Convention Knitting

[jinjifore]

Right. DragonCon is a week away. Well, tomorrow it will be a week away. Naturally, the most urgent, burning issue of my preparations is "What am I going to knit?"

Of my in-progress works, the St. Brigid sweater is right out. Not only is it far too large for easy toting, it's too complex for running around, roleplaying, panelling, and (most significantly) drinking. Also, I'm getting to the point where I need to take a break from it. I've made four minor mistakes in the last two repeats, nothing I even had to actually fix because they were so minor, but I'm apparently losing my will to focus on it properly. The back will done in 12 more rows, and after that I'm going to knit hats for a while. Possibly socks. Or gloves (I have a nifty idea for a glove done in heel stitch). So, St. Brigid is staying home. (Okay, I might tuck it into a wee little bag just in case...)

I'm not even going to dignify the Seaweed Afghan with an explanation.

So, it's going to be socks. Being the forethoughtful person that I am, I decided to go ahead and get both socks past the ribbing before trying to wander around knitting while walking. (The reason I started on said socks more than a week before the convention is a matter I'm going to gloss over. Let's just say it was a very close thing that I didn't show up in downtown Atlanta tomorrow and wonder where the other 25,000 people were.)

I initially cast on 76 stitches, but after a few rows I tried them on convinced myself that they were too big. So I ripped and cast on 72 stitches. After completing 15 rows of ribbing on both socks and about as many rows of stockinette on one sock, I didn't have to do any convincing to realize that the socks were too small. So, I ripped and started over with--you guessed it--76 stitches. The really pathetic part of this story? The first thing I did was, in fact, a gauge swatch. Gauge is no proof against overthinking.

The bright side is that now I'll have time to get both socks past the ribbing before the con. And knit my mother a doily, too.

Comments

[divinebird.livejournal.com]

haha! I worked on my tabi-style socks for about 5 minutes during ConnectiCon. I brought them and my Eleanor with me--didn't even look at Eleanor until I met another knitter and I had to show off XD--but I had this crazy idea I'd have all sorts of free time.

Because, yeah, running my art table, teaching three panels, and acting as normal at-con staff as well as supporting two specific departments left me with SO MUCH FREE TIME. Not. XD

Still got to the toe on one sock, though. :D

[jinjifore.livejournal.com]

I can't remember what year I started planning my DragonCon knitting, but it was when the Dealer's room and Gaming were in the Merchandise Mart and Apparel Mart, and you had to hike a block to get to the Hyatt. I realized that there was much wasted knitting time in all the walking, and so I began to bring along easy, mindless, portable knitting. Well, okay, the first year it was an acrylic/wool blend garter stitch scarf. But I learned from the experience. :)

[ohthecuteness.livejournal.com]

I'm so thinking that we should get all our con going knitting friends together for a stitch n bitch... I'ev got at least 4 others than me going...

[jinjifore.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! I'm coming in Thursday night, and leaving Tuesday. Maybe we could try to meet for dinner one night and stitch n bitch afterwards.

[ohthecuteness.livejournal.com]

oooh that sounds promising. We're getting there Thursdaya nd leaving on Monday. I'll run it by some of my friends.

[jinjifore.livejournal.com]

In a slight change of plan, I'll still be arriving on Thursday, but I'll be at my sister's that night. So any time Friday onward would be fine by me.

[ohthecuteness.livejournal.com]

Okie doke. I'll call you when I know something... its going to really depend on schedules and stuff. What time of the day is best for you?