Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Reversed Shaping


Is there a paper shortage I'm unaware of? Has the price of printing ink spiked? Is it really so freaking expensive to print patterns that designers are compelled to cut out that extra paragraph it would cost them to actually write out the directions for the right front of a cardigan? Or do they just take perverse amusement in giving complex line by line directions for the left front, and then dispensing with the right front by writing: "Complete to match left front, reversing shapings."

It sounds simple enough, I know, and maybe it is for someone without my spatial orientation issues. I, however, find it nearly impossible to mentally turn "at end of next row" into "at beginning of next row," while making my "ssk's" into "k2tog's". If I also have to "bind off 6 sts" at the beginning of a purl row instead of the end of a knit row, or--god forbid--reverse a pattern stitch, I may as well start frogging before I begin.

As you may have guessed, I screwed up the right front of Orange. In fact, I did not mess up my "end of row's" or my "ssk's". No--I was so busy making sure I got every freaking "dec 1 st at end of next and 4 foll 4th rows while increasing 1 st at beg of 3rd and foll 8th rows" that I completely missed the directions for "shape front slope" that should have preceded "shape armhole". It wouldn't even be noticeable if I were four inches shorter on the right side than I am on the left.

Needless to say, I'm feeling just a little bit cranky.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain!! I've been there and I don't know why there is so much guess work in patterns.

Quail Hill Knits said...

What can I say but "Been there, done that". I join you in your frustration with regard to reverse shaping. In fact, I am often so frustrated with direction that I often imput the changes into a computer design program I own (Designaknit) to avoid that very thing. It is so discouraging to knit and knot and then have to frog. Hang in there.

sophanne said...

I am so with you! How many days will your brain need to recover?

I'm sure that surgeons operating on brains don't get the directions, "repeat for right side of the brain."

Faith said...

Ugh, I know exactly what you mean. I end up working it all out using Google and then scribbling all over the existing pattern with football-like notations. Good luck!

Patty said...

Yep, been there too. Amen, Sister!