Projects
Fixing My Waffle
I am a good-enough knitter.
Sure, sure. When the mistake is large enough to threaten the item’s structural integrity, I’ll rip back to a strong foundation. If I’ve messed up one row of colorwork, which then makes the next row impossible to line up, I’ll do what is needed to keep the pattern harmonious.
But other errors? Meh. I can let those sleeping dogs remain unconscious.
Which is why my Waffle Pullover presented a pickle.
See if you can spot the error. I promise it’s right there, under my dog Mavis’ nostril.
How about now? Right below the ends I haven’t yet woven in.
On the row right before I split out the sleeves and started the body proper, I knitted half a row where I should have purled. Because of the way the sweater is constructed—Kay has a great picture of her raglan increases in this post—my momentary lapse of focus runs across the sweater back and the top of one sleeve.
It’s super noticeable now that I’ve cast off. But I honestly didn’t even see it until I almost had the full length of the body finished. By that point, it would have been inches and inches of ripping. Even though I’ve enjoyed the heck out of knitting this mosaic pattern by Amy Cristoffers, I very much didn’t want to knit the body again.
Now that I’d seen the error, I couldn’t unsee it. And it is the sort of mistake that would drive me batty.
Enter duplicate stitch.
But not actual duplicate stitch, which is usually used to add color on top of an existing knitted fabric. Let’s call my fix a faux duplicate stitch.
Armed with a yarn needle and some Jane, I backstitched a purl-like bump where one needed to be.
On close inspection, it’s clear that this isn’t a true purl stitch. But from a yard away? It’s close enough. Besides, it’s on th back of the garment. I’m never going to see it.
Knitting this Waffle Pullover was a great introduction to mosaic knitting—and garners all sorts of compliments. I may even knit another one. I’ll do my best to pay closer attention next time.
I am definitely going to use this for the next garment I make in waffle stitch. I made my daughter a top a few years age and really had to watch out for just the same thing! And to tell the truth there may or may not be rows that are just a bit off . I’ll never tell or point them out. And she doesn’t knit so wouldn’t know!
Great job to disguise it!
Great sweater, enjoyed the doggie nose!
This should count as a genius tip! I think your sweater looks fabulous and I hope you enjoy wearing it all winter long.
I really appreciate the ok to be a good enough knitter. I always tell myself it is a learning process but hardly ever make anything twice. Thank you.
Well done. Only another knitter MIGHT catch it. Otherwise, it looks great. You, doing you.
Thanks for this letter.
That’s exactly what I would have done
Wonderful fix! Thanks for the tips! I am coming in the homestretch of the Malabrigo mosaic shawl knitalong. I carried yarn in front for two stitches when it was supposed to be in the back. In this whole huge shawl, that is right where my eyes go. Enter my watercolor paints. I was able to dab a little bit of the contrast color on those two stitches and it is perfect! Sometimes it pays to have way too many crafting interests and the accompanying supplies!
Sounds like something I would do. Thanks for the reminder!
We knit alike
I am the same with my knitting mistakes
Wear it happily
No harm, no foul, and Mavis is such a cutie! She appreciates your work no matter the pattern. Now for having waffles in your waffle at breakfast, she’ll be there too I bet.
…a knitting teacher once told us that even retail clothing occasionally isn’t perfect. So it helped me relax a little. As long as it isn’t on the front. Then I can’t unsee it. Don’t have your duplicate stitch skills though. So it’s Rip Along Saturday sometimes.
Excellent fix Adrienne!… and very good reminder to check my evening’s work in the light of day. Too much night knitting in that romantic low light can result in bloopers requiring far less direct and elegant solutions. Thanks for sharing and wear it in good health!
Accolades galore and many rounds of applause for faux duplicate stitch! And so glad you are wearing that great sweater!!!
Ingenious
Beautiful sweater. Thanks for sharing your very clever fix!
Brilliant! I made a similar error on one of my sleeves but, luckily, noticed about six rows away and was able to rip back. I would not have known how to do what you did.
Love that fix! I know just what you mean about an error driving you batty once you spot it, though. I have tried to live by wabi sabi – the Japanese philosophy and aesthetic that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. I tell myself I meant to put at least one small error in everything I make.
It might be fun to do this on purpose, and use a third color. I like the flat section in the waffle, and it could be planned texture stripes, with lines of bright colors. Ironically jusy starting this sweater
I love this idea! Kind of a version of visible mending.
Smart! Thanks!
Brilliant solution!
I had a few moments of wait, something’s not right here, as I was knitting along on this cozy goodness of a sweater as well. Here’s to the quiet art of noticing things and doing what we can to improve them, if so needed…!
It was great to meet and chat with you on the hills of Rhinebeck this weekend!
Genius fix! And left as it was, you would see it.
My eye zeroes in on a faulty decrease in the diagonal line of front decreases every time my partner wears that pullover. Done and blocked before I noticed.
Hey I made this too and it was not as simple as it appears. Love yours!
Well done!
Great solution to a knitting problem-I liked your decision so much and appreciated the fact that you could live with it. Sometimes perfection is overrated.