Who was it that said, that it dangerous for a programmer to test their our code, must had meant the same thing about a knitter checking their own pattern. It's a bad idea!
I'd tried really hard to check the kiri pattern to make it as error proof as possible but there was goof in the edging. Sorry Gill , you being a stitch or so out was probably my fault. The reason that I'm really bad at writing up and testing my own pattern is because for me it' all visual. Once I **see** the pattern, I don't need to look at the charts/text. You see how this can be a problem when I'm supposed to be checking the knitting in front of me with the charts on paper. Anyway, erratas with credits to the poor person that must be bald by now, trying to figure out what I was trying to do. So sorry... please forgive me. On the other hand, it was pretty intuitive, wasn't it? I mean Tracy managed to finish it correctly inspite of my **destructions **. (NB: More credit to her than the dodgy instructions)
Other knitting news...
For the longest time, I've been trying to buy the yarn to make this from one of the London stockists of Debbie Bliss Chunky merino and merino dk. I've been wanting to make this coat since I bought this booklet. My nephew will be 2 in April, so I'd decided, it's do it now or never. It's been impossible to get the greys in any sufficient quantity. How very annoying that neither Peter Jones nor John Lewis can get their acts together.
In the end, I've decided to do it from stash. I'm resizing the pattern to use aran weight yarns and will be using the Jaeger Shetland in Grey Tweed and some Merino Aran in Grey Marl. I really shouldn't have to do this because shops should have these very standard yarns in stock without doing a special order. Although I had intended to use the dark grey for the body and the lighter grey for the trim, in the end, I didn't have enough of the dark grey so it'll be the other way. The Jaeger Shetland is a really nice yarn. It's 80% shetland wool/20% alpaca. It's soft, has excellent meterage and is a really good value. I don't know why this yarn isn't used more or a favourite of more people. Personally, the only thing that I don't like about it, is, that it's aran weight and at ATU, we prefer to keep our needle sizes under 4mm.
This is the second project that've cast on this year and as I'm resizing on the fly, while on this
... so it should be no surprise if it might not actually be completed in 2005.
Christmas News
It was xmas all over again, as the tree and all the decorations came down. In my haste to clear the house for arriving guests, I tidied the way that I used to, when my mom told me to clean my room. I took a large bag, dumped everything in it and put it out of sight. The problem was, some of the stuff that got tidied were envelops and cards that arrived on the 24th. Oops...! If you're looking at a model of tidiness, you've come to the wrong place.
Now to finish off on a sweet note, lookie here, some homemade marmalade, delivered to my doorstep from the ultra wonder Judith.
There's something really comforting about home-made jams and jelly. Unfortunately, it's a lot of work and there's no guarantee that it'll all gel right... these loook lovely and I can't wait until I have the opportunity to try them.
I'll be doing Kiri in an Oppossum/Silk/Merino-mix I got from Lesley. Will be interesting to see how that turns out.
Posted by: Thos at January 16, 2005 01:00 AMDear Polly,
The best way to avoid doing mistakes is...
to do nothing at all.
I will soon start knitting my Kiri, only I decide the colour. Right now dark red is the favourite.
Have you tried Jaegers Luxury Tweed? I am absolutely in love with that wool/alpaca yarn.
Hugs
Monica
Posted by: Monica at January 13, 2005 04:15 PMI can't believe the Nancy entry! I think it is very nice to share the pattern you designed and kiri is a beautiful shawl!
Posted by: Kim at January 13, 2005 02:37 PMI've joined you on the Pulmo - disgusting stuff but haven't coughed for 4 hours!
Keep designing Polly - I almost think it's not a "proper" pattern if I can't find a mistake!
Posted by: Yvonne at January 12, 2005 09:57 PMI LOVE the Kiri shawl. Doing it in Jaegerspun silk and wool.....Thanks for posting the correction. I would have assumed it was me and would have just carried on! Your blog is great although the Liberty sale has made me a bit "blue"......maybe getting more yarn will cheer me up!!!! Keep on designing -you are good at it!- Jamie
Posted by: jamie at January 12, 2005 03:11 PMHope you are getting better and the cough is subsiding. Cold season has been terrible here in the States. I wonder about the Pulmo. Does it taste like the chinese "bitter tea" that my parents gave me when I was young?
Very cute jacket for your nephew! Love to see pics of him in it. Hope we get to visit with one another when you're back in town!
Posted by: Sandy at January 12, 2005 01:59 PMI love that teddy bear coat, its so cute!
Posted by: kerrie at January 12, 2005 10:56 AMOne stitch out on the edging is not 'riddled with mistakes' - commercial patterns e.g. Rowan have mistakes in, and they have back-up in the form of various proof-readers, etc, and still a mistake slips through.
Years ago I used to knit for Sirdar, checking patterns, you need complete concentration and it is not an easy job.
Don't let it put you off designing, Polly!
Posted by: Jill at January 12, 2005 08:33 AMSurely the post from "Nancy" is a joke??? Even if there is a very small error it would appear that everyone has found their own way around it and KSH is very forgiving. How many commercially produced pattern books are error free??? Virtually none! I am in awe of your talents Polly and am really looking forward to knitting Kiri - soon.
(Incidentally, I went to school with Kiri TeKanawa in Auckland - but she was a couple of years behind me)
Now, I think one stitch out on the edging is hardly riddled with mistakes!
A wonderful effort Polly, thank you very much.
Posted by: Louise at January 11, 2005 11:40 PMYou should do a better job proofing your patterns. It's stupid to share patterns riddled with mistakes. You might be sorry but I'm the one that will have to frog and reknit. I can't tell you how much time I have spent on the edging
If you are putting out designs, you should be more responsible.
Posted by: Nancy at January 11, 2005 11:13 PMhello i send you an email it is return to me in errors?? i just ak you if you know more yarn shop in egland like gill shop that sale other yarn that english yarn like koigu misti alpaca ect.. coul you tell me the address web site thank's and also thank you again for the kiri shawl it is very nice
Posted by: monique at January 11, 2005 10:32 PMHi Polly,
No problem about being a stitch out - I thought it was me anyway and that I was having a 'moment'! I'm really pleased with my Kiri - it is a beautiful pattern, thank you for putting it together.
I also thought it was me who had "lost" a stitch somewhere around the edging but managed to ignore that fact and went on fudging the whole thing. Result: a beautiful Kiri shawl anyway!
Thanks again for the pattern.
Doh! I said I made a mistake in the first one, but thought it was me being a first time lace knitter.So I sat and looked at your picture to see where the pattern went and it worked out perfectly. I was convinced it was me! The second time, I did it I got to the edging and was a stitch out. Bogs! I've even admitted it in my blog, but I disguised it second time,no way was I ripping out any amount of KSH. I thought I'd done it again but in a different place. Just goes to show. I am a CHEAT! I'm going to lie down in a dark corner now with my sock.
Posted by: Tracy at January 11, 2005 10:17 AMSo it wasn't just me! I got to the edging, and thought and thought and calculated and finally improvised a solution... anyway, no worries! It was a great pattern and my grandma loved her Kiri christmas shawl! Thanks, Polly!
Posted by: Ellynne at January 11, 2005 09:48 AMI know this Pulmo...my father always wanted me to take some when I was ill. How courageous of you to be able to take this awfull thing! But if it does work for you...this is the most important.
This is such a cute pattern you're beginning! And I'm sure your substitution will be fine :-)
Good that Gill could find the stitch out, but i've heard of more Kiri who've been finished and made some happy, so no worry!
Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky is discontinued - that might be why you had trouble finding it. Glad you were able to sub!
Posted by: Kris at January 10, 2005 11:49 PM