When do you throw in the towel...er...needles?

#1

I’ve been knitting the White Lies Shrug http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com/patterns/lcardigans/fba.html now for almost a month and still only have one cuff and about 4 inches of the pattern. I’m suppose to have 113 stitches on the needles at the end of the row but for some reason I keep losing 1 stitch or adding stitches. I’ve frogged this at least 3 times.

I usually try to finish a project before starting another so on only have this one item on the needles. But because I’m having so much trouble, I’m not knitting at all. Right now I have to rip back to a place where I have 113 stitches again. The yarn is a beauty of a wool, cashmere, silk blend in an eggplant color I ordered from Elann. I hate to give up, but I’m really getting frustrated knitting 4 rows and frogging 3.

Counting stitches at the end of the row doesn’t seem to help as inevitably I miscount and think I have enough. This doesn’t appear to be a difficult pattern but I seem to be going nowhere.

Do I give it up or keep plugging away? Should I start another project and just put this one aside? I’m afraid I’ll never go back to it and I hate not using this yarn; it’s so lovely.

What do you do when you’re feel like you’re going no where fast?

Gladys in Michigan where it snowed last night. Bah Humbug!!

#2

You might try using stitch markers to help you keep track of your stitches; you might put them in increments of ten. It sounds extreme, but you’d be able to identify exactly where the stitch count is off. Counting that many stitches all the time would make anyone frustrated!

For me, having something simple on the needles in addition to something more complex is a blessing. When I get frustrated, I can go to the simple knitting to take my mind off of the other. Oftentimes, it actually helps me see the problem I’m having with the other.

#3

Can you REALLY trust a pattern called White Lies? :lol:

#4

I’ve thought of markers, but the problem is that the pattern in multiples of 6
goes yo, sl 1, k2 tog, psso, yo k3. I think I would be finagling a lot considering the way it runs so I didn’t even try markers. Thought they would end up in the middle of the k2 tog, psso confounding me even more and not really “marking” anything. Ya’ know?

#5

Can you REALLY trust a pattern called White Lies? Laughing

:rofling: Probably not since it was supposed to be EASY.

#6

:rofling: :rofling: :rofling:

Ew, sorry the stitch markers won’t work. I understand now why! Stink.

#7

I would break your rules and do a quick gratification easy pattern for a bit. Then maybe go back to this and see if you can get it to work out easier. It is a lovely pattern.

#8

…and if all else fails and you are not having fun anymore it’s OKAY to move on to something else. Knitting is about enjoyment and relaxation and if you are ready to poke someone or throw the needles then it’s time to find a new project for awhile. :wink:

#9

I had almost half a sweater knit and abandoned it b/c I just couldn’t take it anymore. It was making me gasp hate knitting! :shock:

I’m back to my old addicted self now and am quite happy–haven’t looked back, either!

#10

I had an afghan that I was making, I was doing one of those “hot damn” afghans (the ones that there are never pictures of, and now I know why becuase they are butt ugly)…I had nothing but knitting issues, yarn issues, many issues…and then when I got past the issues, it was just so UGLY!

I had a joyful few moments frogging it to oblivioun never to be seen again!

#11

I’m struggling too…

it is this type of pattern, and is different each time, and the stitch markers I put, would need to be schooched over to the left one sttich. my gf suggested to get clips, rather than rings that I could move over. I tried it sans markers today, and got into trouble the 3rd row in!! there are 157 stitches!!! Sets of 13 stitches…

I feel your pain. But I HAVE to do this as it is for my godbaby soon to be born.

#12

:roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard: :roflhard:

There are occasions when frogging feels sooooooooo good!! :happydance: :happydance:

#13

You gals are all so great. I’ve found all 113 stitches, put in a new life line and laid it aside while I work on a no-brainer afghan pattern with yarn from my stash. Maybe I just need a break from it. There are so many things I want to try and I feel I’m getting bogged down in this simple shrug. I’ve yet to make anything for myself and I really want to finish it, but I have so many other projects (don’t we all) in the idea stage.

Angelia, if I gave up knitting because of this, my DH might leave me considering my humungo stash waiting to be knit. .

BTW glad to hear about the Hot Damn afghan. It sounded so interesting, but I think I’ll scratch that off the list. Good Luck on the baby outfit Heatherfeather!! I’d keep my fingers crossed for your success but it’s hard to knit that way. :lol:

Thanks for the input ladies.

:XX:
Gladys in Michigan, working on something else.

#14

Oh Gladys, I’m so glad to hear that all is well again in your knitting world! :happydance: :happydance: :happydance:

Re stash: Ack, I know what you mean…we’re moving soon, and my dh is beginning to discover all my yarn. He’s seen all of it at some point, but only a few skeins here, a few balls there. Now he’s seeing it all together, and well, let’s just say there’s a vein in his forehead that I’ve never noticed before…

#15

well, let’s just say there’s a vein in his forehead that I’ve never noticed before…
:roflhard: :roflhard:

I love this stupid afghan. I made up the pattern (moss stitch border and a stockinette in the middle, no biggie) and it is so mindless that I don’t have to think about wrong or right. Just knit to a basketball or hockey game. :happydance:

Gladys in Icy Michigan and I made it to work anyway!

#16

:happydance: :happydance: :happydance:

LUV the mindless knitting! :thumbsup:

And Heather… :heart: {{hugs!}} :heart: Has the situation improved any?