To Frog or Not to Frog? Finding Something to Knit Even Better

This was my knitting dilemma for completing Shawl Number 9. I rarely ever frog because I spend so much time up front finding the perfect pattern to match the yarn I picked.

I had this particular yarn, Cascade Yarns Eco+ Merlot 7098, I purchased years ago for a particular shawl wrap pattern I had in my Ravelry project queue that I've never found the time to knit. I thought this would be perfect to knit for my 9th shawl to help me attain my 12Shawls2014 goal and to finally get this off my project queue.  

One of my very first yarn purchases few years back.
Cascade Yarns Eco+ Merlot 7098, 100% Wool
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

Well, as I was knitting this last month, I didn't like what I saw and was getting extremely bored at the same time.  This is not a good situation to be in when the pattern I was trying to knit requires over 450+ yards of bulky yarn and I was quickly losing motivation as I was knitting the first 50 yards! 

So back to Raverly Patterns tab and a very fortuitous thing happened last month. Kate Atherley was offering her half Pi-shaped Sick Day Shawl as a free pattern for a limited time only and suggested Cascade Yarns Eco as one of the yarns. I quickly frogged what I was knitting and started to knit Sick Day even though I wasn't sick or taking any meds – I love Kate's pattern name – and never looked back!

My Review

Shawl #9 of 2014:
My HUGE I'm Not Sick "Sick Day Shawl"
Size: 76 in (w) x 27 in (h)
Pattern: Sick Day Shawl by Kate Atherley
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

Knitting my Shawl #9:  I’m Not Sick “Sick Day Shawl" was a very quick, fun knit and definitely would knit this half Pi-shaped shawl again. I am so glad I frogged my other project for this because I also found another great gift knit project idea to keep in mind.  And to put the “icing on the cake,” finishing this shawl kicked off my Christmas gift knitting!

I pretty much followed the pattern instructions, except for the following:

My Modifications

1. Used a US11 (8.0 mm) needle, instead of US9 - 10 (5.55 - 6.0 mm) because I chose to knit bulky Cascade Eco+
2. Not part of my original plan - I ran out of the Eco+ as I finished knitting Row 6 before binding off.  So went digging through my leftover yarn stash and found this Lion Brand Thick & Quick, Charcoal Grey to bind off.
3. Used my favorite shawl bind-off because of its surprisingly stretchy bind off (no pun intended LOL) – Planet Purl’s Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off – with a US13 needle. Going up a needle size made the transition from knitting with bulky to super bulky yarn seamless.

I'm Not Sick "Sick Day Shawl," Front view
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

I'm Not Sick "Sick Day Shawl," Back view
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

I loved that you get a lot of 100% wool yarn in the Eco+ so I did not have very many ends to weave in, unlike my last shawl requiring two colors.

I'm Not Sick "Sick Day Shawl," Close-up
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

Future Knitting Ideas:  Sick Day Shawl #2, 3, etc.

How about knitting the last 6 rows with another color (CC) or knit the last 6 rows (Rows  1 -2: CC, Rows 3 – 4: MC, Rows  5-6: CC) to give the shawl’s border a little more pizzazz or pop?! Or about knitting this pattern using self-striping yarn or soft, squishy alpaca?! 

Wanna learn more about my details knitting this pattern, please visit my Ravelry project page.

Love to hear from you:  Do you frog a knitting project because you don’t like what you see? Or when you stop being motivated or inspired by what you’re knitting because you know the project will just sit and you know you’ll never finish it? Ultimately, are you happy that you frogged and the final, completed project is better than what you started with? 

Need One of These - An Easy, Simple Knitting Project Idea

Not enough time of the day to get everything done? Have stress and need a way to burn off some it off and just decompress? Or have you tried stripes-colorwork knitting?

Looking for a simple, easy all garter stitch knit?
MC: TOSH Merino Light, Duchess
CC: TOSH Merino Light, Composition Book Grey
Close-up: Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"
Pattern by Kourtney Robison
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

Well, it's October and I've just finished knitting my 8th shawl for 2014. I have 4 more to complete before I start my gift knitting for Christmas and I am starting to feel the pressure to finish knitting my 12Shawls2014 Ravelry Group goal by the end of December. To keep things simple for Number 8, I was looking for a shawl pattern that was easy and mindless to knit since so far I have been knitting intricate lace pattern shawls, last being, Autumnal "His Golden Lair" by Kourtney Robinson. 

