Bitter Tears

Yes, I'm weeping bitter tears of frustration (and rage). The instructions for Arwen clearly state to note the last cable row knitted, so you can commence from where you left off, when continuing the cable around the hood (or in my case, around the neck). I made a note of the note, and I did this. I swear I did this. When I commenced the cable, where I left off was not where I left off. I tinked EIGHT times, each time trying a different row. And each time it was clearly WRONG. I still don't know what happened. And while I don't mind minor mistakes, a huge clearly visible mistake in a clearly visible place is not acceptible. So I frogged the left front. All. Twenty-four. Inches. Of. It.

I am clearly far too stupid to knit. Next hobby: Sitting gibbering in the corner.

A Little Break From Knitting

Actually, that isn't true. I haven't been doing much with Arwen, but I have been knitting my son's scarf, and working on the sweater design I think will be called "Bloody Pirate".

But once again, I've been dreaming of a house. And, like many, I've come to the sad reality that the style to which I should become accustomed far outweighs my purse.
Where I deserve to live:


Where I can afford to live:



So, who wants to come over for coffee?

Arwen Cuff Do-over

There's no picture, because it's just too sad. I don't know WHAT I did, but there's no way that left cuff is cabled properly. I did the provisional cast-on beautifully, and even the beginning of the cabling was quite nice. But then... I dunno, the cables just sort of run like straight ropes. So I'll have to tink it and fix it, or just rip it all out and fix it. Sigh... There's no way Arwen will be finished in time for April 2nd. Maybe I'll content myself with working on the back. You know, straight stockinette. Even I can't mess that up. Famous last words.

Pride Goeth Before A Fall

The last time we looked, the Arwen was coming along beautifully. Each cable lining up perfectly. The color, the feel, the knitting - perfect. We were head over heels in love with Arwen. Beautiful, exquisite, sexy.

Hubris.

At the last knitting group, instead of working on the 2x2 ribbed scarf, I decided to work on Arwen. Showing off. The praise, the exclamations; these were no more than my due. Naturally.

Now, what happens at a knitting group? Yes, of course, there is knitting. But there is also admiring, teaching, talking. And I know that I can't talk (or do anything else) while working cables (or follow any pattern). My short-term memory loss is prodigious.

Can you guess what happened? Oh, yes, the inevitable. Miss-crossed cables.



Now, this certainly wasn't Arwen's fault. It was my fault. Totally. Completely. My fault. But that didn't stop me from being mad at Arwen. Really mad at Arwen. So it sat in its bag until I felt like tinking the damage. You could say it was in time out, but it was really so I could calm down enough not to slap it. Which was about a week. Given that I do want to wear it, eventually.

Last night, I began to tink. It wasn't too hard. Although, there was a lot of head scratching and "why is it doing that?". When I reached the point that I could no longer see the mistake, I spent about 3 hours trying to figure out which row I needed to start on. And kind of finally narrowed it down to two of them, and just took a shot at it.




It's still wrong, but not as noticeable. I hope. What do you think? Do I need to frog it?

Toxicity

I was going to ignore this issue, figuring least said, soonest mended. Then, of course, I changed my mind. Ignoring it is, in essence, condoning it. And I don't condone it, in any way, shape, or form.

A few people left nasty comments on the blog posts about the benefit for Savanna, and my solicitation of donations therefor. (Don't bother looking, I deleted them. Yes, it's censorship. Normally I don't condone censorship, however, to paraphrase Eddie Murphy, "This is MY house. If ya don't LIKE it, ya can get the
#&%@! OUT.")

First of all, since I figured maybe five people read the blog, I was really surprised. Especially since those five people are the nicest, kindest people you'll ever meet. Secondly, if you were offended by the links to the benefit, and what I said, ignore it. Click away, never to return, and forget about it. The venom expressed in those comments was completely and totally unnecessary. The links weren't even "in your face". It was a rather brief, and casual mention, on MY blog.

Why DID I post the banner and links? Why did I donate? Why did I suggest that you attend the benefit or donate, if you could?
Because...
1) I'm healthy, and thanks to the powers that be, my son is healthy. Anyone who has a seriously ill child is living my worst nightmare. That family has my sincerest sympathy for what they are going through.
2) I don't know what evil I perpetuated in my previous lives that I am suffering through this one, but maybe some good karma will keep the wolves from the door.
3) I did NOTHING to make anyone feel guilty if they could not attend, or donate. Hey, if you're in California, getting to New Jersey might be a little difficult. If you're worried about buying groceries this month, I understand. I've been there. But what would it cost to mention it to other people, or even to kindly say, "I wish I could help, but I can't". If you do feel guilty, you might want to examine your own thoughts or behaviors. It's certainly nothing I said, or did.

But what I do not need, and will not tolerate, is any more toxicity in my life. I'm surrounded by enough toxic people, most of them related to me. As my dear, departed Gramma used to say, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't you say nothin'!" And that goes for my blog, too.

Oh, and you want to see "in your face" donation solicitations? Here ya go! Knit from your stash, take your yarn budget, and go donate. I don't care if you are a student whose entire yarn budget for the year is $1, or someone whose yarn budget is higher than my gross salary. Knit from your stash, and donate: Savanna Winnie. Tell 'em knittwhitties sent ya!

There will soon be knitting content, or, Pride Goeth Before a (Big) Fall.