When Seconds Count

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Sprocket and Fixie are looking a little sleepy in this image. 
The little Lucy Lou family is growing every day. 

I complain about purling.  Do You?  I complain that I'm much slower at purling than knitting .  This weekend, 
I asked Fireman to clock me....(not that way!) 
I have been working on my blanket and its is all stockinette.

It took me a full 30 seconds longer to purl a row, than to knit a row.  Is this the case in your knit house??  A half a minute longer to purl actually surprised  me.  I thought there would be a much bigger difference in my stitches.

So add up all those half minutes and if I had done the blanket in garter stitch, I'd be finished by now....or so I surmise.

Another way to look at it, because seconds count.....
is that I cannot fix garter stitches when dropped, as easily as I can fix stockinette.  

I know I am not a perfect knitter; stitches will fall, so 
I have to think I'd spend more than 30 seconds fixing the garter mistakes or worse yet....
froggin to correct them...

Therefore If we factor in my inevitable mistakes and their corrections,  the alternate purl and knit rows, and
the time spent staring at the kittens with no knitting progress at all......
well, I'd be right about here now...
wouldn't I?  






Comments

Sue said…
I've never actually thought about this. Am I faster at knitting than at purling? Now I'm going to have to check. I am happy that I can knit or purl without looking so I can watch TV and knit at the same time.
3:27 PM
Anonymous said…
Actually no .... garter stitch takes as long because two rows of garter are really only 1 ridge. I think stockinette stitch actually stretches out to be a bit bigger per row.

So, not sure you'd make any faster time on the length.

3:49 PM
Katherine said…
I used to think that I took longer to purl than knit but I don't think that is true any longer. When I fell in love with pearl stitch I became accustomed to knit-purl-knit-purl, back and forth until each was as fast as the other. Now I never think about purling as more difficult or less enjoyable.

The kittens are darling!! I am looking forward to seeing your blanket!
4:07 PM
Nancy said…
If it is straight purl, my speed and accuracy is the same as knitting. However, if I am working on a rib, my purl is slower because I throw my yarn rather than pick. Throwing the yarn is what slows me down more than the actual purl stitch.

Love those sweet fur-babies.
4:27 PM
Meredith said…
How can you not stare at those cuties, and it takes me longer to purl too. But that is just part of knitting. Remember garter compacts on itself making less bang for your buck, but the edges don't curl so that is a bonus.
Hugs,
Meredith
5:35 PM
Gracie Saylor said…
I am slower purling than knitting, but I am slower mainly because I have not mastered the continental method of knitting, I think. I still am going to try to learn to do it.
Determined Gracie =)
7:46 PM
Araignee said…
Just look at those little babies. I can't imagine how you are getting any knitting done with those cuties in the house.
9:05 PM
gMarie said…
good point! you are where you are. I purl slower as well it's the nature of the stitch I believe.

The kittens are sure getting big already. g
10:48 PM
The Well Fed Wheel said…
Oh, I love the kitties and also the names you've given them. So cute! As for purling, ugh, I'd much rather just knit continental style. Purling just seems to throw the rhythm off some how, although I'm using the Norwegian style purl stitch now and that helps a lot.
12:56 AM
Anonymous said…
Watching kitties with no knitting progress? No, never! Bethworld comes to a screetching halt when there are kitties. Thanks for reading.
7:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Watching kitties with no knitting progress? No, never! Bethworld comes to a screetching halt when there are kitties. Thanks for reading.
7:46 AM
SissySees said…
You're knitting. I hope to tonight. And I don't know that I pearl slower; I pick both ways.
12:24 PM
Lynneb said…
well, all in all, I guess I'd always rather be knitting or purling than crocheting!
2:56 PM
Celia said…
I guess the only way to avoid it would be to knit stockinette in the round, but that wouldn't work for everything.
10:08 AM
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