Luckily, I found Fibonerdy, a pattern that Kourtney also designed, that is just simple repetitive garter stitch knitting and switching between two skeins of fingering weight yarn, MC and a CC,  The only issue is having the stamina of getting to the end of this pattern and knitting 535 garter stitches! 

Fibonerdy, IMHO, is a not so strenuous alternative to knitting the extremely popular all garter stitch shawl wrap Color Affection which involves knitting short rows and switching between 3 skeins of fingering weight yarn. 

Conquered My Fear of the Hook

Took on one of my biggest knitting fears head on!
My pattern world has expanded exponentially!
I now know how to do a provisional cast-on.
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva
 September 2014

I did learned how to do a provisional cast-on and finally conquered my fear of using a crochet hook.  I've been avoiding learning how to do this particular cast-on for a few years because of my crochet phobia (Silly, I know and it does not make sense.) and would not knit a pattern if it required this cast-on. This was pretty much the only stressful thing about knitting this. I was able to do this successfully after my first attempt after watching my digital knitting instructor - YouTube!  

My Results

Huge, versatile scarf, shawl, wrap
Can wear it many different ways
Finished Measurement: 80 in (w) x 16 (h)
Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"
Pattern by Kourtney Robinson
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

After purchasing my skeins at Nine Rubies Knitting, one of my favorite LYS in the San Francisco Bay Area because of their great yarn selection and wonderful, helpful service, I ended up knitting to gauge and had about 25 grams left of  MC: Madelinetosh Merino Light, Duchess and a few grams of CC: Madelinetosh Merino Light Composition Book Grey. At first I was worried that the MC would overpower CC. But the CC neutralized the MC. The shawl wrap is huge, but versatile. Definitely can wear it with a lot more than things than if I reversed the colors.

Warm and drapey.
Be sure to a lot time for binding off and
weaving all the ends.
Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

I binded off going up a needle size, US6 (4.0 mm), with now, my preferred go-to bind off - Plant Purls' Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off because I get great results every time, instead of what was stated in Kourtney's pattern.

Would I Recommend Knitting This?

Garter, garter, who has the garter?
Close-up: Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

YES! I loved how it turned out. This is a great travel knitting or knitting group project because all you knit is garter (with two colors) and its mindless to knit so you can focus on other things. 

Stripes, stripes. I see more stripes!
Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

But if you are looking for a little challenge, like learning a new lace pattern stitch, this IS NOT the pattern for you. Towards the end, you'll be knitting 400+ garter stitch/row after row till you make it to Row 138 (535 stitches) or around knitting 750 yards! 

A lot of repetitive stitches!
Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva
October 2014

I couldn't knit this as gift knit because it would kill me if the recipient would never wear this and left it in a drawer. Also after finishing knitting this, whatever feelings I had that maybe I would like to knit Color Affection has been squashed forever because just plain garter stitch knitting is not for me. My Mindless in a Good Way "Fibonerdy"  is my one and only and is more than big enough for me.

Wanna learn more about my details knitting this pattern, please visit my Ravelry project page.

Love to hear from you:  Love to only knit garter stitch? Do you switch it up and knit a "mindless", easy knit project after knitting challenging patterns to give yourself a break? Have you tried or do you like stripes-colorwork knitting?

Vacation (or Travel) Knitting: A Great Time to Knit

One of the reasons why I like to knit is because it's a small, portable, travel project that can keep my hands and mind busy when I am sitting for long periods of time. I've knitted on planes, trains, buses, cars, hotel rooms and vacation condos, and by the beach or lake. Haven't knitted on cruise ships or large boats yet because I haven't been on either one since picking up knitting again.

7th Shawl this year: Close up of my
Autumnal "His Golden Lair"
Pattern by: Kourtney Robinson
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

I also find knitting in public is a great conversation starter. I have been on many business flights and the person, whether young, old, person in a suit, next to me will start talking about knitting and then tell me who they know knits. A lot of times, the person would tell me that wish they could knit, but just never had the patience or time to properly learn. I also find children, especially between kindergarten and 3rd grade, when I am riding the commuter train or on planes are really fascinated with what I am doing and would watch me like a video game.

After I finished knitting Summery "Ashton Shawlette," my next project, 7th shawl for the year, was to knit Kourtney Robinson's His Golden Lair shawl pattern. I had the yarn picked out and I started knitting this during my usual night time TV knitting in July, but I kept getting side tracked. 

