A few months ago I was learning to read a crochet pattern. I was so happy about it, so enthusiastic in fact that I sent away for a pattern book full of crochet garments. I could just imagine myself with a couple of lovely lacy cardigans to nonchalantly throw over my shoulders on a cool Summer evening.
But first things first.
I had to concentrate on what I was doing and learn properly from the beginning.
I was making a rug. Theoretically, there were only five different crochet stitches, in various combinations that made up the pattern. It seemed simple enough. The stitch pattern repeat was twenty-four and the row pattern repeat was fifty-two....and then just carry on apparently. Didn't sound too hard.
A calm beginning........
It started off fine (while I was concentrating) but oh boy, did I ever get sick of counting to twenty-four over and over.....or miscounting. By the time the rug was about half a metre long, I had made so many mistakes. It got to the point that I couldn't sit down with a glass of wine and pick up my needles (or in this case hook) for a little while at the end of the day, as I love to do - and the sides of the rug were looking like a mad woman’s breakfast. So in the end it was a choice between the rug or 'happy hour' and my sanity.
I'm reluctant to admit that the rug got thrown into the wheelie bin during a tantrum of epic proportions a couple of weeks ago. I didn't calm down until after the 'garbos' had been which was a bit unfortunate.
So....what to do about the lacy cardigan I had my heart set on?
After a bit of hunting around I managed to find a cute pattern for a granny square cardigan, downloadable.....and free. I'm pretty sure I can make granny squares and enjoy a glass of wine at the same time – I think!
So far so good. No mistakes.
If you do happen see any, please don't feel obligated to mention it.
Five granny squares down and only one hundred and thirty-seven to go.
