Projects
Waffle Pullover: What Color Is Your Lifeline?
Dear fellow wanderers in the quest to bang out a sweater (in particular the Waffle Pullover),
Ahhhh, it’s time for the cold plunge of knitting!
That bracing moment when you conclude—after arguing with yourself, the Devil, and your knitting—that it’s time for a good, old-fashioned lifeline.
You know the feeling. It’s when you have discovered that your stitch count is flawed in a way that will not get better. That counting it eight times continues to deliver the same extremely wrong numbers. That no matter how you try, it’s still wrong.
I did do the short rows correctly the first time, only because I took heed of fellow Bang Outers and our fearless leader Lorilee Beltman who waved red flags like crazy to Pay Attention.
I paid! I paid! I have never before paid such word-by-word attention to a set of 8 short rows.
Triumph!
Followed by Triumph’s roommate, Hubris.
I immediately galloped into the yoke, where the increases seemed pretty much like any top-down sweater I’ve made.
I was using the stitch count cheat sheet that Spkb11 posted in the Society Lounge. I was crossing off rounds like a professional. I was back to Season 3 of Poldark, for pity’s sake. I may have had a Belvita whilst mid row.
Until I discovered the stitch counts were all wrong.
You can’t knit your way out of a situation like that.
So—once I shut down Poldark, ate that fourth Belvita—I tried to reframe this situation as something other than I Have To Redo Two Days Of Knitting.
I went with:
I GET To Redo Two Days Of Knitting.
I get to even pick which color yarn to use for my lifeline! LUCKY ME!
That was all a lie. I honestly loathed the whole thing and went with a sour apple Noro.
I threaded it on a tapestry needle, identified Row 6 of the mosaic pattern as an all-purl row with no increases, which would make for the cleanest pickup of the 4,930,393 stitches.
See the lifeline in there? I ripped back 16 rounds to the sour apple Noro lifeline, maybe 30 minutes start to finish to install the lifeline and undo the rounds. No big deal.
Dread is such a pointless feeling, right? Maybe the lesson for me is that when Dread shows up—never far from her friend Hubris—it’s best to call up Fortitude right away. Wishy thinking has never fixed much of anything for me.
And in my mind at all times was MDK Rule No. 17: No project is too ambitious if you crave the result enough.
I crave! I crave! Back at it with my new friend, Humility.
Wishing everybody the smoothest week ever when banging out your Waffles. May Peace and her friend Joy come hang out with you!
Love,
Ann
Isn’t this the sweater where Kay’s increases were dodgy back when the pattern was published? I’m about to embark on this journey and have been thoroughly warned. Maybe a quiet room with no distractions is inorder.
Quiet room: definitely! It’s not hard, it’s just a lot of repeats and counts and whatnot. I actually enjoyed the respite from staring at my phone!
Not a knit group knit?
My suggestion before embarking on the short rows would be to re-write the instructions so you have each row on a separate line — much easier to read and mark off in this format. Ask me how I know.
To clarify: If you have a digital version of the pattern copy and paste the text into a Word document and enlarge it!
YEs, I did that and it really helped.
Well there’s a great idea!
Great words!! So much discussion has happened concerning the Waffle, it’s amazing that there is still advice and observations to savor and inspire!
One takeaway from this project is an enhanced appreciation of Jane. I’ve worked with Jane before -made the Snipscarf and a couple of Sophies…but it wasn’t until Waffle that I really fell in love with its hidden qualities. I have ripped out so many times and, yet, it stands up to my mistakes every time! I can almost feel the fibers get ready for the rollback after they hear me counting out loud for the fifth time!!!! It’s a beautiful forgiving yarn! ….Love the marked up field guide! Mine looks like a well-loved recipe in one of my cookbooks!! But instead of butter and chocolate stains, it has tears, coffee and wine ( the glass of wine was an experiment that didn’t work…hence all the counting!) stains….and Belvita crumbs!
Oh Maggie, I hope you’re heading into the smooth sailing part of this sweater. So glad that Jane is behaving for you. Makes my day to hear that she can take five ripouts!
The lesson for me would be NO knitting with Aiden Turner. The cliffs,the horses , the angst. You’re a braver woman than me.
And I was going to ask, the newer Poldark or the old? Aiden Turner is good, but no one will replace Robin Ellis for me….
I obviously need to watch the earlier version now. It’s like The Forsyte Saga . . . or Middlemarch . . . or any Jane Austen story . . . irresistible stories can be revisited endlessly.
Fun fact: Robin Ellis—the Poldark from the 1970s version—appears in the current version as Reverend Halse! There are some moments where Aidan Turner and Robin Ellis seem to share a bit of a smile, even as Halse is dispensing unfair justice to Poldark. Here’s Ellis’s 2014 blog about his work with the new series: https://robin-ellis.net/2014/05/12/reverend-dr-halses-day-in-court-with-captain-poldark/
Good for you to correctly ID the mistake and the right fix. Onward!