Araucania Yarns, Rinihue, 208 yards/each
Hand-dyed 80/20 wool silk worsted weight
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, June 2014

Knitting a lace shawl, in general, doesn't take me long to do, but this summer has been very busy. Besides working towards finishing my social media certification coursework:

• I found a new hobby, sewing, which I will share in future blog posts;
• My 80+ year old MIL is now living with us; and
• My 15 years young pup, Boo, is on her last legs.  

In general, getting old in America just sucks is what I am learning and going through the social security/medicare/health care/financial services maze can drive any rational person crazy, let alone having a senior do this by herself while your pup is frequently having incontinence issues (Sorry, too much TMI) because she is having a harder time walking as the days go by doesn't give me much free time anymore.

Vacation! Let the Knitting Begin

Early morning view from our lanai.
Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Coconut Beach
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

In August we went on a Kauai, Hawaii family vacation. Love non-stop flying! 5 hours each way from the mainland devoted to knitting while a flight attendant every couple hours stops by and provides you with Hawaiian Sun was great! 

What heaven looks like - 5 hours of uninterrupted knitting
drinking iced cold Hawaiian Sun POG while flying to Kauai
on Hawaiian Airlines.
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

Vacation Number 2

Love the dramatic, puffy clouds and crystal blue sky.
Late afternoon view from the Tahoe City Marina.
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014 

By the last week of August, my family - us, our dogs, and our MILs - took a road trip to the north shores of Lake Tahoe, CA. This will be the last family road trip for my old girl, Boo. 

Boo, 15 years young, enjoying
the view of the Lake.
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

The 4 hour car ride, with car stops, was too much and when we return home after our family vacation she is a little more wobbly than before she left.  She and my little one, Miz M, did make it to the Lake and both swam in the clear, crystal blue water.

Miz M shaking off the Tahoe water
after her very first swim.
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

Renting a condo in the woods is nice for a family for many reasons. One of them being I was able to knit at night and finished knitting this shawl. It took me two nights to bind off 329 stitches!

Just about to finished binding off
 my vacation knitting project.
Autumnal "His Golden Lair"
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

My Results

Followed Kourtney's well-written pattern after I made sure to have the latest version from Ravelry and compared the written with the knit charts (now that I know how to read them!). I used the suggested type of yarn (2 skeins: worsted-weight) and my only two modifications were:

• I used Planet Purl's Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off 
• I went up two needle sizes, US 9, instead of following the bind off instructions that was including in the pattern. 

I had more than enough of the Araucania yarn left and felt comfortable using Jeny's Bind Off knowing this. I also want to be sure I would have nice, defined lace points.

Ta Da! Finished
Autumnal "His Golden Lair"
Blocked: 63 in (w) x 18 (h).
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

My Wet Blocking Technique

I did my usual wet block when we returned from our Tahoe trip. I put my shawls in a netted lingerie bag and soaked this in a large stainless steel bowl using cold water and hair shampoo for 30 minutes before putting the bag in my front load washer (18 min cold/cold rinse & spin cycle) to clean and soften up the Araucania yarn. 

Reason why I picked this yarn for this pattern was because I think it really highlights the cables and lacework. I am also a sucker for anything with a leaf knit stitch. While this shawl is thick, warm and has a nice drape, it's still a little scratchy so I wouldn't recommend wearing this on bare skin. I do like how the yarn's texture and fiery red and orange colors enhances the cable and lacework. I'm calling this "structural rustic," and reminds me of Fall, or Autumn, when all trees turn shades of red and orange.

Has a nice drape. And because of this and 
its slight v-shape, shawl stays firmly on my shoulders.
Autumnal "His Golden Lair" 
Hand Knitted and Photo: 
Knitted Candy Diva, August 2014

Would I Knit This Again?

YES!!  Maybe in cashmere? After the cable section (body), the lace repeats were easy to remember (I knitted a portion of this in the car while DH was driving us to Tahoe) and seemed quicker to knit. Don't let the written instructions or charts scare you off. It was a fun, interesting knit. Perfect if you want a little challenge while on vacation or not. 


Wanna learn more about my knitting modifications to this pattern, please visit my Ravelry project page.



Love to hear from you: Do knit on vacation? Can you knit anywhere - mass transit, hotel rooms, planes, boats, etc? Do people come up to you and start talking about your knitting? Are you finding do you have less time to knit because of obligations or issues getting in the way?

Made Time to Learn How to Read Knitting Pattern Charts - Finished Knitting Shawl Number 6!

