From a single trickle of water...

When I was travelling through Europe a few years ago, I was lucky enough to go to Innsbruk.  I was with my ex at the time and he had this ongoing joke that everytime we saw a stream or river, no matter how big or small, it just had to be the Danube.  In Innsbruk, (say that 10 times quickly), there is this gorgeous little stream that ran just past our hotel.  We used to walk beside it at least 4 times a day and each time the ex would make some comment about how good the Danube looked or what a great river the Danube was.  Hell, the Danube even followed us to Florence.

Well, when I started River I thought it was going to be a quick and powerful knit...just like the powerful Danube.  But instead I am having more trouble with this than I did with Birch.  Last week I told you about having to rip out everything I had completed and starting again.  This week just for your benefit, in case you missed the story I've had to do it again.

Poor River.  My version of River is a little less like the Danube and more like a stagnant swampy half dry stream bed.  What is it about this pattern that I just don't get?  And yes, I know from the image above all looks well in River land.  However for the last few rows I kept getting either a stitch too many or a stitch too few and for the life of me I couldn't find the error even after recounting, tinking and lots and lots of double checking.  I'm not sure if it is the pattern, the fact that the needles are so large or what exactly is my problem.  Do you think the fact that I tried to knit it in front of the AFL Grand Final on Saturday might have something to do with my problems.  Ok ok ok, admittedly that wasn't the brightest thing I could have done.

Anyway, River has now been restarted...AGAIN!!  Third time lucky I hear you say? Hell NO....life couldn't be that simple.

Since I took this photo a few days ago...I have managed to knit another 10 rows and frog back 6 of them.  Arghhhhh - I honestly had less trouble with Birch.  This is a seriously simple pattern that I just keep stuffing up...big time!  I was however, relieved to read Diana's post about her own River knitting adventures where she mentioned that she just couldn't remember the pattern repeat.  Although I felt slightly less stupid after reading that...it was only slightly.  I can't tell you what the future will bring for river - you will just have to stay tuned to see if I finish it, or end up taking my scissors to it!  Because my dear readers...it just ain't FUN anymore!

Comments

[francoisef]

I just know exactly what you are going through... I had to take a break from the Valenciennes cardi I am making with KSH as I kept on missing yo's. Maybe having a rest from River might do you good. (I hope it will work for me).

[Stephanie]

Stupid River. Maybe she just isn't ready to be knit yet. I hope you two work things out because it's such a pretty pattern and the color... Yum

[The Skirt]

Love the colour you've chosen! Mine is a pale green - one of my current favourite colours and lovely, but I wish I'd been smart enough to buy some KSH in different colours to try out!

Just started River last night, and spent 45 minutes finding and picking up a dropped stitch on row 31 :-(

Seems the only way I can keep track is to have the pattern in front of me at all times - though I have finally memorised the even-row stitches!

[Niki]

Just seeing your River scares the crap out of me. I don't think I could EVER attempt that. Snaps for you for even giving it a go. Good luck!

[Liz]

Hey, I stayed in Innsbruck!!

PS Gonna cryyyy me a riverrrrr .....

[Katie]

I had the same problem with a lace stole I was knitting, I reackon for at least a week I made not progress what-so-ever, but I didn't give up - I couldn't let it beat me, so I perservered, after the inital teething problems it flew along & I'm glad I stuck with it. And as that famous builder is wont to say "Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!"

[Rachael]

I would be in tears on the floor. You are brave!

[Jackie]

You and me, both. Maybe it's the color (same) or our name (same) or maybe it's just not the right pattern! Mine is sitting neglected...in time out! Good luck, :)

[caitlyn]

Sorry to hear about your troubles with River! Perhaps a break might help? For me, some time away from the frustration does wonders for a project. But regardless, good luck with it!! I'm sure you will get it and it will look beautiful

[Lolly]

Gosh, ripping KSH... you are a brave woman, J! Maybe it should sit for awhile.
That is the same color I am using for my cami though. So pretty.

