♫ I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends

So, when last we talked, I was having problems with my knitting.

Specifically, knitting in the round with double-pointed needles. 

More specifically, beginning the crazy project in the first place.

I have knitted long enough to know that the beginning of a knitting project can be the hardest part about the whole thing.  All the stitches are very tight and there’s not enough to hold onto.  But once you knit several rows, things have loosened up and you also have, literally, a better grasp on things.  There’s more there and more to hold onto, and it’s easier.

It’s just the getting there. 

The first few rows of knitting, however, are easy compared to weaving beads.  I’ve done both, and the first 2 or 3 rows of weaving beads are beyond fiddly.  Beyond.

So, I thought, surely there must be easier way--I just don’t know what it is.  So I hopped on FaceBook and asked my friends who knit for help.  I even asked the Fb group for lace knitters.

I got lots of replies, most of which required me to learn a completely new cast-on.  But there were a few that said, work on a pillow on your lap and use pins to keep things contained.

Ooh, no learning curve!  I could get behind that!

First I tried a regular bed pillow, but it was too big for my lap.  Plus I would need to be able to rotate the pillow as I worked.  So I found an accent pillow in the house that was just right.  Yay!

Then the pins didn’t work so hot.  Somehow, though, I thought to just tape everything down.  I even labeled my needle positions.  (!)  With everything taped down so nothing would shift, I loved the control that it gave me when I needed it the most.

I used wide, clear packaging tape and taped everything down except the current needle.  I folded one edge of the tape onto itself to make a tab, which allowed very easy re-positioning. And since it was on fabric, it lifted easily each time I needed to shift things to the next needle.

You do have to maneuver the current needle so it's on top of the others, but that's really no big deal.  And I only needed the pillow and tape for 5 rounds anyway. <whew!>

It was a bit awkward, but nothing like before, and like I said, I only needed it for the first few rounds.  I am now happily knitting in the air with my little 3-D needle structure dangling away.

I couldn’t have done it without my friends.
Thank you, thank you.

Someday I may just finish this crazy thing!  LOL

XOXO,

Lucky Dog

♥