Unravelling

Unravelling … such a good word sometimes, and exactly the word for my week.

My internet search defined “unravel” as this:

1  undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads). 

2  (of twisted, knitted or woven threads) become undone. 

3  (of an intricate process, system, or arrangement) disintegrate or be destroyed. 

4  investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling);

and I think I can safely say that all of those definitions have applied to me this week!

There’s been a full moon so there’s been some mental unravelling going on (best treated with a bath, a good book and an early night, I find) and I’ve been designing a new sock pattern which always comes with it’s fair share (and sometimes what feels like more than it’s fair share) of unravelling to find the exact pattern that the yarn wants.  It’s always down to the yarn, you know.  I like to imagine that I am in charge of the designing process but I have learnt over the years that I really am not! 🙂

It’s a commission pattern so I can’t tell you anything about it other than that it is for a pair of socks, they’re knitted with yarn and it will be available later this year – so basically, I can’t tell you anything at all!  It’s exciting stuff, but also comes with a deadline which adds an extra frisson to the whole experience – especially when the pattern doesn’t fall into place straight away.

I’d love to tell you that my sock designing always looks like this …

Me on a comfy sofa with a comfy cat on my knee and with a sock in my hands that is pretty much knitting itself.  And sometimes, that does happen and it’s an amazing feeling!  This sock is another new pattern to come, but it’s one of mine so I can show you.  I’m running late with getting the pattern to my pattern testers and I want to make sure it’s OK before I tell you more about it, but I’m hoping it won’t be too much longer before I’ve caught up and can show you more!

Unfortunately – and as I expect any other designer will agree – knitting design often looks like this …

(This is the yarn from my Zoom socks so don’t worry that I’m giving secrets away when I shouldn’t do!)

I have spent a lot of this week unravelling yarn.  Both definitions 1 and 2 have applied to me as I have ripped back knitting, untangled yarn barf and steamed curly yarn with the kettle so that I can re-knit it (and always a good excuse for another brew!):

1  undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads). 

2  (of twisted, knitted or woven threads) become undone. 

It’s just part of the creative process; sometimes frustrating but always rewarding – although I will be honest and say that I this week, I have run through the whole gamut of “Ah, that one didn’t work” to “Drat, I thought that would look better” to “Oh for heaven’s sake!” to “Right, that’s it, I’m going to bed!” (and maybe not quite so politely!) as I reached definition 3 …

3  (of an intricate process, system, or arrangement) disintegrate or be destroyed. 

and pulled it all apart for what felt like the 350th time.  It wasn’t of course; it took fewer attempts than it felt like at the time, and each only needed a little tweaking to improve and now that it’s done, I feel like Poirot solving a mystery …

4  investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling);

as all of the pieces of the puzzle slotted together, the stitch charting made sense and the yarn was happy to be knitted into the pattern I had found for it.

Phew!

Today, my mission is to unravel the knots in my shoulders from a week of concentrated knitting.  I haven’t much planned at all apart from chatting to you and maybe listening to a podcast later – a year or so ago during the Winter Haven KAL, I discovered the Fortunately … with Fi and Jane podcast on BBC Sounds after a recommendation.  They have now moved on from the BBC to Times Radio and have a daily podcast summarising their afternoon show – it’s so good, absolutely up my street and they have such interesting guests.

It snowed yesterday (oh happy day – and typical after last week’s post where I wrote about the arrival of spring) – we’ve not had anything like the snow that other parts of the country have (no surprises there) but we did have a day of big fat flakes which kept me looking out of the window to see what was happening.

The sun is shining now and all traces of the snow have gone.  I’ve been out for a local walk with the dog – just a short walk as he hurt his leg whilst we were out walking with friends the other day and I didn’t want him to overdo it.   I think he may have pulled a muscle from jumping around, or possibly got stiff sitting on the floor of the pub where we had lunch but he seems fine now.  He’s nearly 12, you know, he’s getting to be an old lad and I need to keep an eye on him!

We could see right across to Winter Hill in Lancashire where the transmitter mast is (you know, I’ve just realised that that mast has been a landmark I’ve been familiar with for my whole life – funny how we only notice that we notice things sometimes!) and there was still snow over there.  I have a wonderful memory of sledging there as a child with friends on metal tea trays and bin bags because the snow was too deep for my toboggan!

Right, I think it’s time for another brew so I will wish you a happy Friday, hope you have a lovely weekend and I’ll see you soon! xx