I am not a surgeon and even if I was, I could N-E-V-E-R attempt brain surgery. I know this for a fact. I can’t even keep a steady hand when fixing lace knitting!
A week or so ago I was lamenting the fact that I had to wait for my Dale of Norway yarn. Project stalled. What to do? Hands are idle. Workshop for the big “D.” Must knit. I have a few easy peasy projects going, but when I have a big chunk of at-home time, I like a little challenge.
That brings us to a WIP I have been working on: Last fall I started another Niebling doily called Gloxiniaeflora.
Picture from Ravelry Pattern Page (on larger thread!)
I pull it out from time to time when I feel like it. It is being knit on Size 30 crochet cotton with Size 000 needles. With 75 rounds done, it is the size of a postage stamp. It has been one of the physically most challenging things I have ever knit. Some of the sts are literally impossible to do. But, I enjoy it. I am a masochistic knitter apparently!
So, with Dale of Norway out of the picture, I started working on Niebling again. Then I noticed a big mistake. One of the flower thingies was growing out of the meshwork instead of its own little set of yarnovers. The flowers are started thus:
Rnd 1: YO
Rnd 3: YO, k1, YO
Rnd 5: [k1, p1, k1, p1] in each of the 3 sts just created = 12 sts
So 12 sts essentially sprout from these 3 YOs. Mine had somehow sprouted from the background meshwork.
I examined my options:
1- fudge the meshwork and try to keep going — did not work (believe me, I tried!)
2- rip it out — impossible to get the sts back onto the world’s smallest needles…doing k2tog is difficult
3- tink back the 5-6 rounds — I would have to commit myself!
4- repair it — eek!!
Of all my options, the 4th seemed like the [almost] sanest solution. I had read a blog post years ago by Romi Hill where she described a harrowing lace repair and showed some pictures. I decided to dive in.
First, I determined exactly where the problem was on the chart and how much I needed to rip. I enlarged the chart and drew a red box around the area I was going to repair.
Next, I assembled my supplies: Ott light with magnifier, reading glasses, tweezers, the tiniest dpn I have ever seen (from my husband’s great aunt), pins, small crochet hook, a dark colored bead mat, and some balls. Big brass ones.
I made sure the real knitting needles were placed so that they held the “good” sts on either side of the repair. Then I pulled out each row and pinned it in order of its removal:
I ripped down until I thought I had passed the point of the mistake. Man, at that point you are committed — there is no turning back!! I was sweating and shaking like a leaf! If I was in your brain, you would be toast!!
I then “knitted” each row back according to the chart. That sounds way easier than it was! I should have taken out more sts, but would have ended up into the previous flower section and that was way too daunting…so I just fudged that part of it.
The results:
There. I have moved past the mistake and it seems to blend in just fine. Whew! While I enjoy a challenge, this was truly ridiculous!
PS from Susan — Thank you for all of the great and supportive comments. Lisle asked me the following questions:
“You neglected to tell us how many hours it took. How many? I’d love to know. I’m so slow about that sort of thing. And pinning the rows in order–GENIUS! That’s the hardest part of repairing.”
I think it took 1 to 2 hours. I did not really time it. And the genius of pinning the rows in order is what I learned from Romi’s post. I could not find the original post to link to so I just linked to her blog, but that is what I learned from her and found so helpful. It gave me the confidence to make the attempt!!
Wow! That’s amazing! You saved yourself hours of re-knitting. Brava!
Comment by Geri — January 17, 2012 @ 1:45 am
I tremble just thinking of it. Fixing lace mistakes is hideous.
Comment by Joanna — January 17, 2012 @ 2:32 am
I am impressed!! I’ve fixed cables that way, but never lace… I will remember that it can be done the next time that I majorly mess up a lace project.
Comment by Kathy — January 17, 2012 @ 3:43 am
The ‘in progress’ picture is enough to stop the heart of the bravest knitter. You have the skill of a master surgeon!!
Comment by Soo — January 17, 2012 @ 5:27 am
Susan, you are the most awesome knitter that I have ever come across. You are an inspiration to me. I have not tried anything as detailed as this, but yesterday when I found a mistake several rows back in a lace shawl, it was my husband who asked “what would Susan Rainey do?”
Comment by Astrid — January 17, 2012 @ 7:39 am
Bravo! I echo what Astrid said, you are an inspiration. Looking at the pics is like watching one of those cliff-hanger movies – och aye!
