So, here’s how the Cap Shawl was looking on January 11.
I cast on the shawl on June 12, and have been working on it intermittently in the seven months since. I started to work on it again on Monday, because I had plans to enter it into the Sydney Easter Show, and needed to get back to work on it. By this morning, I was up to row 135. Not long after I began my first round, I discovered this mistake.
I contemplated it for a little while, but decided it couldn’t be fudged, the stitch count was out and it would affect the pattern in that section. It’s twelve rows back and I didn’t much like the idea of tinking back 12 rows when there’s somewhere in the neighbourhood of 700 sts per row.
I decided to be brave and try surgery to remedy it.
I carefully undid that section back to the mistake. I sorted out the threads and pinned them out of the way.
So far, so good.
It was all downhill from there. I dropped stitches that I couldn’t recover and lost the pattern entirely.
The Cap Shawl is no more.
Seven months of knitting, twenty minutes to frog. You’ll find me in the corner, with a box of tissues.
Oh no, you poor thing. What a difficult lie, the life of a lace knitter is. It looked so beautiful though.
I would be inconsolable. I’m so sorry for you. Good effort on trying to save it. What a loss.
Sending positive thoughts. It really was beautiful.
Oh nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! But how brave to try to fix it – I don’t even think I could contemplate that…
You mean you FROGGED THE WHOLE THING?!! You might find me in the corner with a box of tissues to. I’m feeling your pain..
As I was reading this I was so sure it would have a happy ending – such bravery deserved to be rewarded. And then, disaster! How awful for you.
Like Lyn, I was expecting a happy ending, was hugely impressed and hoping to learn something from you for when I’m next in a similar situation. I think what I’ve learned is to have a box of tissues handy.
It looked so gorgeous. I’m really sorry.
*Hug* That’s just the total, complete opposite of fun.
Oh, no!!!!!! Take a handful of good chocolate and a cup of tea, and feel better about the thing soon!
i guess you coulda croaked! what a brave attempt – i probably would’ve taken the coward’s way out and just stashed the whole thing in the bottom of some basket….
Oh Donna, I was like Lynn and thought that it would end happily. I’m sooooooooo sorry. It was so beautiful. You were very brave to rip it out, I’m afraid I would have just buried it somewhere.
Big Big tears from my corner.
I didn’t read the title of your post when I started reading the post, so it as a super sad surprise ending! I’m so sad for you! Please be sure to begin again. You’ve inspired me to knit lace in the past, and now I’m on this big lace kick, and I was thinking that shawl is very similar to something ?I want to make, and I can’t wait to see it finished, and now it’s gone! (sorry for the run on sentence but this is a case of PTSD) And now I’m at a loss for words…
Oh no, Donna! I am so sorry it met it’s demise, the yarn is gorgeous. I was reading along thinking you are much braver than me. I would be too afraid to drop it down and instead would have slowly tinked backward, swearing under my breath the whole time.
Oh no! It was beautiful. (oops shouldn’t say that)
What shawl? I didn’t see any shawl. (Best to block this memory) I did with my two jackets – I knit 4 but I have 2.
UGH!!
oh no – now I understand the tweets from last night – I hope a sleep has helped – but sad and brave at the same time that you frogged it all
how sad! I think I need to cry with you 🙁
Donna, I’m so sorry. It happened to me so often with the Myrtle Leaf Shawl but never so advanced as that! You have my deepest sympathies.
I can just see you in the corner crying, rocking back and forth, not knowing what to do. You must be so frustrated with it all.
Oh…my…god. I am still reeling after you practically knitted Wicked twice after the dyelot incident. You are a funny little fella aren’t cha?? Oh well, I guess you saved ten bucks for the entry…
I read about it over on Twitter and thought “ooh no!!! that would have me screaming!!”
I am sorry it couldnt be saved 🙁 what a disaster!
HUGS!!
*hugs* Can I add chocolate movenpick ice-cream to your box of tissues?
I’m so sorry, that was looking stunning and I was also hoping for a happy ending. What a disaster indeed.
it did look stunning it really did. i nearly cried too when i heard. seeing the pictures just makes it worse. i have nothing helpful to say except im very sorry to hear about this….
Oh Donna!!!how brave to undo back to it,at least it was wortha try!!!Chin up and have fun looking for another pattern for the show!!!
Oh no! it looked beautiful. *offers chocolate*
Oh what a shame Donna. That really is too bad/ Big hugs, nat xx
Oh Donna!
I feel sick thinking about it. Virtual gin headed your way.
Can I just say that I was hugely impressed the 4th photo and thought – wow – very organised, so that’s how you do it… and then I cried.
Oh no, Donna! Condolences! I too was sure it would be a happy ending – I think it’s the lovely organised photos. Damn.
This is just horrible! I’m sending many many nice calming thoughts your way, even though they won’t help at all. I would be just as inconsolable.
Need some more tissues?
You poor, poor girl. I’m so sorry for your loss. I always hate it when that happens. Are you going to cast on again?
Thats dreadful news !!
What a shame.
Donna,
That is just so sad. I hope you find a new project to fall in love with soon. What a loss!
Oh no, I am so sorry!! It was very beautiful.
That is a shame – but I think its amazing that you tried to fix it the way you did!
I hope you find a new project that you love fast!
Oh dear. I am sure you can save it. Just leave it for a few days & then get back to it. Good luck.
But it’s not really about the product, it’s about the process, right? Right? Aww…who’m I kidding. I would have frogged it then ceremonially burnt the yarn so I’d never have to think about it again. Best of luck with the next one. It was really, really lovely. 🙂