‘redo 2 days of knitting’ … I get that.
Some days all goes well but on others my concentration wains, or interruptions disturb my rhythm. I’m willing to leave a M1L where it should be a M1R, but a slipped yarn in back that becomes a yarn in front, or a dropped stitch must be fixed. Consistent checking is the key.
Agree re M1L and M1R, in this pattern especially. Mine are buried in there somewhere, who knows what’s going on? ; )
An
Thank you for sharing your challenges with us! I also love your use of single word friends that can be so familiar especially in a complicated project (and sometimes an “easy” one when Hulu arrives.)
Let’s hear it for Peace and Joy!
The Knitter’s Progress lol.
Ugh. I’m still swatching (I got derailed by having to knit 2 “Melt the ICE” hats) and I’m becoming more and more concerned about making this sweater with all the comments!
Oh, I hope you’ll stay with it, Brigid. I think a knitalong like this puts a spotlight on every single detail of a pattern, with a lot of folks sharing their experiences. So it can sound like a lot of issues, but it’s not really that bad once you get started. The sweater has its tricky bits, but it appears that people are already getting to the finish line, and a lot are making steady progress. It’s definitely not a race, at least for me! I can’t tell if I’ll be done by the end of February, but it’s fine if we all finish whenever it works out.
Please don’t be! The result is worth it, and it may be that the comments show you what to avoid and what to be sure to do. You can do it!
How long did it take you to make the Melt the Ice hats? I bought the pattern but likely won’t get anyade before spring. And I sincerely hope we won’t need them by next winter. At least my pattern purchase contributed to the cause…
You have NO idea how good you made me feel. I too have frogged many many times. Even confident enough to pull out my end of short rows lifeline ‘I DIDNT NEED IT ANY MORE’. WRONG!!! I am now on the yoke shaping for the 2nd time will definitely insert another lifeline. I love the look of this sweater and I want it so badly I will persevere but it is difficult to follow this pattern sometimes.
All well,” I knit because I like to, not because I have to”. That’s my knitting mantra.
Happy day and thanks again for making me feel less stupid
“I knit because I like to, not because I have to.” YES! Love this!
Ann—I love your spunky prose!
May I offer cousins Empathy and Sympathy. Most of us have been there, but even if we haven’t, we feel for you!
… I admire your attitude to the situation as this would’ve made me absolutely irate, and I’d have had to knit something else for a bit until I calmed down! Also, an excellent reminder about how useful lifelines are! I have also buggered up my short rows BUT that is an issue for Future Ash, because we don’t look back, dahling, it distracts from the now.
Look at us living in the moment! Going toward the light! Keeping on keeping on! ; )
I have been an MDK Society Member since it was first offered in late 2024, if memory serves (a big “if”!). It was not until prompted by Ann’s column this morning that I actually “stepped” into The MDK Society Lounge. What a treasure trove! I have not delved fully because I wanted to post my discovery as soon as I uncovered its wonders – all sorts of discussions, revelations and not just dealing with The Waffle. I will admit to not joining active banging as I have time crunch projects on my needles (Spring Break Yarn Bombing anyone!?!?), but I have my Jane caked (Pothos/Pathos and Cameo, if people are keeping track) and have been following along…at a safe distance, joining the class lessons and Ann and Kay’s columns, but the discovery of the wisdom, empathy and encouragement of The Lounge has me eager to be done with miles of mindless banners and test my mettle!
I too had to unbang a goodly portion of my waffle. I discovered that many rows back one row in the front (of course) section had shifted over a stitch. I thought several times that something looked funny but inspected my work and wrongly concluded nothing had gone astray. Since mine is a two color version I just couldn’t live with it, so back it went although I did manage to save the short row section. Bonus was I got to clean up the raglan increases around the beginning of round. Much happier now
I ripped back the yoke twice because I decided to free solo the thing . I had to step back and get the concept for that section (every other set of increase rows is only on the front/back), now I’m past the sleeve separation and coasting. But the knitting hubris is so real!!!!
Oh, I love the advice, discussions, wonderful writing and funny stories around this challenging project! I, too, came up with the wrong number of stitches, but I fudged by nudging stitches to one or t’other side of the stitch marker along the raglan seams and my friends (the ones who distracted me in the first place) assure me “no one will notice.” I think of another friend who always claimed that “mistakes tell you it’s hand-knitted!” Cheers to our cheerleader through it all, Perseverance!
I had the right number of stitches but somehow I moved the columns over 1 and had to rip too. And on the longest rows!!!
I added a lifeline when I finished the ribbing in the first step. Some bright blue fingering shows up great against my main color Clay. After tinking back to BOR for the back neck nothing looked right so I ripped back to the start. Did multiple cast ons. I’m not very good at reading my knitting; blame it on multiple eye surgeries. But I can untangle a skein of yarn for winding!
