Knitting Thoughts and Ramblings

Do I really hate purling?

I find that I work in the round a lot. I mean a lot. When I do manage to work in rows, I'm generally working garter stitch.

This has led me to think about my relationship with purling. I don't mind an occasional purl. Seed stitch makes me happy, Ribs can be very fun (there is no better place to weave in an end - except seams but I rarely ever have one).

I've looked inside myself and found that it is a complete row of purl that makes me sad.

Ever made a triangular lace shawl? Those purl rows that seem so innocuous at first become endless as the stitch count grows. And I'm looking at the wrong side! How am I supposed to see my errors from the wrong side? Let alone fix them there.

I can knit with my eyes closed. Purling requires too much thought for me. Knitting rows and rows of garter stitch while reading websites on my computer turns wasted time into productive time. Purling would just get in my way.

I've not always had these negative thoughts about purling. When my Grandmother first taught me how to knit right-handed, knitting and purling were interchangeable to me. It just didn't matter which I was doing they were both as easy. But a rib or seed stitch or double knitting removed all pleasure. They were to be done because they were necessary and for as little time as possible.

Then I learned left-handed knitting. The yarn could move from back to front to back as many times per row as possible and it was not a chore. Oh how stitch work opened to me. I could imagine making a ribbed sweater. Seed stitch scarves became a mainstay.

But I lost the happy rows of purl.

I guess I could just purl right-handed when faced with this scenario but I like knitting left-handed. And changing hands between rows? You might as well ask me to use a row counter!

I've finally come to peace with my avoidance of purling. And I think it has actually brought much more creativity to my knitting. The lace shawls I've been making as of late were created through a desire to not purl. And I think they have turned out rather well. Best of all, I've not seen anyone else make a shawl the way I do. I wouldn't say no one else has ever made a shawl this way but in my limited experience I've never seen one.

Now, if I could only take a picture of the things and put it on line then everyone would know what I'm talking about.

All in good time.

November 7, 2005

Update
I finally posted pictures of two lace projects. See my shawl and my shrug.

February 2, 2006