ARRGGGHHH!!

The knitter sits quietly working on a delicate, cloud-like piece of pink lace.  She nears what she thinks is the half way point and picks up the instructions to check.  The look on her face changes from serene to confused...she reads through the instructions again...again and then again, even yet again.  A light bulb, which could clearly be seen, goes off over her head...her face changes again, this time from confusion to disbelief....from disbelief to down right disappointment. GASP...wha? Oh no!  Big sigh....dammitalltohell.

She jumps from her chair, runs to the next room and grabs the pattern book from the shelf. Can it be, she thinks to herself, can I really be that blind, am I really that inept?  The picture confirms her fear and she utters another large sigh....dammitalltohell.

The biggest sigh yet, escapes her lips...ah well, it happens to the best of knitters.  It's either rip it into tiny pieces or start anew.  It IS the process and mistakes are part of it all, dammitalltohell.

Ah yes, that was the scene...the way things unfolded Sunday night.  If you look closely at this photo of the Portrait Scarf you'll see the right leaning sections are twice as long as the same sections of my scarf.  My scarf is a clumsy, undulating pattern of lace with no style, elegance or grace.  Its only asset is the soft, delicate, pink mohair/silk and, that alone, was its salvation. So great is my desire to have this cloud-like, pink bit of goodness on my shoulders this winter, I carefully, gently, and slowly pulled it back to the where the offense began and started anew....dammitalltohell.

For whatever reason, knitting has become easier, less fiddly and forward progress is being made...again.

Comments

[jackie]

Oh my! My one experience with ripping mohair was badbadbad. I admire your dedication. I know that you will enjoy your delicate, cloud-like pink lace all the more now that it is right!

[Manise]

Ripping mohair? Nightmarish! Did you use a DPN to separate the velcro-like quality of the yarn from itself? I found that was the only way to do it. It does look lovely and will be nice and warm.

[bellamoden]

Boy -do- I feel your pain, having ripped mohair last night. *sigh*

Oh man! But it's the process. And you'll love it... not that it helps any.

[Carole]

That sucks! Glad you're back on track, though.

[DebbieB]

Aw, honey - so sorry. You have definitely earned some sort of merit badge. It's going to be twice as lovely now, but I feel your pain. Dammitalltohell, indeed.

[Pat]

Oh - The patience required to rip mohair without flipping out! I've been there - all those little pieces of fuzzy knots...

You have some beautiful pink fluff there!

[minnie]

ARRRRRRGH! frogging mohair! you saint.

[Kathy]

It's so pretty, though!

[Wool Winder]

I hate discovering I've been doing it wrong the whole time. It does look better now--full of style, elegance and grace.

[Grace]

I know the pain of ripping mohair-eek! But the yarn is bee-u-ti-ful!

[Lee Ann]

I think my choice of lengthyagonizedswearing would have begun with F.

*hug*

[Judy]

Oh my, what a pain to rip it. I know, I tried to use a mohair blend for Clapotis. I did not finish that project, process or not. Yours is lovely, a soft pink cloud, and not so very much to go back.

[ann]

I can hear the echoes of the cursing. You have my deepest sympathies and I am glad to see you are back on track again. but really, don't you just hate that?!

[Lark]

When I used to sew, I once put a sleeve into a delicate silk blouse wrong side out THREE TIMES! It is LOVELY though, and very clearly worth the effort. blue skies!

[kathleenk]

It couldn't have been a design feature?

[Stacey]

I tried ripping mohair once. It's still on time out. :) You have the patience of a saint.

[Marcia Cooke]

Okay, you win. I thought my most recent rip-out story was bad, but mine wasn't mohair! I think we need this to happen every so often to keep us humble!

[Ruth]

Just the thought of frogging mohair makes me feel queasy. My condolences.

[Anne]

Oh....shit.... And it couldn't be something easy like a tight-twist wool, could it? Glad you are back on track. Whew.

[liz]

If you have to rip mohair, put it in the freezer for 15 minutes or so - makes it easier to rip.

I feel your pain. I just had to rip the entire leg of my Hedgerow out because I misread the pattern. Bleh.

[Sarah]

You fixed it quite well. That is a skill. It will be so worth all the extra work.

[Laritza]

It is lovely and will be worth every stitch and tink.

[Cheryl S.]

Oh no!! But at least it was circular, that must have helped a lot with ripping back. Sorry you had to go through that frustration.

[Jocelyn]

It will be gorgeous, which is *some* consolation, I hope. BTW, my colleague is knitting this on a 16" Addi Turbo and having no problem making the join in the 60-inch sections.