Comment by Bets — January 17, 2012 @ 7:50 am
You’re insane. You know that, don’t you? To do anything by Niebling at that gauge? And then to go ahead and do it well. Truly insane.
Comment by Suzan — January 17, 2012 @ 8:55 am
Lovely repair, and a gorgeous project!
Comment by Carolyn — January 17, 2012 @ 9:47 am
Great job. Amazing. Standing ovation here.
Comment by Mary — January 17, 2012 @ 11:52 am
Thank you so much for the neat way you pinned out the rows in (spatial) order of their tinking and hence re-knitting: such an elemental step, and one I’d not thought of, during several repairs. Fabulous lesson.
Comment by Linda — January 17, 2012 @ 12:46 pm
Wow. Amazing job, and love the pinned out yarn strands. I’m getting into the habit of dropping down a lace repeat, but do always end up in a tangle trying to work out which yarn is which row! Thank you, and bravo.
Comment by Ruth — January 17, 2012 @ 1:21 pm
Your skills and your projects are both inspiring and informative. Bravo! [Who knew 000 circs were available? Wow.]
Comment by CreeksideKnitter — January 17, 2012 @ 1:25 pm
I would have gone with option #5 and called it a design element. LOL. While I am becoming a much more patient knitter, I have not yet come to the place where I would consider casting on for such a project never mind repairing it. Congrats on a job well-done!
Comment by Wool free and Lovin' knit — January 17, 2012 @ 2:17 pm
Can performing neurosurgery be any more tension-inducing than what you have just accomplished with that Niebling “surgery”? No–sign up for med school now! BTW, I had sweaty palms and became nauseated, just reading your account and seeing the pictures of this procedure, LOL. Great job; pat yourself on the back; you deserve it.
Mary G. in Texas
Comment by Katie's Granny — January 17, 2012 @ 2:58 pm
I believe there are many a surgeon who would never tackle that repair – too hard!!! And where else but The Rainey Sisters can being called “Truly Insane” be an amazing and honored compliment? Your legion of fans stand in awe of your talent!
As someone else said, I can’t imagine even contemplating casting on for that project, but fixing it? Well, I think I’d just stuff it in the back of a closet and fergettaboutit….
You are INCREDIBLE!!!
Comment by Barb — January 17, 2012 @ 6:46 pm
Well-done!! It’s a beautiful pattern, and your picture looks like it’s actually larger than a postage stamp. ;^) YAY! I’m impressed that you did that, but you neglected to tell us how many hours it took. How many? I’d love to know. I’m so slow about that sort of thing. And pinning the rows in order–GENIUS! That’s the hardest part of repairing.
Comment by Lisle — January 17, 2012 @ 8:49 pm
Inspiration! Now throw in a lifeline – calm our nerves!
Comment by Wendy O — January 17, 2012 @ 9:15 pm
That was a heart-pounder. Congratulations on a job well done!
Comment by Catherine S. — January 17, 2012 @ 10:04 pm
I truly bow to your Knit-foo. You have inspired me to finally get to this on my (much larger) gauge cable & bobble sweater. Thanks for refreshing me to actually get to it. Your accomplishment is terrific!
Comment by Kathleen — January 17, 2012 @ 10:57 pm
WOW!! You can perform miracles!! and WOW! are you brave!!
Comment by Sue J — January 18, 2012 @ 12:48 am
This just makes my stomach turn! AMAZING! 🙂
Comment by Kym — January 18, 2012 @ 7:41 am
I took Romi’s class on lace repair at Yarnover, so I know what you needed to do—but with that cotton and such tiny needles! You could be a doctoral student in lace repair!
Comment by Grace D. — January 18, 2012 @ 8:29 pm
Nice job! I think this blog is the first one that I read which featured ‘surgery’ on a lace piece, and it was definitely the inspiration for my own efforts at fixing a lace project without tinking. Thanks for the continued inspiration!
Comment by Natalie — January 18, 2012 @ 10:33 pm
Wow! When I got to the PS, I realized I had been holding my breath while I read! I would have ripped the whole thing out — but maybe now I would at least considering trying to repair instead.
Comment by janna — January 22, 2012 @ 12:50 pm
Wow, this is an amazing piece of craft. I am so impressed.
Comment by riot yarn — February 1, 2012 @ 5:08 am