Habits, we all have them. A habit is defined as a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Are you thinking “where are you going with this GG?” Stick with me…I need to explain. A while back I wrote a blog post about things I have learned. Clearly I haven’t learned a damn thing, because here we go again *insert excessive eye roll*
I have so many projects to catch you all up on, especially if you are not following me on Instagram. Let’s talk about The Botanical Tee by Chantal Miyagishima. It’s knit using the brand new base from Madelinetosh Wool + Cotton. I told you all about this base on my last post with the Frankie Bucket hat, well I used it again because it’s yummy. You should get you some..in GLO *insert cheesy grin* Anyway, back to the point, the tee is a bottom up construction and even though I normally love a good top down…I went for it.
The Results
You couldn’t tell me nothing! I was loving the fabric I was creating. My cable work was making me blush. Knitting cables is now something I enjoy. Everything was going along just fine.
I packed it up to take with me to Squam because I had visions of me on the deck just knitting my heart away. So what does any of this have to do with habits? Is that what you are asking yourself at this point in this blog? I’m almost there, stick with me.
The strangest part about this habit of mine is as a young adult, I loved to read. If you found me without a book, I was sleep. I read every word and imagined every detail in my mind. You see as an only child, most of my favorite things, were those things I could do alone. My imagination is still quite vivid, so I have no clue when I turned into this “read the beginning, the end and just ignore the middle” person. I swear you could leave a secret in my face and I would never see it if it’s in the middle. *facepalm*
So my Botanical Tee is more of a tank than a Tee. Every time someone mentions my modifications, I giggle. HA! The only thing I modified was reading the pattern. Correction, I didn’t read the pattern…completely that is.
Chantal to the rescue, she instantly figured out what I didn’t do. LOL READ!! LOL I still get tickled when someone says they want my MODS. No you don’t want this habit I have. I mean in this case the end result was something I love, but it was NOT intentional.
Habits strike again
On my needles is yet another project that I didn’t read the middle…so I just didn’t read it again on the other side! hahahahaahahahahahaha. Last night, way beyond the point of frogging for me. I realized I missed something again! I am on fingering weight yarn and a US3 needle. NOPE
If you have any suggestions as to how I can get over this habit..please comment below. LOL and thanks for reading.
I wish I could help you, but I have the same affliction! 🙂 Either I think I know what the pattern is going to call for ( due to my years of experience, ahem) or my bifocals go out of whack and I read something that I thought was there, but it’s not. SO, I have learned to slow down and read and let the words soak into my brain. Otherwise, I go on an unnecessary rant about the pattern being wrong, when it’s really me not reading the pattern correctly. I am also famous for misinterpreting the instructions since I’m such a know-it-all. Oh….well…..
lol thanks for responding
I usually skim the pattern first. Then, I count the number of stitches after almost every row. If I’m off versus the pattern, then I’m able to catch a mistake early on. If the pattern doesn’t show the number of stitches, I usually write the stitch counts up on notepaper.
Hope this helps!
Thank you I need to consistently do this
I am a believer in big poster reminders when I want to change a habit. Either I make my own or I find an art print with a message that resonates with me, often referring back to my childhood. Below are a few ideas that might resonate with yours. But as when you are writing your own designs, really well thought-out patterns state the most important stuff up front. Plenty of experienced knitters have developed the same habit as you. And many creative designers, in their enthusiasm, forget to apply their analytical skills.
https://society6.com/product/african-american-masterpiece-portrait-kept-in-by-edward-lamson-henry_poster?sku=s6-13386851p66a213v756&c_kid=s6-13386851p66a213v756&g_campaign=%5BNB%5D_1027_US_%5BPLA%5D_Wall_Art_Posters&g_adgroupid=72197344496&utm_term=&utm_source=GOOGLE&g_merchantid=7992249&campaign=%5BNB%5D_1027_US_%5BPLA%5D_Wall_Art_Posters&utm_medium=cpc&g_adid=355661762159&adgroup=Wall+Art+-+Posters+-+NewPT&g_productid=s6-13386851p66a213v756&g_adtype=pla&g_ifcreative=&g_partition=770248394149&g_campaignid=1630068706&g_ifproduct=product&g_network=g&g_acctid=521-729-4540&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=pla-770248394149&g_productchannel=online&gclid=CjwKCAjw_o-HBhAsEiwANqYhp4lW-taYG41JpcmEz67IcWOo1AhOiezz5g8nwP8wYXPKn9wb4_gSORoCURQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
OR
https://mostsuit.com/products/black-girl-loves-book-poster-just-a-girl-who-loves-books-vintage-wall-art-gifts-39459543?currency=USD&variant=37641432531110&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjw_o-HBhAsEiwANqYhp7EvmFAKzFbKfxUU2H-zEB7v37Nap638cksXIbgsJ9YlrgCyl510ZBoCq9EQAvD_BwE
OR
https://www.etsy.com/listing/868421740/nerdy-curly-inked-and-curvy-png-tattooed?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=black+girl+reading&ref=sr_gallery-1-5&pro=1
Maybe read the middle first, then read the beginning and end.
Lol ok I’ll try that
Well, GG I have to admit I read all over the pattern that I’m knitting in bits and pieces.. start knitting once I find the CO, EXCITEMENT TAKES OVER , I read a little bit more as I knit thinking all alone “I got this”. Lol 😂 flipping pages, reading to get back right and looking for page numbers becomes my friends of ooops! I’ve messed up. I have planned to get better at reading my patterns initially as well before starting my projects.
Rose 🌹
see you get me
Well I really like the final result!!! I’m in the same boat as you so reading other’s advice!
I think your solution is PERFECT! Make it your own and wear it like you did it on purpose. If everyone is asking for your mods, you know you created something that looks good on you because other people want one too! I recently spoke with this great crochet designer named Bruce Woods and he spoke about realizing in the midst of his project something wasn’t working: he said “I never rip it back, it ruins the fiber — I just continue in a different way.” A kind of inspired improvisation. So a pattern can be just a framework or a starter. (By the way my daughter’s nickname is Gigi – for her first & last initials too.)
If the outcome is as great as your tank, then it’s serendipity and not a fail!
I want to know how you misread the Botanical Tee pattern because I am a menopausal old lady who needs the sleeveless version.
LOL! I kept decreasing every row. Let me see if I have the numbers on my pattern.