My first chart knitting project:
Summery "Ashton Shawlette"
Pattern:  Dee O''Keefe
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva, June 2014

I took up knitting again 6 years ago after first learning simple knit and purl from my mom decades ago.  Like everyone, I started knitting long rectangular scarves in various yarn weights and stitch patterns which I did for over a year.  

For a long time, I would only find knitting patterns that had written-instructions. As I improved and increased my skills, I would look at patterns that had BOTH written and chart instructions. As I increased my knitting stitch repertoire, I started looking at the stitch chart keys and compared them with the written stitch instructions.  From what I have gained in knowledge and experience by just purely knitting numerous patterns, I have learned patience, the ability to follow stitch patterns, figure out the stitches themselves and start to "visualize" the pattern and its pattern repeats. 

Because knitting is very friendly, community base and it's in my tendency to be a perfectionist and by profession, highly customer service-oriented and a problem-solver, there have been times while knitting a newly release pattern I've found a stitch error(s) and have directly contacted the pattern designer to let her know what I have found because I strongly believe on continuous improvement and fix/solve the problem if I come across one. Why should someone else struggle knitting the same pattern when I know I can help and that person doesn't need to get frustrated?

So with this in mind, it has been one of my knitting goals to formally learn how to read charts since I have been "kinda doing it." As I mentioned in my June post, I've had the very popular Dee O'Keefe's "Ashton Shawlette" in my Ravelry queue because of her comprehensive charted pattern/ tutorial instructions for first time lace knitters for a couple of years but never found the right yarn to match the beauty of this pattern. 

My Summery "Ashton Shawlette" Results

My Yarn Choice

Personally, I love to support local, small business as much as possible. The Macedo’s Mini Acre yarn is hand-dyed in tiny batches by Maureen, one of the owners, a California Central Valley alpaca rancher. Maureen uses plants from her garden to make the dyes. These skeins have a girly, botanical feel and remind me of a sunny flower garden.

California-raised alpaca
Macedo's Mini Acre Alpaca Yarn
220 yards/each, hand-dyed alpaca worsted-weight
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, June 2014

I am a raving Macedo's Mini Acre fan! This is the third time I have knitted with Maureen’s soft, yummy alpaca yarn:

·        1st time:  Neapolitan Ice Cream "Serena Shadow Shawl"
·        2nd time: Interweave Lab 2013 "Occhielli Slouchy Hat"

My Pattern Modifications Because of My Yarn Choice

Ran out of alpaca and came up with a "new
design element." Think it really brings out the
shawl's points or tips and the body's colors.
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva, July 2014

Because I used worsted weight yarn, instead of fingering, I went up 3 needle sizes up (US 8, instead of US 5) for the body and used US 10 for the bind off using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.  I did run out of yarn 6 rows before finishing Chart 4 (at row 12). So I improvised and what I am now calling a "new design element" (and looking for same or similar green color in my stash that is found in the Macedo’s Mini Acre yarn) I finished knitting these last 6 rows and binded off using Elsebeth Lavold Eucool 75/25 wool / eucalyptus yarn. I doubled the DK weight yarn to get a worsted weight to match with the weight of alpaca. 

Ta Da!

I pretty much follow Dee's well-written instructions on how to read her charts.  After blocking, this shawl is LARGE: 68 in (w) x 30 in (h). 

Love the results! It's shawl, not a shawlette.
Summery "Ashton Shawlette"
Hand Knitted and Photo:
Knitted Candy Diva, July 2014

Definitely, I would knit this pattern again and would highly recommend this pattern if you want to learn how to read knitting charts on your own. Dee has expanded my knitting pattern world selection.  Ability to read knitting charts 2014 goal - Check! Mission accomplished.  

Wanna learn more about my details knitting this pattern, please visit my Ravelry project page.

Love to hear from you:  Which do you prefer, knit from charts or knit from written pattern? Do you contact the pattern designer to inform the designer you found a possible error?  Do you frequently make or like to make "new design elements or changes" when you knit? And do you try to buy and support your local LYS and/or try to buy locally made yarn/fiber?

Deciding on My Next Knitting Project

Couple of my 2014 knitting goals

Knit a shawl a month

Do you plan out your future knitting projects in advance? To the point of having a project queue? I wish I was you. It takes me a while to decide on my next project. Part of me, I think, enjoys the "hunting and gathering" deliberation process, the perfect pattern that will highlight the yarn I knit with.

