Oh, Frogging!

They call it "frogging" or "tinking," and sometimes "ripping out." I guess it really depends on what you're doing. If you've just found an error and have to go back a row or two, it's called "tinking," or "tinking back." If you're taking the plunge and taking out lots of stitches or going back to square one, I call it "ripping out." 

When you take online courses or local knitting courses, many times teachers will try to smooth over any potential angst or make it easier on the knitters by using nicer terms like "un-knitting," probably to spare any feelings of despair--if you're that kind of knitter. (I remember my daughter's sewing teacher told me she told the girls that when they had to use a seam ripper, she preferred to tell them that they were "un-sewing" in order to assuage any feelings of failure. In all honesty, I was taken aback because, well, anyway--the girls aren't that fragile.)

But for me, if I make the decision to go back to square one with a project, I like to pull off the bandage and just go for it. I mean, why would you spend so much time knitting something that will ultimately not please you or spark joy as a certain someone would say?

A few weeks after my carpal tunnel surgery when I was finally able to move my hands well enough to knit a bit, I cast on for what I thought would be a sideways, open knit, pullover--something suited for a beach coverup or something to throw on over a tank top. I dutifully drew a sketch, made a couple gauge swatches in potential stitch patterns and chose one. I did some calculations and cast on. Over the next several days I knit part of the top, probably a rectangle that measured 24" by about 6" and then I took a long, hard look at it.

It looked like crap.

And then I knit another inch.

It still looked awful.

And then I sort of thought about it and thought about it and thought about it. 

I decided that if I had to think about it that much, that it was going to be a loser and there was only one thing to do: Rip. It. Out.

I've come across lots and lots of knitters and I can tell you that my guess is that probably more people cringe at the thought than people who don't (or who cringe a tiny bit and then let her rip without thinking too much).

I fall into that group: I cringe a tiny bit and then I let her rip.

The pic up top? That represents about six full hours of knitting.

This one to the right? Oh, four minutes of delightful ripping.

It's a relief, really. Kind of like burping after feeling queasy for forever. Now I can say that I didn't spend a week knitting something that didn't give me tingles. At this stage in the game, I need tingles.

BTW: This yarn is still destined to be something that I really like. I can do no wrong (well, except for this most recent disappointment) with Louet Euroflax Wet Spun Linen (sport weight). I keep thinking of doing a re-vamp of Jordan, a really popular warm-weather pattern of mine, but with longer sleeves, so we shall see.

BTW#2: Regarding the carpal tunnel surgery. It's now about 8 weeks post op. Everyday I notice that I can do more with my right hand that I couldn't do as well before. I have more strength and can pick up relatively heavy objects without dropping them or feeling pain in my wrist. Knitting is easier and faster although I haven't really done too much, mostly because book knitting has come to an end for now. So, I'm pretty happy I did it. Left hand is next!