UNST

A week or so ago I joined the Knitting on the Road Sock Knit-A-Long (knitting the socks from Nancy Bush's book) and they are in the midst of knitting Unst. I finished up the Chain Reaction Sweater finally and so I was ready to take on a new project (in addition to Shoalwater and the next dishcloth from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL).

Well. I cast on the 56 stitches and moved them evenly onto 2 circulars (my preference). I knitted the first row, then the next....hmmmm...grrrr....next. Frogged it....cast on...(did this a couple times before I finaly got to row 8 of the 12 row ribbing), oh, once I even managed to cut my live yarn. Good GRIEF! Are they cursed? Ok...so I'm knitting away yesterday at lunch on a knit row but I was still not happy - I was having issues losing stitches on the lace rows....

So on my way home yesterday afternoon I pulled out the ornery sock on the bus and looked at it and realized what needed to be done (yet again) so I ripped it all out & cast on again. This time not cutting the live yarn. I knit the first row before the bus pulled into the transit station (its only a 20-30 minute ride). Better, I thought...much better.

WELLLLLLL.....

When I tried the next 3 rows at home I found missing stitches again! Grrr....So I ripped it again. (I've lost count of how many times I've cast on for this...6 maybe?) Got out my Ott Light (haven't used it since winter!) and started again after supper with bifocals firmly in place and light gleaming over my shoulder. Oh, yeah...I also wrote down the pattern so each row was on a single line in my little notebook and worked from that. Seems sorta dumb but its less confusing since I use a graphic notation for the (sl1 k2tog psso) bit.

Success! Not only did I finish the 12 rows of the "ribbing" lace but I've begun in earnest on the leg. Hurray!!!

I was almost convinced that I was going to have to give up on this pattern. Persistance? Determination? Stubborness? Anyway, I'm off and knitting it!

On a different subject...I have to find out whatever happened to the Oddessy Glitz tank top I mailed from Sturgeon Bay to Jane in Atlanta in mid-July. No word of its arrival...nada. :-( From now on I get confirmations on all packages! Word to the wise from the previously trusting and naive package poster.