I am fed up

I started the Summertime Tunic for many reasons. One, it looks cute. Two, it doesn't require much yarn. Three, it was supposed to be good airplane knitting. And four, it was supposed to be EASY. What a load of crap.

Go-around #1: Cast on on size 6 needles as the pattern called for. I substituted yarn, but why bother to swatch? I don't swatch. I am an idiot. I was essentially knitting a fishing net; it was ferociously unattractive. To the frog pond.

Go-around #2: Cast on again on size 4s. Ah, much better. The stockinette looks good, although this yarn (Hempathy) is not so forgiving when it comes to uneven stitches. Whatever, it'll block out. Begin ribbing. Ribbing looks like shit. Rip back to before ribbing. Whole evening wasted trying to pick up 226 stitches with a miniscule crochet hook.

Go-around #3: Stitches have been picked up and placed correctly back on the size 4 circs. Knit a few more rows, switch to size 2 circs for ribbing. Ribbing is tight, but I can live with that. Attempt to join another ball of yarn and drop stitch. I didn't notice the dropped stitch until 2 rows later; how the hell do you pick up a dropped stitch in 1x1 rib?? Throw WIP to floor in disgust and pout.

I still think this is a cute pattern, and it should be easy, but damn if it isn't giving me trouble. I give up. Any suggestions as to what I should make with 7 balls of Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy?

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I think I might also frog the Zen Garden Stole. It's nice, but it is also rife with mistakes, and the Kureyon could be put to better use. I'm thinking I might use it to make a Clapotis. I'm fairly certain that I could make that without too much pulling out of hair and being driven to drink. Fairly certain.

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While I'm at it, I will probably also frog the Green Tea Raglan. It's just too small, the seams are crappy, and it's wool, and I just know that no matter how damn cold it gets this winter I am not going to wear wool directly next to my skin. I have enough yarn to make a nice cardigan with it, and I sure do hate to see good yarn go to waste. Why let it languish in the corner as an unworn FO when it could languish in the corner as a half-finished WIP? At least it will have potential as a WIP.

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Much as I love summer, I have to say I kinda have a hankering for cooler weather so I can start rippling and granny-ing and vintage stripe-ing. I bought one skein of almost every color of Caron Simply Soft, which is enough yarn to make at least two blankies. Wheeeee! I love blankies!

Thanks for reading my rant. More positive content to be posted shortly.