October Knit Aong: Pretty Twisted Cuff

This month, I decided to participate in the October Knit Along. I haven't done a knit-a-long before, and I was worried it was going to be some huge project that I either wouldn't even come close to finishing or would take over in place of all the other projects I have going. Happily, it isn't a huge project at all, but rather, a simple enough looking cuff.

An image of the Pretty Twisted Cuff from Knitty.com

The first decision I had to make was what yarn I was going to use. I wanted to use something variegated, because the pattern said it was good for colorful or gaudy yarns, however, the only variegated yarns I have available right now are this purple-which I didn't really want to use for this because I felt like it just wouldn't look right, the brown I got to finish my dad's scarf which turned out to not match and which I fully intend to use to start my dad's scarf over, and the brown yarn which was in my dad's scarf. This seemed to me to leave only one choice: I was finally going to have to admit to myself that I just couldn't finish my dad's scarf with the yarn I had started it with, and I had to completely frog it. That undertaking done, I joyfully started on the cuff.

I started the cable cast on several times before I could really figure it out. The first time I tried it, I was convinced it was impossible, but I told myself to calm down and try again. The next time I tried to not pull my stitches so tight even though it seemed like that would make the end of the project look sloppy. It was still a nightmare, but after several more attempts and me letting my stitches be a little looser every time, I finally managed the cable cast on with ease, and I was left wondering how I could have screwed it up so badly to begin with.

Part of the problem may well have been the tiny little needles I'm using, US 1s. Those are the needles the pattern says all of the sample cuffs were made with, so those are the needles I'm using. I've tried previously to use needles smaller than US 3s only to quickly give up. This time, with not pulling my stitches too tight in mind, I'm having a completely reasonably time with this project.

Well, reasonable after I figured out the linen stitch (which has instructions in the pattern linked above). The first time I read through the pattern I did not understand what I was meant to do. I read through it again and was just as confused. But I told myself I won't get better if I don't try, and it may well make more sense when I'm actually doing it, so after figuring out the cable cast on, I began to attempt the linen stitch.

I'm still trying to find a solution for the coloring with this different webcam

While I was right that I would understand it much better once I was actually doing the stitch, that didn't stop me from convincing myself I had screwed it up somehow and pulling out my first several rows two or three times. Finally I told myself that I was doing it right and if I did make a little mistake here and there, it would be okay. I may very well be keeping this cuff for myself after all, so what difference does it make. Plus, the very beginning of the cuff will be covered up when it's on, so it doesn't matter anyway. I think my yarn is heavier than the yarn used in the samples because when I cast on 25 stitches, the cuff was 4.5 inches wide, and that was wider than I wanted, so I cut it down to 15, and now it's just over 2 inches wide.

So it's so far so good, and I'm just so pleased with how the linen stitch is turning out. I think this yarn was the right choice, and I'll be able to wear this to and LARP events because it'll be period enough!

Happy knitting!