[Birdsong]

I can see why you wouldn't want to throw it away.. that yarn is gorgeous and must feel wonderful. My sympathies.

[Hillary]

Oh no! So sorry to hear that it went awry but it's good that it's back on track. I'm sure that it will all be worth it when you finish.

[CindyCindy]

dammitalltohell is right! Poor kid. I hate when that happens.

[Ruth]

Oohhh - frogging mohair sucks! It will be gorgeous in the end, though!

[marie in florida]

another hug and i pulled out 40something rows of the knitting daily comfort shawl, not mohair but still...you can hug me too

[regina]

you are a brave woman! i'm so glad it worked out.

[elizabeth]

Oh no!!! Damnitalltohell, indeed! Kudos to you for not setting it on fire!

[jillian]

I cringe for you! Egads :)

[Beth S.]

Pulling back mohair... *shudder*! Your persistence is commendable. I might have thrown it out the window instead. ;-)

[Scoutj]

Oh no!

And man....I look at that teeny tiny yarn and it gives me goosebumps. lol

[Zarah]

Well, it looks beautiful now! I guess all the agony was worth it.

[Bliss]

Ack! Frogging mohair. Unfortunately this seems to be the process I am most familiar with - knitting and ripping. You have influenced me though, I DO consider it part of the process. After the painful frogging part is over, I have usually learned a thing or three (depending on how many froggings.) I know in the end I will be glad I opted to rip, instead of going on when that is even possible, because in the end I will be much happier with the item.

In the words of my former mil, that does not mean one who doesn't normally curse much can't stare at the offending knitting and say, "Sh*t, Sh*t, Sh*t and a red a$$ed bird" as many times as necessary until one feels much better.

[Tan]

So sorry. I would hate to frog that for a number of reasons.

[Knitnana]

I read this. And then did a double-take on the photo. MOHAIR? FROGGED? oh.my.god.
So sorry, but so glad you're back on track!
(and yes, damnitalltohell!)
And double-yes...it IS the process, it IS...but I'm saying that twice b/c I'm sure it would have been very hard to swallow at the time...)
(((hugs)))

[Kim]

I know it's part of the process and all, but. . .darn it! For what it is worth it looks beautiful mistakes and all.

[Karen]

Don't you just hate when you have those kind of knitting days. Frogging mohair is particularly awful. Just remember it's going to be beautiful when it's done and totally worth it.

[Vicki]

OMG, is there an echo in here? Hahaha, I was going to say something encouraging, witty and/or clever, but then I was reading the comments, particularly the one by Ann, then the one by Ann, then the one by Ann again... and (here's where I lost my train of thought) AGAIN!!!

It's such a beautiful scarf, Margene, I can't wait to see it finished. I'm glad you're back on track.

[debbie]

you are brave - it must not have been fun to undo mohair. i just noticed a dropped stitch before doing the border (at which i was at a standstill) of my forest canopy shawl and i'm afraid to touch and progress. needless to say i'm taking it to the meet-up tomorrow night....glad to hear of the forward progress of your portrait scarf - it'll be a beauty!

[Sherie]

Wow, you have lots more patience than I do. I would have chunked it and started all over again! And probably uttered something stronger than damnitalltohell! Hang in there, it'll be worth it in the end.

[Chris]

Woe! I'm impressed that you ripped back mohair and weren't to frustrated to start again.

[Kristy]

Oh, I do so hate to rip! WTG for doing it at once without a mourning period first.

I made a mistake in my Hidcote shawl and cannot fix it. I've even taken it to a couple of LYS's to get help but, alas, it is going to have to be ripped. I can't bring myself to do it. It sits now, in a protective little bag, in my knitting basket and taunts me daily. I'm just going to have to bite the bullet, 'cuz I do love the shawl.

Your pink, fluffy mohair scarf is going to be beautiful!

[Susan Pandorf]

Frogging mohair is a BITCH. Sorry for the profanity, but there is just no way around it. Condolences...

[Lorette]

I don't care how pretty and pink that yarn is, the thought of ripping several inches of mohair would make me build a bonfire in the back yard and burn it. There aren't enough swear words in English for that one.

[Kelly]

So sorry to you had to rip it back. No matter how much I tell myself it's all about the process when I have to rip it still sucks!

It's beautiful by the way and I'm sure will be worth all the extra effort.

[Teyani]

I guess that it was one of those 'zen' moments, eh? (grin)

[Jennifer]

It happens to all of us. *sigh*