In Which I Admit That I Might Not Always Be 100% Completely Correct About Everything Knitting–or Pattern Writers Know Their Stuff

 

Yes, I might be a somewhat “adventurous” knitter and I have been known to call patterns “suggestions”. Well, that last one might be evidence of severe hubris or psychosis, but you get the idea. I generally do what the pattern calls for the first time and then make changes after that. Generally.

For our Keeping Kids Warm charity knitting program this fall, I chose this free pattern. On the first mitten (the pink one), when I got to the section where it divides the stitches for the thumb, the pattern calls for the knitter to cast on five stitches using the backward loop method. I’m not fond of the backward loop method because it can leave some extra yarn at the end of the cast-on that has to be dealt with on the next row. And I think the knitted cast-on is stronger when you go back to pick up stitches. Besides, I’m used to using the knitted cast-on and I wanted to do that one. Yes, I’m a touch hard-headed.

When I made the second mitten (with larger yarn (and green) and needles, so it wasn’t a mate to the first one), I decided to use the cast-on recommended in the pattern. And, guess what? The mitten where I used the cast-on called for by the original pattern looked much better. Sigh.

What were the differences?

1. The mitten knit using the original pattern (backward loop cast-on) (green mitten) has a nice, graceful join between the thumb and the palm. The other mitten (pink mitten) has an obvious ridge.

2. Since there were only five stitches to cast on, there wasn’t really an issue of extra yarn to sort out. The backward loop cast-on issues are problems only when there are long sections to cast on. If I had thought through this issue for more than five seconds, I might have realized it and gone with the pattern writer’s recommendation. Or not. Sometimes I can be really stubborn.

The moral of the story: Trust the pattern writers. It’s OK to be adventurous, but sometimes it’s best to follow the pattern the first time and then go back and decide where it’s worth veering off the beaten track.

Patterns from books or that are purchased are usually quite trustworthy. Not only has the pattern been written by someone that probably knows knitting patterns, but they’ve been test knitted and tech edited. I’ve written only a couple of patterns, but they have given me great respect for those who do this for a living.

So, it might possibly be the case that I am not always completely correct in my adventurous knitting and that pattern writers know what they’re doing. I could take you around the shop and show you lots more examples on the shop models I’ve made, but, really, who has that kind of time?

Happy knitting and be nice to any pattern writers you meet!! They deserve it!