One of the wonderful things about knitting is how forgiving it can be. When we find a mistake we can work back, tinking or frogging larger sections to rework, when required. Lifelines can be added as we go so that particularly tricky lace sections or finer stitches can be more easily recovered.
Undoing weeks of work can take mere minutes which is both heartbreaking and exhilarating if you’re willing to think of it as a second chance to get it right.
Learning to fix our mistakes can liberate us to try new things, work more complex patterns, and even knit socially (where distractions can abound). A simple google search will provide you with a wealth of resources that should provide you with the information you need to get things back on track.
We find that when you hear that little voice in your head expressing some doubt with what you see, it’s best not to ignore it for long. Take a break from your work and look at it with fresh eyes when you feel ready. Many of us have had to put a project on time out before we’re prepared to address its issues.
Kate worked up a version of Elizabeth Doherty’s Clio sweater with Green Mountain Spinnery Cotton Comfort in the Silver colorway a couple of years ago without blocking her gauge swatch as carefully as she should have. The finished fabric of the sweater was close to the right size, but didn’t have the fluid movement that she knew this yarn could create. This is a big re-do, but one that she knew would make the sweater one of her favorites.
So she put the whole idea on hold, working other projects until she felt ready to get back to work.
This time for Clio 2.0, she followed the pattern exactly as written, going up in needle sizes to what Elizabeth recommended. She also added an additional inch of length to the cropped version’s instruction. And every reworked stitch was worth it!
She is very happy with the look and feel of her re-knit sweater and will be looking forward to cooler sweater weather to give her a reason to enjoy its warmth.
When in doubt, rip it out (when you’re ready).