What I have knitted so far in 2014
Photo and Hand Knitted by:
Knitted Candy Diva, June 2014

Part of my 2014 goals is to knit 1 shawl per month as part of a Ravelry group, 12 Shawls Forever, which I am a member of.  I started in March and so far I have knitted 5 shawls, the last one was also for me to participate in my first MMKAL(Madelinetosh May Knit-A-Long).  For the 12 shawls, each has to be more than 274 yards, with 2 of the 12 shawl needing to be over 550 yards/each. So, I look for patterns that interest me by improving my knitting skills.

Use up my stash

One of my other 2014 goals is to use up my stash. So far, I have been sticking to it. Of the 5 shawls I have knitted, I've used yarn that has been in my stash for at least 2 years.  I can't show you how large my stash has become. I'm embarrassed and shocked at the same time. Didn't realize the size until I recently was cleaning, putting the last 8 months of purchases into Ziploc bags and then storing them in cloth grocery size bags.  These bags are beginning to take up a corner of my bedroom besides the 5 plastic storage containers I have in my closet. Even DH made a comment - he normally doesn't notice, or says anything.

Then there was more

One of my knitting friends spent her Mother's Day weekend in Reno, NV, specifically to go to Jimmy Beans Wool because they have one of the largest selections of Madelinetosh to choose from.  She also normally goes to the Ben Franklin to check out what yarn they have. Well, Ben Franklin closed and now it has become a Tuesday Morning.  She was sending our knitting group Facebook private messages (PMs) as she was yarn shopping her way through Reno. On Mother's Day Sunday, it become even more funny when she started including photos and asking if we, our group, wanted to buy what we saw from her photos while she was at TM. 

The Deal was going down

Sample of what DH and I were eating
when my "yarn" dealer was rapidly PMing
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, Mother's Day 2014

Gotta love social media! My friend, the "yarn" dealer, was sending rapid PMs around lunch time. Well, before I knew it, I discreetly PM her my "ok" while I was eating my Mother's Day dim sum with DH to buy 2 of the skeins because I really like the color although I didn't need any more yarn.  Funny, how we don't communicate by phone anymore and it really felt like a "yarn" deal was going down, without DH knowing what I was doing. ; - )

Yarn, yarn and what to knit next

The yarn deal that when down.
2 skeins: Araucania Yarns, Rinihue
Hand-dyed 80/20 wool silk worsted weight.
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, June 2014

So, I have this yarn and I wanted find a pattern to match with it. I am in the middle of a botanical theme kick. First thing that came to mind was to knit Sylvia Bo Bilvia's The Elder Tree Shawl.  In April, I knitted Budding Shawlette. Last month, it was Sea Leaves.  For some reason, I really enjoy knitting leaves and have been searching for patterns that have them.

But then as I was cleaning up and storing my recent purchases, I came across this. 

California-raised alpaca
Macedo's Mini Acre Alpaca Yarn
220 yards/each, hand-dyed alpaca worsted-weight
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva, June 2014

And for a moment I was thinking this would make a nice summery Elder Tree Shawl.

How Golden are thee?

But then I saw Kourtney Robinson's His Golden Lair; I started to become conflicted.  I have 2 - worsted weight skeins, total 400+ yards. What to do?! Since the Araunacia yarn is a fiery blend of reds, oranges and magentas, it would make the Elder Tree leaves pop and scream "Autumn". But I am also thinking this would be true if I used this yarn for His Golden Lair. Besides the leaves, it has more texture - cables and lace.  Also it would be a more challenging knit.

Oh Ashton!

Then I saw Dee O'Keefe's Ashton Shawlette. My hand-dyed, natural dye pastel colored yarn is girly and would be a better match for this pattern because, IMHO, Ashton is very feminine. It made sense to knit this first because it's more summery looking than knitting His Golden Lair.  I also polled and received confirmation from members of Knitting, a closed Facebook group I am a member of, to get their feedback on which to start first.

Ashton has been in my Raverly queue since it first came out. One of the reasons I have it in my queue is because it has a great step-by-step tutorial on how to read charts. I have to admit it -- I've never learned how to read charts formally. Until now, I've purposely look for patterns that either have written and charts or just written.  Ashton is forcing me to learn how to read because this pattern only has charts.  I spent part of a Saturday reading and writing out the charts.