Hope you have a nice weekend :)

[Kim]

UGGGH! I am frustrated just listening to you talk about River. I hope it all works out in the end. I think the color is GORGEOUS though!

Good luck with your pesky Danube.

[Purly Whites]

I believe you can do it!

[Diana]

I know exactly what you mean.. I found YOs in the wrong spots on more than a couple occasions while knitting River. The pattern looks easy, but isn't conducive to smooth knitting! It was the only project I took on a weekend trip; that's how I managed to make progress. The end result is worth it - keep going!

[Mary]

I can't remember the pattern repeat either; I have to have it in front of me each time I'm knitting it. I agree with you, I found Birch much easier. But having said that, River is a lovely pattern, so stick with it, it will be worth it.

[Tam]

If it's not fun, I'm sure you can find something else to use that gorgeous pink KSH for.

[Tracy]

Ok never having knitted Birch (yes I gave up in a complete hissy fit and sheer hatred of KSH after 3 rows a couple of years ago) I am now heartened to hear several people think it's easier than River. From Drip to Puddle stage was a pain, but then it sort of grew and I was off. You can do it, I know you can. I had to sit with my pattern glued to my lap, lace and my brain have no connection whatsoever.

[Kim]

I'm right there with you.....LOL. I have pulled out more rows than I have knit, but I'm sure somewhere around row 75 I will start to get it....... Hang in there....it is a lovely color!

[valentina]

Go here, it may help? Last three sentences.
http://www.streetsandyos.com/archives/2005/10/lacey_goodness_1.php

[Carola]

Apart from the bad progress story - your River looks lovely. I think you can do that! Maybe you should dedicate some very special time to remember the pattern. A (light) audiobook is always helping me. (uniting voice/story and pattern to something that works out) But then, I'm more an audio person than a visual one.

[Kirsty]

You'll get there in the end. If you can spend a few hours on it, you will get the hang of the repeats. A bit of swearing never hurt nobody! :-)

[yahaira]

That happened to me as well, I kept finding that I forgot a yo or a k2tog. then somehow in the next row I was a stitch short. It all works out, trust me. You'll have your danube soon enough. I found that the first and last 3 stitches would get a little tangled/twisted, this may be how you are ending up with different stitch counts?

[Melissa]

I have knit extremely complicated lace patterns and I found this River shawl to be a great big annoyance. The repeats were too random for me to memorize, and the large needles, with the laceweight yarn made it especially tricky. You can finish it! Just put it in time-out and come back to it after a few weeks with a refreshed outlook.

[Kathy]

Is that "Blushes?" Same color as my Dew... which I have just re-started as well. I didn't frog it though... I couldn't bear trying to frog half the back, so I cut the yarn and just cast on newly. I've heard that if you freeze Kidsilk haze, it frogs easier - have you tried it?

Sorry about River... all that frogging really stinks. Maybe put it down for a few days and work on a simple stockinette piece? Sock maybe? Could just be you need to take a break from it for a bit.

[Cambria]

I had to rip back too. Here's what I've learned. It's easier to knit from the book than from the graph. I use a post-it to keep me on track as far as what row I'm on in the pattern. Never, ever knit River if you're not totally alert. Count every single row... the lace rows after knitting them and the wrong side rows as you knit them, that way you catch any mistakes right away. And my good buddy Rainy always uses a lifeline (or a spare length of yarn) to mark the start of every pattern repeat, so if you do have to rip, you'll at least know how far back to go to get on track again. Keep on truckin and you'll be just fine.

[Julia]

Girl, do not feel stupid! I've been knitting since I was a wee pup and I have ripped back a gazillion times on this thing. Sometimes it takes a while for a pattern to really "kick in". Just do what I do and just spend time on it when you can really focus (I tinked - not ripped, tinked - back something like 10 rows while on a plane last week - that is focus). We will overcome!