How a Lady Bug Can Teach a Lesson

Lady Bugs, as far as the eye can see . . . The body has been finished and I have spent much of the last week weaving in ends. I have to say it is not my strong suit, and neither is the colour changing and floating. I am a "thrower" as we are called, and a couple of times a year I try to knit the way my grandmother did with all that continental flair, but the klutz wins out and I end up pulling more stitches off the needle than actually knitting them.

Thanks to the diminutive size of this colour work sweater (it is a 1-1/2 year old size), I did not quite lose my mind, or my patience, but it nearly happened. All of this has made me re-think the joys of colour/stranded work. I know, I heard myself gasp as I typed this.

I have spent many an hour looking at the photos of all the phenomenally gorgeous colourwork sweaters over at Marina's cupboard, and have been so caught up in what the finished product looked like, that I guess I did not spend a great deal of time contemplating the actual work of a sweater like that. I have spent ages of time looking and re-looking through all my Norwegian knitting books, and again, made endless swatches, and have gotten no closer to actually casting on, until this little Lady Bug.

I have swatched ad nauseum, and made you all witnesses to my joy and euphoria about colour and the pairing of colours and the re-matching of colours, and talked of tones and depth of colour and all those things, and I believe I have come to understand that while I love colour with a deep and abiding passion, the actual knitting of multiple colours is just not my thing.

I could see creating a 2-colour knit, but the 3, 4, 5, and 6 and up colours, I think I just need to take a big deep breathe, make a good long and capital lettered Note to Self, maybe even take a step back and ponder. (I am remembering the sock yarn overpurchase after the thrill of the heel, and want to learn some lessons, rather than repeat mistakes.)

So this weekend is the steaming, and the "cutting" and the sewing together of the Lady Bug, and once finished will be studied and discussed, with me, myself and i. I keep reminding myself that we try things and learn whether we are suited for any of the things we try, or, sadly, if we are not. The verdict is not in, so to speak, but me thinks the writing is on the wall, or at best the colour is on the wall. More to come!

Comments

[hege]

The ladybugs look great! It was a good idea to make a small stranded project first. Do what you enjoy. I think lace knitting may be more fun, anyway :)

[Carrie K]

The Ladybugs are so cute! Stranding is one of those zen things, sometimes you're in the zone and sometimes you're fighting it. Blocking should take care of the puckering for the most part.

Isn't the Stash amazing when you put it all in one place? I had no idea.

[Marina]

Sorry! I do warn those who ask, to be careful not to get caught up in my "madness".

The ladybugs are delightful.

Only advise I would give is that since your stranding portion is tighter, use a smaller needle for the plain section. That happened to me with the Fox sweater. A good blocking would solve that.

[Jennifer]

Well, I think the ladybugs are beautiful. I certainly think you do wonderful colorwork, but if you don't enjoy the use of many colors and prefer a 2 or 3 color project, I think you should knit what you like.