The start of my Summery "Ashton Shawlette"
Hand knitted & photo by Knitted Candy Diva

So, Elder Tree Shawl is now back in my Ravelry library with no future plans to knit this pattern. And after completing Ashton I plan to knit His Golden Lair with the 2 skeins of Araucania.

Love to hear from you:  Do you plan your knitting projects in advance? How big is your stash and is one of your 2014 goals to reduce it this year?  And do you change your mind, thinking you are going to knit with a particular yarn with a particular pattern, but then change at the last minute and go in a different direction?  

Finally Finished! MadMay 2014 “Sea Leaves”

How did this wrap know I was going
to have a crazy month?
Back view, MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Free Pattern by Sue Schreuder
Photo & Hand Knitted: 
Knitted Candy Diva, May 2014

Normally, it takes me about a week to knit a one skein fingering weight shawl while watching night time TV.   As part of Ravelry's Madelinetosh group - MadMay2014,  I was planning to participate and knit two shawls. My kickoff shawl was this, "Sea Leaves" by Sue Schreuder, using the TOSH Merino Light, Jade I had in my stash for 2 years.  However, it’s been one of those months. I got side tracked and didn't have a chance to start the second shawl. 

Where did my month of May go?

This took much longer than I had planned.
72 inches x 15 inches
MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Photo & Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

The weather has been unseasonably hot, which the last thing I wanted to do is hold warm wool in my hands and have a growing shawl on my lap. For the past couple of months, I've been working on getting a social media marketing strategist certification which involves hours of online course work and attending webinars. My oldest dog, at times, just won’t eat. She is 16 and will eat for a few days, then will show no interest in eating. She has a very sensitive stomach so changing her food is a big deal, and can be quite messy and stinky if you know what I mean. DH had a less than 2 day trip to the Big Island to take care of family business  -  a 5,000 mile round trip with hours of waiting for inter-island transfers isn't fun.  Thank goodness, we made the decision that I stay home and take care of our fur babies and not go with him. The stop and go flying would have put me on the edge.

My Stupidity

Closeup of  my 'insanity." Knitted and ripped
 the last 4 rows (over 400 stitches/row)
2 more times than I wanted!!
MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Photo & Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

On top of all this, when I did knit, I couldn't count the repeats to save my life. I always use markers, but that didn't save me from my own stupidity. It took me two weeks to finally finish the last 4 rows of this shawl after the third try.  No fault to Sue, the pattern designer, I ripped this thing twice at over 400 stitches each time because I was off by 2, then I was off by 4. I am a Virgo and it’s in my nature to not make or have any mistakes.  I can’t personally have “new design features or elements” in my knitting. It really bothers to me to no end. So, I grumble, get cranky as I rip not once, but twice trying to find the mistakes in the sea of 400+ stitches per row because of my perfectionist tendencies.

Ta Da!

But it was worth it!
MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Photo & Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

Overall, I love my yarn choice, TOSH Merino Light, Jade, and this pattern.  I really enjoy blocking. This is when I can see all the hours of knitting, including aggravation, pay off. The swaying lacy leaves really pop. The blocked size is 72 inches x 15 inches. So I would called this more of a scarf/wrap than a shawl. 

Closeup of my handy work.
MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Photo & Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

I still have about 30 yards of yarn left after binding off 430 stitches following Sue's recommendation to use Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. I went up two needles sizes (US8) for this to be sure I had enough give for the lace points. This took over 2 hours. Originally, my plan was to knit 2 shawls for MadMay, but I don’t think I want to press my luck after successfully surviving this and still have some sanity left! 

It took a LONG time to bind off!
I knitted with 32 inch Addi circulars.
MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Photo & Hand Knitted: 
Knitted Candy Diva

Will I knit this pattern again?

Yes, most definitely!  Before my miscounting fiasco, as I was easily knitting Chart A twice, I was thinking how nice this would be if I just knit Chart A 3 times. So the entire scarf wrap will be just these lacy leaves, instead of having first a stockinette body then the leaves.  I have a 3+ year old skein of TOSH Sock, Magnolia Leaf in my yarn stash that would make the perfect fiery Fall color scarf wrap.

My TOSH Sock, Magnolia Leaf
100% Superwash Wool, 395 yards
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva

Wanna learn more about my knitting details of Sea Leaves, please visit my Ravelry project page.

Great to keep your shoulders warm if you have A/C blasting.
MadMay2014 "Sea Leaves"
Photo & Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

Love to hear from you: What do you do if you miscount lace repeats? Do you go back and fix it? Or do you continue knitting and adjust later?