I Remember When I Didn't Have to be Perfect.

Somewhere along the way, since first learning to knit over three years ago, I have shockingly become somewhat of a perfectionist in my knitting ( everything else has stayed the same).  I am an easy going girl.  What's the opposite of type A?  Me.  In my early knitting days, I would shrug my shoulders at something that didn't look quite right.  Fudge a stitch.  Whatever.  I was just happy to knit and finish my project so I could get on to

Not anymore.  This last week of knitting has been terrible.  Little imperfections bogging me down.  All I seem to do anymore is re-knit and re-knit some more.  I know this is good.  In the long run.  the end product.  But, damn, it sucks too!

Very Tehri's.

They are almost perfect!  Okay, a little tight.  I could've swatched for a better fit.  Maybe.  And after closely examining my thumb trouble, I did notice that I miscrossed a left cross cable on my nearly finished,almost perfect right glove.  But only a trained eye will notice that little imperfection.  That I can live with. 

This wonky left thumb gusset, I can't.  I cannot for the life of me, figure out how to correctly place my increases so they look all neat and tidy like the right one.  It's killing me.  These should have been off my needles over a week ago.  Here's an up close.  You don't have to look too hard to see the rough, jagged line of increases.

Next up:

Cable Ribbed Socks from Interweave's 25 Favorite socks. Knit with gorgeous Sanguine Gryphon's Edios sock yarn. Modified to Toe Up. Needle size: 2.5 mm. 

What's the trouble?

Somehow one sock is slightly bigger than the other.  I think.  (Remember?  I'm far, far from Type A.  I would never actually measure!).  As I contemplated the "bigger" sock and it's "looser" ribbing I decided it must be a needle issue.  Those tricky (yet beloved) Knit Picks with their 2.25mm and 2.5 mm's and my old needle Gauge without all the sizes. Silly me.  Knit with two different size needles.  Wouldn't be the first time.

I did check this theory out.  Nope.  Needles are all the same.  The only difference is on the second sock, I was knitting for first time what  I imagine Magic Loop must be, instead of two circ's.  Must be what made the difference.  I've never read much on how to knit Magic Loop, nor have I seen anyone else knit this way, but I'm fairly certain I was doing it right. Must be it changed my gauge (by how many stitches?  I don't know.  Why measure?  I know it looks different and feels different)  So I will rip the second one back to the toe and start again.

I love this yarn.  Nice tight ply.  Gorgeous, deep colors.  I need to hurry and finish these so I can buy more Sanguine Gryphon.

And there's still my Clapotis of Paul.

Cast aside just as I was on the home stretch.  Some knitters have said the mistake won't be noticeable to "Knit On".  I just can't bring myself to do it. Not yet anyway.  So it sits in my basket, taunting me.  "Go ahead, knit on.  I dare you."

Comments

[Ansley]

I so get the perfectionism. I'm not that way for anything else, and it's a recent development for me, too. I'm so jealous of all the Wollemeise.

and, BTW - I've tagged you in my most recent post.

[Paulette]

I can so relate to this post. At one time, it just didn't seem to matter, and I enjoyed the knitting so much. But lately, it seems that it has to be perfect. I seem to unknit more than I actually knit now. I've been working on a Baby Surprise Jacket for weeks. Used to only take me 3 days to complete one. I think I have actually knit this one 3 time, and still it isn't finished.

[Heather]

I'm also in WIP hell at moment! Too many projects to muff up all at once:)

[kelly]

I called off the knitting police. You're safe.

And I see no mistakes. Honestly.

[Suzanne]

Wow, my how busy you have been. Beautiful items. The socks look amazing to me.
Suzanne

[Carolynn]

Ahhh...a stressful knitting day...I am going to prescribe a great cure-all:

cast on a new project. ;)

PS...those are some gorgeous wips, though -- mistakes or no. You could also try checking out knittinghelp.com for some alternative increase options...

[carla]

Those are going to be some gorgeous red socks! I have a pair of those in slightly different sizes myself, but in my case it's because they were my first socks ever, and I was much more relaxed knitting the second one!

[Micki]

Oh, I feel your pain! Hang in there.