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My favourite line

I have a personal popularity contest happening with my knitting patterns. In every pattern with a pattern repeat I find I develop a favourite line. In Charlotte’s web it was the identical 3rd and 4th lines of the pattern repeat. I also develop a dreaded line. In the C’est La Vie wrap it’s the one with the K3T. What do I have against knitting three together? I find it a painful stitch, requiring my hand to use more force than it’s used to, my needles feeling like they’re bending to the point of snapping. K3T is why I gave up on the Branching Out Scarf on Knitty.

I’m more likely to knit just one more row when it’s my favourite line, and ready to stop at the dreaded line. Is this my own personal quirk? Am I the only one who develops a personal relationship with lines of patterns? Want to warn me about a pattern that drove you crazy with more hated lines than loved ones? Am I losing it? Is it the lack of sunshine?

Dsc01598Came home from work today, our 32nd day of rain in a row (I live in a land of microclimates, and although Vancouver hasn’t broken any rain records, I live against a mountain in a rain forest type climate) to have my day brightened with a Purling Puppy RAOK from Becca. We heartily LOL’d looking at the patterns for doggiewear. Watch out, Gracee. Thanks, Becca.

Speaking of lack of sun, my DD’s BF is trying to remember the title of a book he read while in grade school. I figure there are enough knitting librarians who follow this blog that maybe you can help me out. It was about a place where the sun shone infrequently, maybe once per year. A little boy was locked in a closet by other kids, missing his chance to see the sun. It’s possible that the word penny or pennies appeared in the title. Any suggestions?

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14 responses to “My favourite line”

  1. Eva (EvaLux) Avatar
    Eva (EvaLux)

    I googled “book boy locked closet sun” and I found this page: http://www.raybradbury.com/articles_town_talk.html
    It seems to be a short story by Ray Bradbury called It’s all summer in a day… you can read about it on that page 🙂
    Cheers Eva

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  2. Beth Avatar
    Beth

    Dang! Eva got there with the story first. That’s good customer service for you!
    I’m the same way with pattern lines. I’ve been trying to do entire pattern repeats before stopping just to combat this.

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  3. Dorothy Avatar
    Dorothy

    Don’t all knitters have favorite lines? I’m working on a Dale of Norway and I like the lines that have frequent color repeats. I don’t like the lines that have long lines of the same color (unless it’s all one color) because of the long floats or having to strand. And speaking of long floats – I’m ready for some sun – how about you?

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  4. Nadia Avatar
    Nadia

    That’s why I’m picking Rogue for the Knitting Olympics — every row is a fave!

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  5. Folkcat Avatar
    Folkcat

    Yup, Eva’s got it right. There was a tv series once that did Bradbury’s stories, too, they did a version of “All Summer in a Day” there. Great story. But then, of course, it’s Bradbury after all.

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  6. caro Avatar
    caro

    I’ve been trying to remember that EXACT story! I’m so glad someone knew what it was! It was made into a movie (I think it was in french) in the 70’s or 80’s. I’ve pestered my pals for years to try and get them to remember. It was pretty dang creepy and has haunted me for years!

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  7. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    I find it important to finish the dreaded row before I put my work down. That way I can be wooed by more friendly rows and keep momentum on that project. This is a trick from writing. Always stop where you want to begin.

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  8. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    Nope, you are not the only one. That happens to me a lot. I didn’t think it might be strange until
    you just now suggested it might be. I think if I disliked more lines than I liked, it would
    end up an UFO.

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  9. Rebekah Avatar
    Rebekah

    Hmmm, favorite rows of knitting. Well I guess I can see that, come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I have that in some patterns. I’m not a fan of K3T either.

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  10. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    I was going to tell you the name of the story, but I see you’ve already gotten it. I used to teach it to my seventh graders (it was in their text). I used to think of you when we read it. 🙂

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  11. sandy Avatar
    sandy

    Okay, I did not know the story that your son was looking for (sun???haha) but I did remember Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Remember that one?

    I am wishing a day of bright sun for you. Rain Rain go away!
    🙂

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  12. Kristen Avatar
    Kristen

    The Bradbury story sounds kind of creepy!

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  13. Pamela Avatar
    Pamela

    Have you tried using a crochet hook for your K3tog? Slip the stitches onto the hook, wrap your yarn and draw through all 3 stitches. Slip the resulting single stitch onto your right knitting needle.

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  14. Judith Avatar
    Judith

    Sandy mentioned “Cloudy w/a Chance of Meatballs”–I certainly remember that one–can’t keep track of the number of times I had to read that one to my son who worshiped that book. Dreaded lines come in machine knitting & crochet patterns as well–no escape. It’s the likable row that entices one to go over the hill & dale looking for the beautiful view.

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