Saturday, July 01, 2006

Knitting On A Deadline (always a bad idea)

Why on earth do I continue to delude myself?! I can't possibly finish this poncho by 3:00 this afternoon. I have turned into crazy knitter. A month ago it seemed as though I had all the time in the world. Then I forgot all about the poncho in my quest for a finished Picovoli (the one I haven't posted pictures of yet) and last week the poncho light bulb went off in my head. Even then, I thought "I can certainly churn out one of these puppies in a week". Am I on crack!?!

I knit last night in the movie theater. During the previews my mother turned to me and said, "Are you really that good at knitting that you can knit in the dark?". My reply, "No. This pattern is just that boring." If I could train myself to knit in my sleep, this would be the pattern. Easy yes. Boring? Without a doubt. But the subversive little thing sneaks up on you. You fly at the beginning of the pattern. But as you increase two stitches front and back every other row, it suddenly hits you. Progress is slowing way, way, down.

Even MFF, a complete non-knitter, commented last week. Remember that it takes longer and longer to add inches when you keep increasing. I laughed. LAUGHED! What is wrong with me? Is this pattern so mind-numbing that I have blocked out (not unlike childbirth) the frustrating lack of progress just as you are in the home stretch?

Why do I persist in the knitting gifts on a deadline thing? Two years ago I was actually knitting a thumb on a mitten as my husband and son waited to leave the house for Christmas Eve dinner. I wish I could tell you that I knitted the thumb in record time with no glitches, but you know me better than that. Yeah, I knitted it inside out had to rip the whole thing. I knit it in the car on the way to Christmas Eve family time. Swearing like a sailor. Nothing says Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men like crazy mom in the front seat fighting double pointed needles on a mitten thumb, screaming like a shrew at dad, "Goddamit slow down, what are we in the Indy 500?!" Yeah, he was probably going all of 40 mph.

Its 8:00 a.m. I have 2.5 inches left. I can do this. I can do this. I gotta stop blogging and keep knitting.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm pulling for you! You can do it! Go! Go! Go!

sheep#100 said...

I know you can make it - and you'd better not be reading this until Sunday.

Knittymama said...

2.5 inches? Piece of cake, Kate!

Although the fact that I just said that is evidence of myself getting in the same situation far too often. The only reason I got my knitting gifts done this year was because I was put on bedrest the week before Christmas. Ha! My doctor had know idea she was doing me a favor...

Anonymous said...

You can do it! (And why not add a cute little hat to go with it...)

Seriously - there are people out here who need an update... on Sunday.

Chris said...

Go to the happy place in your mind... there. Isn't that better? You can do it! :)

Heh, I was weaving in ends and steam blocking a baby present when I was supposed to be driving to the hospital to meet said baby for the first time....

Sydney Harper said...

Relax, two and a half inches? No problem. You can do it.

I always get fooled with circular or triangular shawls. In the beginning I think I'll be finished in no time. That's before I get to those mile long rows towards the end. :)