One of my favorite things about my job in safety was solving problems. Digging through data, figuring out what went wrong, and brainstorming options to fix the problem so that it would not happen again. I miss that about my old life.
I can create problems for the people in my novels, and figure out how to solve those, but it just isn't the same.
Doris Chan's crochet patterns give me problem solving opportunities.
I love Doris Chan's patterns. The only problem I have with them is that all the pieces seem to be for people much smaller than me and my family. So I always end up having to figure out how to make the garment work in a larger size.
It can be quite challenging, because often the garments have repeating patterns. And I want that repeating pattern to stay true. And not look like I made a mess of what is supposed to be a beautiful garment.
I am currently working on a tunic. It is way too short. I figured out how to lengthen it keeping the pattern and all I have to do is execute.
The sleeves were an entirely different matter. I finally have them the way I want them, but I had to rework them four times.
Yep, four. Stitches in, stitches out. Repeat. Put it together, take it apart, repeat.
I don't like rework. I'm a little angry at the garment right now and am taking a break from it. Which is crazy, but hey, I never said I didn't have crazy moments.
This tunic has been testing me since I started it. It all started when I saw some really pretty yarn in Michaels, and purchased three skeins of it. It sat in my yarn collection for about two years.
I kept wanting to make something with it, and kept looking at different patterns. When I saw this tunic, I knew that is how I wanted to use my yarn. First hurdle. The yarn is discontinued, and I couldn't get the rest of the skeins I needed to make the tunic.
No problem, I'll find a coordinating yarn and use two colors. I looked and looked and finally found one that would work. The two colors are hunter and wolf - which is totally cool in its own right.
Then I had to figure out how to use the two colors so that it would look good. That took a couple of false starts. Then the too short thing. The sleeves didn't work thing.
This will probably end up being one of my favorite things I ever make because it has challenged me so. And it gave me lots of problem solving opportunity. And I think it is turning out to be a really cool garment. I'll amend this post with a picture of it when I finish.
I'm going to plan my next project better. Do something smart, like buy all the yarn in advance.
But first, I have to get past my aggravation with the current garment and finish it. Deep breaths - I can do it.
I hope whatever is aggravating you right now is small, like this tunic. And that you can find your way out of it soon.
