I had a note from a knitter who was having trouble knitting my Cat’s Eye Tam featured in the summer issue of Interweave Knits, so I decided to revisit it myself, as I need a summer hat.
What did I prove? I proved that when distracted, I forget to read through the pattern first. I make assumptions, race ahead and knit the damn darling thing all wrong. In my case, lounging by the side of the pond, eager for a swim, I followed the pattern to just past the Fair Isle section, and then raced ahead reading ” Work Rnds 1-4 of cat’s eye patt” glancing down and following what are the directions for the Crown….neglecting to read the instructions: ” (see Stitch Guide) ” … so yes, designer of the hat or not, I had to rip back and refer to the Stitch Guide, which is presented just after the list of materials, and on second try – got it.
Other tips?
It is wise to pause and carefully consider the directions when you see (parentheses) and [brackets] which isolate certain bits of instructions, as well as the *‘s which indicate where a repeat begins.
When you get to the crown, I suggest, placing a marker each time you complete the directions after the *, so you will have 6 markers: 1 for the beginning of the round (make it a different color) and 5 others.
If I’d studied my work I would have noticed that I was making lovely little paired decreases, but I was too busy watching this little person
My new tam uses:
Main Color Jamieson & Smith 9097, sadly discontinued, Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift 524 Poppy is the closest match
Contrast Color 1 Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift 1200 Nutmeg
Contrast Color 2 Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift 172 Yell Sound Blue
ps. Leelee and I found the bird’s nest yesterday just next to the water.
Strangely enough, I am relieved to hear that you screwed up knitting from your own pattern, because I do that *all the time.* Once I think I’ve decided how something is going to be and written it out, it’s so hard to make my eyes stop and actually read it. This is definitely why editors are so valuable!
lucky Leelee, the water looks great!
Lauren, isn’t that the thing? Plus, I totally forget how I did something the minute I start something new.
As for you Jeni… Leelee is searching for you….hoping you’ll come paddling up!
Why knit something just the one time? I make pattern reading mistakes – often. I have a love-hate relationship with following directions. On the one hand it’s a vacation from thinking, but there really is no completely mindlessness.
That’s why I turned to design, I find it so hard not to deviate from the pattern! And why I’m loving following my printed embroidery!Still get to invent stitches though, and that takes concentration when you’re trying something new.
Things like that keep us humble, don’t they?