To Go Forwards, Sometimes You Have to Go Back

Well, I have now completed the front of Orangina and 10 inches of the back.  I struggled so much with my concentration on the front and I knew that at the time, but it's only now that I realise how much!  Like I mentioned in a previous post, it's not that the stitch is difficult at all.  The problem was, no matter how hard I concentrated, I just kept losing my place in the pattern repeat.  Honestly, I was probably spending almost as much time trying to figure out where I was, as actually knitting.  But suddenly it got like a piece of cake!  Not only can I now knit the pattern and actually breathe, but I can hold a proper conversation as well.  I haven't gone back on a row for days now, which explains my sudden progress.  Also, I've realised (not being an experienced knitter) that I should have been able to tell if I was knitting the right stitch by looking at the stitches below.  I can now tell if I'm in the right place just by looking (you must know what I mean).  So, instead of getting to the end of a row and thinking, "oh! I should have a couple of knit stitches left to do just here" and having to go back, sometimes right to the beginning, I'm immediately suspicious if it doesn't look right.  But since I'm so much better at it now, that hardly ever happens.

I've learnt so much whilst knitting Orangina.  At first, I was really afraid that, if I needed to unknit some stitches, I wouldn't know how to (I thought I'd only be able to do that with plain old knit and pearl), but I can now unknit, one by one, anything at all!  I was also very brave at one point and took the whole thing off the needles and undid a few rows and then put the stitches back on.  I realise you are probably on the floor laughing right now, but it was like going off the deep end for me.  But, the thrill!!  It worked out fine but it was a huge risk for someone like me!

Now I just have to hope the thing fits me!  I'm hoping it will be on the snug side, but not so snug that I'm popping out all over, don't worry, I'll include a photo.

I've just got some lovely Noro Blossom, from which I'll make a shrug.  It's gorgeous, the photo isn't great, as I've already wound it into balls and the colours don't show.

Must stop being so preoccupied with knitting, though.  I've been sleeping really badly, as my imagination is working overtime.  The other night (well, the early hours of the morning), I was dreaming, "oh, I'd better stop this knitting now, as it might go wrong, since I'm doing it while I'm asleep".  Then I woke up and realised I wasn't knitting at all.  But I could have sworn I was really knitting in my bed, in my sleep.  Good heavens above, no wonder I look so awful right now.

PS  I wrote this post a couple of days ago and have now finished Orangina and am very pleased with the result!