Such words of wisdom!
Unfortunately I have been unable to join this KAL. But congrats to all of you who are knitting away on this delightful adventure
Nothing makes you as humble as knitting!
My best help to myself through it all — all the short rows, all the increases, has been to stop and count after every movement through markers. I didn’t want to — it felt so slow and tedious — but it has saved me again and again. When I have made errors, I’ve had just a few stitches to unknit and re-do. For me, it has been a matter of opening my arms to Humility’s dear sister, Patience. No matter how much I want to finish this sweater, letting Patience rule over wicked Haste has been one of the lessons I’ve been trying to cultivate during this delightful project! Of course, we’ll see how well I’ve really done in just a bit, when I am ready to divide body and sleeves…
Lorilee’s suggestion to do the sleeves first is just what I’m going to do!
Best line from Ann’s Very Wise post – “Triumph’s Roommate-Hubris.” Bad California weather keeping me at this project – No Matter What.
I can’t wait to start my sweater! Thank you for the lifeline reminder. I’ve been known for ripping out a whole project for even the slightest bit of a mistake.
Don’t forget that dodgy companion, Confusion. If Confusion brings Dread and Hubris to the party, the police might need to be called in. Confusion and Humility are good companions, though, and often lead to Peace and Joy.
Love a good allegory!!!
How you can tell where those purls are is a mystery.
I think one thing that would make this pullover even better would be to do a tubular cast on at the neckline. But that is a tough one to even start with. I do heartily recommend using embroidery floss for lifelines! Use all 6 strands, as it comes off the tiny skein. It is strong, won’t harm your yarn stitches (I have heard that dental floss can cut yarn), comes in lots of bright-easy-to-see colors, and is more slippery than waste yarn, so is easier to pull out when ready to do so.
Anyway, thank you for opening your kimono and revealing your knitting troubles, Ann. With Kay and you doing this so kindly, it makes me feel a lot better about my wobbles and re-dos.
I got through the short rows without issue (shew!), but I’ve had to rip back a few times due to stitch count. regardless, it’s been wonderful to see it come together and I’m so happy that I joined the KAL! ps: I think sour apple may just be the best name for a lifeline ever 🙂
Very fun description of your process. I hope to remember your humor next time I am frogging, unknitting, searching my pattern for the last discernable safe row. It’s worth it though, to get it just right. I mean why spend all those hours if something isn’t going to make me proud to wear it!
I’m interested in knitting that pattern, but can I avoid the short rows?
I don’t care if the back neck isn’t raised.
Absolutely fine to dispense with the short rows! A knitter in the Lounge has made two Waffles without them, and she’s making a third now. It is a matter of maybe an inch of shaping along the back. The fit will be slightly different, but it sounds to me like you’re fine with that. (And I probably would be too!)
I loathe ripping back, Ann, so you know I messed up the short rows pretty badly because I did rip back to the lifeline I installed after the collar. That made me invite my friend, Caution, whilst doing the yoke shaping. I counted every row after increases and checked against a paper where I’d also laid out what the stitch counts should be. If it was wrong, I only had one or two rows to tink.
I’m in the midst of sleeve decreases, and have paused to bang out two Melt the ICE hats in MadtoshxAtlas Blood Runs Cold. Two of my kids are planning on attending a protest this weekend, so I’m doing my best to have the beanies done in time.
The Lounge has been so helpful! Lorilee gives us so much information in each lesson that it’s hard to remember it all, but other MDK knitters do remember and help.
This is such a wonderful KAL!
Really love your color combo.
Lifelines are wonderful. You feel stupid if you say you need one, but joyous if you do.
Thanks for posting! Makes me feel better about my difficulties. Unfortunately I can’t eat Belvitas
I signed up for the KAL and broke my ankle on 1/12, followed by surgery the following day and after two miserable weeks in a nursing home, I was able to return home with a boot on my leg and instructions to “rest.” I will be free from the boot on 3/2 and ready to begin my waffle sweater. Thanks for the heads up on the lifeline and any other suggestions. My birthday is on Thursday and this was not in my plans.
Laughing. This was me!!!! Twice!!! I’m almost done with the last repeat of row 1 and 2 before moving on to repeating the from row 5 madness. Also. My lifeline is orange.
Not a waffle pullover, but I somehow moved a marker on the raglan cardi I’m working on. About ten rows on, I discovered the raglan increase took a jog. Harrumph. It’s fixed now, fortunately!
I am not in the KAL as I started my waffle pullover in the fall, in the original colors, as a gift for my daughter. It is by far the most challenging pattern I have attempted BUT I have benefitted so much from going SLOWLY and reading each direction carefully and not knitting when around others. Until now, as I am well underway in the body and past increasing/decreasing/counting/praying. It is so worth it! The absolute best yarn and I just tried it on my daughter and it is fitting perfectly. So, I am with the “bang out” group in spirit, and can only say keep on keeping on!