Two Steps Forward and One Step Back
or, if only I’d read the pattern…
I just finished knitting this design, I thought to myself. I’ll remember what to do. Of course, I checked the spreadsheet to confirm how many stitches to cast on for the neck. I checked it again for the distribution of stitches between front, back, and two sleeves. Then I got to work on the yoke.
It was only after knitting 52 rounds, increasing 8 stitches every other round, that I remembered the rate of increasing in the sleeve sections changed fairly early on. And I checked my spreadsheet again.
In this raglan pullover, for my size, the front and back increase 2 stitches every other round 43 times, then every fourth round 6 times. But the sleeves increase 2 stitches every other round 11 times, then every fourth round 22 times. I should have begun increasing every fourth round on the sleeves way back on round 23.
I spent half a day trying to convince myself it would be fine; I could compensate for those extra increases in the rounds to come. I’m not a perfectionist. No one would ever know. But I knew this wasn’t true. I would know. I’d end up with too much fabric in the upper chest. It would look weird. The sweater wouldn’t fit correctly.
So, I ripped back 30 rounds, put the stitches back on my needle, and resumed knitting, this time with the correct rate of increases in all four sections.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of lessons learned long ago. In this case, the lesson was: Don’t assume you’ll remember. Always make good notes. And always read the pattern or the spreadsheet.
The mohair scarf, on the other hand, is coming along just fine. It’s 38” long, and I’m about halfway through my three skeins of Purl Soho Paintbrush Mohair. With all the insanity in the world right now, I’m glad to have this emotional support knitting at the side of my desk.
It’s been almost two weeks since the Olympic games ended, and I’m still thinking about gold medal winning American figure skater Alysa Liu.
More than the actual performance, I’ve been thinking about the stories woven around this young woman and what she has come to represent.
Liu was not expected to win. We’ve been told she felt no pressure around this competition. She seemed to be loose, relaxed, and joyful throughout. And when all was said and done, she won the gold medal. She appears to be the embodiment of the old Joseph Campbell adage, “Follow your bliss.”
It’s a seductive story. I imagine we’ll see young women trying to capture a bit of the magic by copying Liu’s cabana striped hair color. After all, didn’t we all want Dorothy Hamill’s wedge haircut after her win 50 years ago?
This story is amplified by the contrast with Ilia Malinin, the so-called “Quad God”, who was heavily favored to win the men’s competition but choked in the free skate, finishing eighth. Afterward, he said he was unable to manage the emotions and the pressure.
Can the lessons of Alysa Liu apply in our own lives? Is the path to success to work hard at something we love, and do it joyfully and without expectations? Is this even possible when there are people counting on us to show up, when there are bills to pay?
I don’t have answers—I’m still sitting with the question. But I’d love to hear what you think.
My younger brother is one of my most trusted sources of book recommendations. So, when he told me I’d enjoy James Comey’s novels, I immediately added them to my audiobook queue.
Yes, these books were written by James D. Comey, former Director of the FBI who became a target of prosecution under the current president. (His federal indictment was dismissed several months ago.)
Central Park West, Westport, and FDR Drive all feature attorney Nora Carleton. In Central Park West, she is a federal prosecutor working on organized crime cases. In Westport, she has moved to the private sector and is the chief counsel for a hedge fund. In FDR Drive, she has returned to government employment as the Deputy US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
These crime thrillers are a little short on character development, but the well-paced plots kept me fully engaged. Comey’s writing really shines in his depiction of the process of investigation, building a case, and bringing it to trial. I learned a lot about the tools available to prosecutors to track a suspect.
If you enjoy John Grisham, Michael Connelly, and Harlen Coben, you’ll find Comey’s novels right up your alley.
Things that caught my eye…
Spend a little time being dazzled by an iconic piece of art, then read the accompanying article to add context.
I’m loving the new adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo on PBS. I’ve even added the novel to my queue (have you read it?)
The Knit for Food Knit-a-thon is coming up on April 11. I won’t be knitting along this year because of a schedule conflict. but long-time subscriber Marie A Bailey is participating. Won’t you join me in making a donation to support Marie’s efforts?
@loganlaineknits made this is very cool animation. Useful in teaching beginners, right?
Thank you for sharing your time with me. We all need respite from the anxiety of world events. Let’s hold each other close, while keeping our eyes wide open. We have a responsibility to bear witness to war, violence, and tragedy, even when it feels like we have no control. Write to your congressional representatives, and vote at every opportunity.
So much to enjoy in this essay, Sandi. And thank you for the shout-out! I appreciate your support 🤗
Kudos to you for frogging all those rows. I would have done the same.
I read about Liu and Malinin. Liu reminds me of when I was a kid and the emphasis in sports was in doing your best, enjoying the game, and being a good loser if you didn't win. Malinin reminds me of the pressures that kids are under today: never settled for anything less than winning. Remember when Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympics because she got the "twisties." I was so disgusted by the people that criticized her. She showed strength in her decision just as Malinin showed strength in his understanding of the unreasonably high expectations that he faced.
Sandi, I could watch Alysa Liu skate for hours. Her joy permeates her being and mine! This magic provides a respite indeed! A note about Ilia Malinin - I was very impressed with his sportsmanship after such disappointment and the way he congratulated the gold medal winner, Mikhail Shaidorov. I'm hopeful that he learned much from the experience and he'll be back and triumphant.