When a Mistake Becomes a Design Element

 I have to admit that I still have a lot to learn and remember with Tunisian Crochet.  I am currently working on a mosaic pattern.  The directions still confuse me at times.  So I naturally made a mistake in the beginning of making of the pattern.  

Here’s the thing though.  I like the way my mistake gives one side of the pattern a little color boost.  So instead of ripping out so many rows.  Spending days working out the directions so that I understand and can implement the directions, I decided to go with the flow and leave the edge stitch alone on the right side of the pattern.  

Personally I know that this attitude will drive some designers crazy.  Mumbling how stupid the person is that is making their pattern as a newbie.  I also want to state that there are subtle differences between knitting, crochet patterns and Tunisian crochet patterns.  

I have been under too much stress for too long recently, which has brought my dyslexia to a raging forefront. There is no way around this. At this point, even if I read the pattern upside down and backwards or with one eye closed, my mind still would not process the words correctly. Sometimes the pattern directions are so subtle that I would have to wait a few weeks for the stress to leave and things go back to how everyone else sees the pattern. 

Since I want to finish this project as soon as possible, I am using the Sheri Method.  The Sheri Method basically compares a fiber arts pattern to a recipe.  No one seems to have a problem adjusting the ingredients in a recipe, this is called being a great creative cook. So I feel the same considerations should be given to the fiber artist. In my humble opinion everyone who creates with fiber is an artist.  All artists see the same thing differently.  So this is my own version.

I am knitting The Gentle Current Cowl by Aklori Designs The yarn for this pattern was dyed Bad Sheep Yarn, in the colors Witch King and Brooks, both are DK weight. The Della Q “ Support Your Local Yarn Store” bag makes a perfect bag so my yarn does not get twisted or knotted. I just keep center snap closed so the yarn behaves very nicely.  

Lori has designed a great pattern.  Except for the 2 lines I could not wrap my head around ( i.e. my dyslexia)  I think this is a very clear and easy to use pattern.  The yarn from Bad Sheep Yarn is soft and squishy.  So since my ADHD brain loved the design and yarn, my ADHD brain taxed itself and ordered the same set 3 different times in 3 different colors. So I will be making this pattern at least 2 more times.  

A Break Through

 That moment of pure joy when a pattern that I am writing finally clicks in my head.  The moment I know that I can walk and knit the pattern at the same time. Of course I don’t because I need an accurate row count. I also need each line of the pattern to count out equally.  I need to hit my magic number on every single row. I also need the geometry of the pattern to aline.   I also know how the pattern is going to be typed up without sending it out to my daughter to decipher.  How to type it up with out having to type more than 250 rows of the pattern. The moment the pattern does not look like a dyslexic dance party. The moment the pattern stops swirling on the page. I figured out how to get the instructions down to beginning and end with 2 other sections just repeated.  The math is now easier too. 

This only took me a few months.  This is one of the complicated patterns  that I can knit while walking and talking that I have ever written down.  The end is in site.  Now to decide where I am going to put the blocking cubes. In summer I put them outside, it’s January hence it is not summer.   I also have to find a table to photograph it on. We have been getting rid of things that we don’t need or use anymore, the coffee table left 3 or 4 years ago. This is probably poor planning on my part not to have the foresight of my needs years into the future.  I wonder If can go into World Market and use one of their coffee tables to take the pictures? I would give them credit in the pattern.  I will have to call them.  This is all the easy peasy stuff.  

The 3rd Time Was The Charm

 Let me start off by saying that I was having a very bad dyslexic day.   So starting a new pattern was not my best idea ever.  The words and numbers were jumping all around the page.   Somehow my mind translated “Size 9/5.5mm” into Size 11. Don’t ask, I would not be able to explain it.  So I started with U.S. size 11 and the knitting did not match the picture.  So I went down to U.S. size 10, but luckily I moved my pink marking tape over that one line, totally by accident.  I was able to save the second cast on and just replace the needle tips.  Luckily I was using my LYKKE interchangeable knitting needles.  

Because I was having such a hard day with numbers, I put a stitch marker after evert 10 cast on stitches until I got the right amount of stitches   I highly recommend this when adding more the 25 stitches to a project   

So now the next row is 5.   I love the pattern “Hermosa Tee” by Grace Akhrem.  The yarn I am using is Alumco in color 10 by Araucania Yarns. If your local yarn shop does not carry this yarn you can always use my favorite local yarn shop, Grandma’s Spinning Wheel. They have a new on line store too.  

My progress so far.  

P.S. I would like to make a personal recommendation to pattern designers and yarn companies with the fore knowledge that every Millimeter on the pattern page counts. By adding just two spaces you could make a pattern so much easier to read. For example instead of 9/5.5mm, try 9 / 5.5mm. You can see the correct knitting needle size right away. I know that this is a decades old industry standard most likely set up when print pages were set by typesetters.  Now that most everything is done electronically this should be very easy to accomplish.  This is my 2 cents worth on the subject.  Thank You for listening.  Have a wonderful day.