3 Tips for Successfully Following a Knitting Pattern

Has this ever happened to you? You're knitting along on a project, following your pattern (or so you think), and when you're project is complete something is just not quite right?

Well, that happened to my friend Lucinda as she was knitting a pair of Helen Stewart's Shadow Box Socks. This article is inspired by an actual group text with some of my proficient knitting friends and it started like this.

LP: ... I think they turned out perfectly? #errata

Lies Knitters Tell Themselves an Others

Highlights from our silly group text.

LP: Excellent toe choice for people who have their big toe in the middle of their foot instead of on the side.

CG: They do look great otherwise.

CV: 🤣 I think the look ah-mazing!

FB: She wasn't even knitting unsupervised.

MC: It was the classic "I thought something was off, but I kept going" situation.

CG: Friends shouldn't let friends knit pointy toes.

And of course we laughed about the three big lies we tell when someone displays an amazing knit item like this.

• Just call it a design element.
• Don't worry, that will block right out.
• If you can't see it from a galloping horse or moving car, it's no big deal.

Pattern Reading | 3 Easy Tips

Humor aside, this is a really good learning experience. After we all got our giggles out, Lucinda's takeaway from the experience is worth sharing and remembering.

• When you begin a pattern, look for errata. Whether it's a freshly published pattern or one that's been around for awhile, it's worth taking a minute to research and see if corrections/clarifications have been made since you downloaded or printed it. If you purchased the pattern on Ravelry, check your library for pattern updates from the designer or review other knitters' project notes. If you purchased elsewhere online, check the pattern listing for notes about errata and how to download the most recent version.
• Understand what you are doing. Sometimes it's as simple as actually reading and following the written pattern instructions. Don't just go on auto-pilot because you thing you have the pattern memorized. Make sure you are actually doing what the pattern says.
• Look at your knitting. To avoid a sore neck, you shouldn't always be hunched over and staring at every stitch. However, you do need to look down from time to time and make sure everything is shaping up the way it should. If it's not, stop knitting and figure out what's happening.

A Happy Ending

I wouldn't be telling you this pointy-toed sock tale if it didn't have a happy ending and here's the proof. I think those socks look ah-mazing! (And I'm not just saying that to be nice 😉.)