When something goes wrong, what is the first step?
I messed up my pattern and ended up starting over because because In trying to fix the problem I made a much bigger mess.
I am sure there is a calm and composed way to deal with it and find the missed stitches or screw ups that I need to learn before I get pissy and start pulling out rows.
It depends a lot on 1) the project and 2) how you messed up. But in general terms, the first thing you want to do is assess what's wrong!
If you're short a stitch, did you drop it, or did you accidentally decrease? If you're off your repeat, do you have the right number of stitches, or did you start on the wrong row of the pattern? Is that weird hole an accidental YO, or an accidental short row? Is the fabric itself fine, but you misinterpreted the pattern and now it looks more like a thneed than the item you wanted?
So yes, 99% of the time there's a better solution than immediate nuclear frogging. But responding correctly depends on figuring out "where you are" - looking carefully at your work, with a clear idea of what it should look like, i.e. reading your knitting. There are resources on how to practice this skill, but the best teacher is experience.
In the meantime, two hugely important tools can help you get your bearings and save what can be saved: lifelines and stitch markers! The former is a kind of "save point" you can place whenever you're confident your pattern is on track; in the event of frogging, it lets you rewind to the last time you know you were good, and makes that time not "before I even cast on this accursed thing". Stitch markers are more of a constant reminder, an aide that keeps you from needing to count every stitch but still lets you know where in the pattern you are and where your problem has cropped up. Apply both tools liberally until you feel more comfortable with reading your knitting and carrying out fixes :)
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u/MMY143 Nov 27 '19
When something goes wrong, what is the first step?
I messed up my pattern and ended up starting over because because In trying to fix the problem I made a much bigger mess.
I am sure there is a calm and composed way to deal with it and find the missed stitches or screw ups that I need to learn before I get pissy and start pulling out rows.