HELP!!! HELP!!! HELP!!!

 Karen is knitting the ROAD TRIP VEST.
Karen copied the pattern and put it in a pretty protector. 
Karen informed me I am knitting one too.
Karen has overestimated my talent. 
Karen says I'm going to knit it exactly as it is written. 
Which is in Chinese.
Well, it may as well be Chinese to me.
It's not that I don't want to knit the vest.
I have some supernatural powers you know.
I can see the future. 
I see tears,
I see frogging, 
I see Karen knitting the vest for me....

Here's the thing, I need someone to dumb it down for me. 
Let's take out the cables and the chart.
Let's Write it out row by row instead of the talky way knitters write out patterns.  
Someone hand me the yarn and the needles.

Let's face it; I'm stuck in about 5th grade in the knitting world.
More important:  I like where I'm stuck. 
I could keep on knitting socks and hats and blankets pretty much until my hands give out on me...

When someone loves you and gives you a pattern and says she knows you can do this....
Maybe it is time to listen to her..

 There is a storm on the horizon.....

SO lets vote: 

Yes: Kathy B launches into the vest and the great vast unknown which is reading a real pattern.

or 

NO: You tell Karen why Kathy B should not enter the land of tears and frogging and frustration...

Feel free to talk to Karen directly in the comments, she's a lurker true and true.  She'll read them all!
  

Comments

Unknown said…
If Karen stays with you "side by side" on this one, then LAUNCH OUT, Girl!! Yeah, you might hit a few waves, but you'll love that you conquered them in the end.
gMarie said…
Well knitting is a hobby and you should knit what you want and what makes you happy. Honestly - there is nothing scary in that vest - cables are a piece of cake. Use a cable needle (or a random double point) and I always put my stitches back on the needles rather than knitting them from the cable needle.

Charts are easy (IMO). To me, the chart lets me know what the row beneath the one I'm working on should be doing - teaching you to read your knitting. I'm guessing you KNOW how to do all the stitches involved - just combining them is scary.

Do you have a pretty row magnet? I'll mail you one if not - that will help you. And use as many stitch markers as you need.

All of that being said - if you don't want to knit it and you want to knit socks and blankets, then do. It's your hobby. Karen's knitting in her hobby and even though you are both knitting - it's still very individual.

:) g
Toni said…
I'd say if you would LOVE the vest when it is done, since Karen is there to help, it would be a great opportunity to expand you're knitting if you're interested. Worst case scenario: you gain some experience and do some frogging. Best case scenario: you get a lovely vest, some knitting time with Karen, and you'll be ready for the next challenging pattern that catches your eye. :)
Suburban prep said…
I have to say only do it if you want to.
The reason I state that is because you might end up resenting the person that "made" you do this item.

Right now I am about 2/3rd of the way through a sweater that I have knit before. last time I had to frog it at least 6-7 times when I was at the half way mark. This time I frogged it about 8 times before I got to the halfway mark. I sort of can't wait for it to be finished so I can just give it to the person I am making it for.

As for the weather--so not a July summer day here.
Katherine said…
Dear Karen,
It's true that the vest is not beyond Kathy's capable knitting expertise and the same applies to the patterns. She CAN do it! The problem, as I see it, is my belief that we do not have to knit difficult patterns or intricate designs for the sake of proving we can do it. I have been knitting since I was 9 and can knit any pattern presented to me. The question is, "do I want to?" Knitting is my sanity, my calm place, my meditation. I don't want anything to disturb that and if I have to knit dishcloths for the rest of my life to maintain that peacefulness, I will do it!! I say Kathy should knit the vest ONLY if she has a burning desire to do it!!
Nancy said…
It's time to fly out of your comfort zone. Think about poor Pie and how you are helping him adapt and feel comfortable in the unknown. Karen will be your guide - trust her judgement and flap those wings!
Celia said…
You can do it. Step out of the comfort zone!
Estella said…
Be a fearless knitter - you can do it! Think of all the help you can get from all of us, Ravelry and from Karen. Go for it and as my 17 year old would say "YOLO".
Meredith said…
Yes Kathy B should knit the vest, and her friend Meredith will help if she can from Florida. Is the vest something you think you would wear? If yes lets get going, if no then find one you will wear and we can make that.
Hugs,
Meredith
Anonymous said…
Go for it! Where would we be if Columbus said, "Nah, I'm happy where I am"?
Araignee said…
I always take a pattern and a chart and rewrite it into something I can understand. If I am given written directions, I turn them into a chart. If I am given a chart, I turn them into written directions. Just writing it down before I get started helps me visualize what I am doing so it all makes sense. I may do this several times until I get the directions that I feel I can work with especially with lace or cables. I've even started doing it with colorwork and found out it made things go much easier. I literally do tricky things line by line and allow myself only two or three lines a day.
IMHO the knitting of a project is the easy part, figuring out how to knit it is where the work is.
You can do it!
Gracie Saylor said…
Kathy, you are adventurous! If the vest is a garment you would enjoy wearing or gifting then let the challenge begin :) Enjoy!
Gracie xx
LouLou said…
It sounds like deep down you really want to give it a try and your just having a little stage fright at the moment. I can sympathize with your fear of charts as they always scared the bajeezees out of me too but they really aren't that bad once you get into them and cables are pretty easy too. It looks like a really nice comfy vest. I think your should give it a try and you may just be pleasantly surprised at what you can do. Heck...if I can get through a chart anybody can!!! :-)
Tanna said…
Launch, baby!! Launch!! You can always return to your normal loves in knitting, but you may be amazed by what you can do!! blessings ~ tanna
ps I much prefer row-by-row written instructions over charts, too. ;)
TracyK said…
I'm here to joine the YES camp. If you can knit it at the same time as Karen you have a built in guide for when you get to something (everything?) that's confusing. Also, I was sure that I just wasn't a lace knitter and never would be. All those charts and symbols... Confusing and hard/scary! However, I am now just 3 rows away from completing a short sleeved sweater with 4 lovely lace panels in it and I couldn't be happier with it. Sometimes it pays to challenge yourself, especially when you know you'll enjoy the outcome of the hard fought battle. PS - keep an easy project on hand too for when you just don't think you have the wherewithal to deal with the mental challenge of the vest :)
SissySees said…
Whoa, we are opinionated about your knitting! ;)

I love that Karen wants to share this with you, but I also agree with gMarie; knitting is a hobby, and hobbies should be fun. I wish I had time to convert it to all-written instructions for you, but as it is, I'm worried I won't finish (start?!) the shoulder-warmer for my friend whose days are quite numbered.
Anonymous said…
You CAN DO EEEET! When you get to a tough spot, wait for Karen's help.

You will be so proud of yourself that you didn't let a silly ol' piece of paper conquer you.
KSD said…
I absolutely CANNOT knit from a chart. Which is why I make almost nothing lacy. Words, words, words, please.

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