frog, etc…before she finally got it right. :lol:

It’s really almost impossible to knit something exactly like the pattern even if you use use same yarn, get gauge, etc. Everyone’s tension and level of learning is different.

I’m sure they look beautiful! :hug:

#5

Believe it or not, I haven’t liked one thing I’ve ever knitted! People tell me they like my finished piece, and some of them have even asked to keep them. I’m just a perfectionist and never like a darn thing I make. I really enjoy the process of knitting though. I love everything about it…except my FO.

#6

I can totally understand how you feel, but, unless it’s a huge mistake that absolutely must be corrected, I wouldn’t worry about it. It sucks that you know it is there but most likely, most everyone else won’t notice.

I’m working on a sweater for my dad and I’m almost finished with the front…I just decreased for the armholes and I happened to see I made a mistake at the beginning…Not a huge mistake, but a mistake…The pattern is k5, p1 on RS and I accidentally knit the purl. Not a glaring mistake definitely but my eye goes right to it now that I found it. But, there’s no way in hell I’m ripping it all out!! I’d be better off just starting over and that is sooo not happening. So, I have decided that it’s fine how it is and it makes the sweater one of a kind…lol

#7

I have moments where I beat myself up, but I always consider my mistakes “customization”. :wink:

#8

I actually don’t mind knitted items with mistakes in them…it sort of makes them look endearing. If they had been factory-made, you wouldn’t think about a human being and their daily, persistent efforts to make each stitch.
I read somewhere that the Mennonites, when quilting, deliberately put in a mistake somewhere - “so as not to compete with God for perfection”.

#9

I read somewhere that the Mennonites, when quilting, deliberately put in a mistake somewhere - “so as not to compete with God for perfection”.

Thats interesting!

#10

I’ve heard this in relation to Persian Rugs.

#11

the Amish do it as well.

#12

I get like this too. I have to be really far from a mistake in order to NOT frog it and take it out. I made something for my sister and noticed that there were two mistakes and it drove me crazy.

I obsessively show other people my mistakes as well. I think it makes me feel better if I show them where I screwed up as opposed to the idea of them finding it on their own and then not saying anything about it. Plus I tend to point out mistakes that other people would never notice on my own work.

#13

Hi! :waving:

Make no mistake, what we create as knitters IS an art form. We apply energy and thought and love to nothing more than sticks and string and make something beautiful or useful AND beautiful.

Having been a professional artist for a long time, I can tell you that the two things an artist MUST know are where to start and when to stop!

If you spot a mistake on a finished piece, or one that’s way far back from where you’re currently knitting, fix it if you can. If it’s not worth the effort to ditch most of what you’ve done and the error isn’t all that glaring then go on and FINISH it. Then LET IT GO!

There is another creation just waiting for you to do and next time, with what you’ve learned on the latest project, you’ll do even better.

If you’re unhappy with your finished pieces, study up on finishing techniques or just plain pay attention when you’re finishing and make sure you haven’t neglected or slopped over something. Do that and I promise you’re pieces will improve!

Meanwhile, lots of love to all my knitting artist friends out there! What you’re doing with your art form is sorely needed today in the world. So keep knitting! :knitting:

Much love,
Ruthie

#14

Hi, Sweetie! :waving:

Just wanted to let you know that nothing is “without flaw”. If you create something and do the best you can, then offer it to your audience with a happy heart. I wouldn’t want to watch a movie and have the director cut in with all the things he considers mistakes, would you? I just want to enjoy the movie!

So when you share your work with YOUR audience, all they’re really interested in is the visual and tactile impact the work creates. If you screwed up a stitch or two…so what? That’s between you and the Grand Poobah of Stitches! Don’t let it be a distraction from the beauty you’ve created.

Hope this helps you enjoy sharing your work with others more!

Ruthie :waving:

#15

Personally, it’s like playing piano for others. If I make a mistake, few notice or care, but it bothers the heck out of me.

I’ve never been completely satisfied with anything I’ve knitted or crocheted.

#16

This helped me a LOT! I have a piece, and it’s currently on display for a class I’ll be teaching in a couple months… I literally ripped ANYTHING and EVERYTHING out that wasn’t perfect because I knew it was a store sample. Honestly now that it’s been in store for a couple months I KNOW the people who see it would have never ever noticed the slightest mistake. It’s really hard for me to put work on display (especially if I’m going to teach how to do it) if it’s not perfect, but your movie analogy is great!

Just wanted to say thanks!