I am not the most confident knitter in the world. When I see fellow bloggers like bonnyknits and Quite A Yarn blazing through project after project, I do have to wonder what magic it is that blesses their needles. It’s probably far less glamorous and down to years of practice, experience and learning but I am always amazed with tales of grandmothers who can whip up a pair of socks in a day.
I am even more amazed that this is even possible after my experience with what should probably become known as the ‘Hat of Despair’. I have a bad habit of biting off more than I can chew when choosing project difficulty for new techniques – I should probably be banned from Ravelry from falling into the ‘that looks cool!’ trap as that, along with my love of anything lacey, usually makes for projects way beyond my skill level.
In a moment of clarity and self-reflection, I therefore though I should start a simple, nice knitting project that I could take travelling with me and idly knit and purl away without too much concentration and that is where the problems began.
I have been working on Boho Knits ‘Slouchy Sockhead Hat’ for what feels like forever. I am very comfortable with works in progress spanning timeframes of years (in fact I’d probably be completely at ease with it if it wasn’t my grandmother’s occasional needling about ‘what’s going on with project xyz?’ and reminding me of their existence). However, this one has been a serious source of irritation.
It’s not a hard pattern per say (in fact it’s probably the easiest I’ve ever attempted) but this one has now been frogged and re-cast on … I think about seven times. Seven inglorious, frustrating times of counting 144 godforsaken stitches to cast on. I feel really bad. The wool is beautiful (this is the standard yak base (15 % yak, 60 % wool, 20 % silk) in the Marled Beauty colourway from Kieler Wolle – you can see some more photos of it here) and has withstood repeated frogging murder attempts like an absolute champion. Perhaps surprisingly with the yak content it hasn’t got too fluffy and hairy.
The pattern is reasonably written and eminently sensible. So what is the problem? I keep losing stitches. They just seem to catapult from the needles with the joy of spring lambs or surreptitiously sneak off while the project is in my bag. It has been driving me completely batty. I hate counting at the best of times (including the stitch markers did help somewhat) but repeated counting and despair at ‘where did this stitch go’ are not ideal.
A lot of the problem has been my not so careful project transportation. A public service announcement… if it’s on double pointed needles, get yourself some needle stops or binders or whatever. Even if you knit with an equivalent tension of a boa constrictor squeezing its prey to death, the stitches will somehow escape and disappear into the beautiful inky depths of your wool.
Given that travelling is now a verb of the past for the time being, I tried to rescue my original work with a lifeline…. Then just ripped it out and started again for the last time. After a painful few rows getting started in the round, I found myself pick up a bit of speed and rhythm and doing something that felt a lot like knitting.
Things have been much better since then and maybe this little project will finally make it past more than a few centimetres of progress this time… Annoying as it was, I just didn’t want to give up on such beautiful wool and I can be incredibly obstinate about things as and when required. I have never felt like a natural knitter. When I finally managed to make some stitches when I learnt, my grandmother did realise I was somehow purling and knitting ‘backwards’ in some weird way (probably couldn’t manage that now if I tried) and I am just so awkward with the motions. At least now though there is the glimmer of enjoyment in this project and perhaps the chance for some mindless knitting.
For all my knitting heroes out there, how do you get nice joins in the round and avoid the ‘stripy’ parts of loose tension when knitting on multiple needles where they join? I am shifting my stitches 4 to the left every so often.
astitchornine 
It’s beautiful yarn. Have you considered using a 16” cable for your hat and knitting in the round that way? You can cast on the stitches and keep knitting until you’ve reached the point where you’ve decreased enough that you have to switch back to the dpns but by then there should be fewer stitches on the needles so you won’t have the problem of the stitches falling off the needles.
As far as the slack between the needles try a slightly tighter tension when you wrap the yarn around the needle when picking up the new stitch on the next needle. It’s a matter of practise but also the trick of knitting the next few stitches off the needle works as well.
Another idea is that some sets of dpns are longer in length so that might help as well. Really I think you’d like working with the cable better.
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Thank you so much for all the sagely information! I have been trying to keep the tension tighter but I think it needs to still go tighter still and I do like the idea of longer DPNs… Thanks again!
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You’ve convinced me that my decision to use circular needles rather than dpns was correct. With a circular needle of the right length you only have two places you can lose stitches. You can even use long circular needles paradoxically to knit tiny circles so no dpns needed even for making a hat. When using dpns or long circulars, to avoid, ladders I follow the advice to pull the yarn to absorb the slack on the second stitch each time you change.
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Thanks a lot – seems circulars are a far more popular choice after all and maybe would have been a good choice. Things are much better now I’m done with the rib but this is good information for the next project!
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I would say you have the making of one of those people you first mention, because you’re not afraid to have a go and not afraid to frog and start again and to keep going. You’re absolutely right, super knitting grans have been doing it all their lives and can knit in their sleep. I also think you’re being far to hard on yourself – DPNS are made to loose stitches and they’re way more fiddly than circular. I always use circular. You stuff them into your ball of yarn or buy end caps if you want, so the stitches stay where they are.
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I think I am now fearless when it comes to frogging! I do look forward to when I get to the stage of being able to knit in my sleep too. Thanks for the kind words!
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You make so many beautiful things, and you will make a beautiful hat too! As earlier commenters mentioned, I would also recommend using circular needles as long as you can, especially if you take it along with you on public transport or to work or similar. I look forward to watching your progress 🙂 You can do it!
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Thanks a lot for the encouragement especially after seeing all your beautiful pieces!
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I feel your “pain’! I am attempting easy leg warmers… I am now on my third attempt after reassessing and changiing the yarn I am using.
How does one cast on 32 stitches, knit/purl four rows and now have 36 stitches. It’s a mystery! But I think your operative words above were PRACTICE!!! Hang in there.
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I wish I didn’t empathise with your comment as much as I do! Where do they go or appear from?!? Super good luck with the leg warmers! It’ll be worth it in the end.
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