Stockinette Setback

OK, so I finished the cable section of those mittens a long time ago...

then came the stockinette section.

which shouldn't be hard.

but it was.

So I started with a long-ass circular needle. Which is just a pain in the ass. Mom said "You should look into the Magic Loop Method!" So I did. And it turns out I figured out the Magic Loop Method all by myself a few years back when I knit my first hat and didn't have the right DPNs. And it's still a pain in the ass.

Which led me to just use DPNs. So I did that. then I had the wrong number of stitches. Then I was deliriously tired and did my M1s wrong so there were holes. Then I dropped a stitch. I lost count of how many times I started over. BUT I PERSEVERED NONETHELESS!

FINALLY the other day I said, "This is dumb. I can do this." And I did it! I am now most of the way done with the stockinette on the left mitten. For most of it I had 40 stitches instead of 39 (oopsies), but I just did a simple knit 2 together when I got past the knuckles and it looks fine and dandy! I had never made a thumb gusset before, but it was very easy! I have found that a lot of knitting is that way. It looks impressive and difficult, but really if you simply trust the instructions it turns out perfectly!

In the picture below, only 1 of those Dr. Peppers belongs to me...

What I have figured out about knitting with double pointed needles:

I am terrified of ladders (not the kind to get onto the roof. those are fun, but the gaps in your knitting between two needles when using DPNs.) In order to avoid ladders with DPNs, I have a system. I am sure plenty of other knitters have come up with this, too, and I don't want to sound like a know it all, but this is just a documentation of my journey! In reality, as long as you know where your round starts, it doesn't matter if you have the same number of stitches on each needle. So you can either pay attention to the number of stitches on each needle when you use DPNs or just go with the flow. What I do is never have a break between needles in the same spot twice in a row. After I knit all the stitches off my left needle, I keep going for a couple of stitches on the next needle, using the same right needle. For those couple of stitches, you are using only 4 DPNs.That way there is a consistent tension over where two needles previously met. You can make sure to still have an even number of stitches on each needle. For instance, always knit two off the next needle after finishing knitting off one. That way it is consistent with no ladders.

Or you can just completely randomize it like I do. Just make sure your stitch marker stays in place!

So next I need to finish the left mitten. The only part I have any apprehension about is the thumb, never done that before. But again, just trusting the instructions usually works for me and it turns out easier than expected. I also need to start looking at cute buttons! I am hoping for something with a light blue in it to match that blue/grey cowl I made so long ago...

Lesson for the day--Don't Knit While Tired (KWT).

Bright Side: School started!! I love school. I am in a writing intensive class this semester where we get to write about whatever we want. We had to suggest a topic to the professor, and I suggested knitting! The professor seemed really excited about it, so we will see how that pans out!

Happy Knitting!

Ruthie