Saturday, May 10, 2008

Knitting tips.

Saw this over at Maddy's blog and thought it hilarious. Go and check it out.
I have also decided that I just have to knit Ophelia, this cardi is soo cute. I might even break my bamboo out for this one.
I have a knitting tip for you all. Never put your knitting away half way through a row - I am sure you all knew this but do you know why? It is not because the stitches at the point where you left off will stretch unevenly. This might happen but the real reason is so that when the pesky cat decides to play cat's cradle with your knitting the stitches won't all slide off both needles and begin monumentally large ladders. Ladders so large they would make firemen scared. Please do not tell me it's my own fault. I know that. Believe me it doesn't help. There is absolutely nothing funny about returning from a pleasant shopping trip in which two pairs of bamboo needles were purchased (Two sets of mine had mysteriously vanished) to be unable to enter the living room because the cat had woven wool between the table, the bird stand and the ironing board creating a very effective barricade. We mangaged to get in via the front door and discovered that the cat had been very busy indeed. The havoc continued down the hall and into our bedroom where Peri had taken the trouble to wrap my knitting around the rocking chair for good luck. I could have cried. It took several hours to finally unravel the wool from all the places Peri had found to wrap it. He was very thorough and quite inventive at times. I didn't even know there were springs under my chairs. It wasn't fit to be saved. I couldn't even bring myself to take a photo. It was too horrific. But the last laugh is on the cat. It was a blanket for him. It will be a while before I feel like picking up the needles for him I can tell you no matter how loudly he purrs. However the most important knitting tip to be learnt from this is Never and I do mean never leave a cat alone in the same room as your knitting. Well not my cat anyway.
You can see how tired all that activity made him.

Oh and the missing needles turned up miraculously when I showed the girls my new needles. They both said, "oh well as you have new ones we might as well keep the old ones we hid."
Mother's Day tomorrow had better be good.

12 comments:

Down on the Farm said...

Oh my,oh my, did you ever bring up the chuckles and the memories. I thought at first you were going to tell all us knitters what I believe all knitters have done when laying down the knitting in the middle of the row. Go back the opposite direction instead of finishing the row. Or maybe that is just me. Tell me ya'all have done it also, please.

The memories I have involve kids not cats. I don't even remember how many times my son, when he was very young, pick up my knitting and pull the needles out. FRUSTRATING! You would think I would have learned to put my knitting out of reach...but NO!

The other memory involves the same child, the one in yesterdays picture. My mom loved to crochet and while she was still able and driving and visiting, she of course would bring her crocheting. Devilish adult son would start kicking her ball of yarn (wool to you people across the pond) and make sure she saw him kicking it, and get her to chasing him, all the while saying, "No, Boyd, stop, Boyd, don't Boyd" and him laughing all the while. Memories are a wonderful blessing.

juicyknits said...

Poor you! That cat (no matter how cute he is) shouldn't get a knitted blanket. Well, maybe when he's older. ;-)
You chose a great next project - it's fun and fast.

Susie Q said...

What a sweet kitty...naughty like mine I am sure! I do so envy your knitting talent. : ) I wish I had it!

Thank you for visiting my blog and thank you for leading me back to yours! I have enjoyed my visit!

Hugs,
Sue

Willow said...

Oh NO. That is so sad. Cats are so very thorough, aren't they?

My dd always got this incredibly sweet smile on her innocent little face when I would happen to mention missing needles. "Oh, I know where they are...." In self desfense I began buying her her very own needles. Now when I go to visit her, I try to forget at least one pair at home so I can borrow mine back.

Mrs.Kwitty said...

LOL---what a little stinker! And just lying there sleeping like a little angel too. Cats!
Smiles, Karen

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, I'm sorry and i know i shouldn't but I couldn't help but have a little smile, Peri looks so innocent!
Lisa x

Leanne said...

What a wonderful story. I had pictures flying through my head of a cat and wool and furniture. Now I know why we don't have a cat..... perhaps 2 jack russells may be the reason.

Lucy Bloom said...

Hi Alison, oh dear, that's quite a horror story, I can imagine how you felt - Peri looks so sweet though, like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth! Hope you've gotten over it now!
Lucy x

carolyn said...

So funny!

Jennie said...

oh nooo that naughty cat!!
I knitted a blanket for my cat (not very good, I'm not terribly good at knitting (yet)) and when it got some ladders and holes in it (about two days later) My daughter decided to cut it up into smaller squares.... :/

dottycookie said...

Oh blimey, I really would have cried! I trust Mothers Day was very special and helped make up for it just a little bit ...

Octopus Knits said...

Oh, my! But Peri looks so innocent, sleeping like that ;)