writing: I'm stuck

Problem:  During the early stages of a writing project, I grow discouraged with my lack of finesse.
My solution:  Give up—at least for a while—and move on to another project.
From Help for Writers: 210 solutions to the problems every writer faces by Roy Peter Clark: ‘Lower your standards at the beginning of the process. Raise them later.’ He continues by quoting poet William Stafford. ‘I believe that the so-called “writing block” is a product of some kind of disproportion between your standards and your performance… One should lower his standards until there is no felt threshold to go over in writing. It’s easy to write. You just shouldn’t have standards that inhibit you from writing.’

free knitting pattern woman's sweater by Leanne Dyck

Flowers for Mary

This gentle blend of rib stitch and easy lace makes a flattering top that you'll love to wear.

Skill level:  beginner

Sizes:  S [M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]

Finished Measurements:

Chest:  36 [40, 44, 48, 52, 56]

Length:  22 [22.5, 24, 24, 26, 26]

Materials:  4 [4, 5, 5, 6] light worsted yarn (each ball 168 yards/154 metres)

Recommended needles:  1 pair 4.50 mm (7 US, 7 UK), 1 pair 9.00 mm OR size to obtain tension

Gauge: 3 stitches = 1 inch

            4.5 stitches = 1 inch

 4 x 4 rib stitch (over even number of stitches)

Row:  knit four, purl four—to end of row.

Repeat row for pattern.

Moss stitch (over even number of stitches)

Row 1:  knit two, purl two—to end of row.

Row 2:  purl two, knit two—to end of row.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for the pattern.

  

Note:  To shorten or lengthen sleeves –

alter at this point…

“* Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 8 inches (20.3 cm)”

To shorten, reduce the number of inches.

To lengthen, increase the number of inches.

Back

Cast on 80 [90; 100; 108; 118; 126] stitches work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 13 [13, 14, 14, 15, 15] inches. 33 [33, 35.5, 35.5, 38, 38] cm

Change to larger needles and decrease 26 [30, 34, 36, 40, 42] stitches evenly across row 54 [60, 66, 72, 78, 84] stitches remain.

Work in moss stitch for 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Decrease 3 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows 48 [54, 60, 66, 72, 78] stitches remain.

Work in moss stitch for 6 inches (15. 2 cm)

This row:  14 [17, 20, 23, 26, 29] in moss stitch; decrease 20 stitches; 14 [17, 20, 23, 26, 29] in moss stitch.

Work in moss stitch for 2 inches (5 cm)

Cast off

Front

Cast on 80 [90; 100; 108; 118; 126] stitches work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 13 [13, 14, 14, 15, 15] inches. 33 [33, 35.5, 35.5, 38, 38] cm

Change to larger needles and decrease 26 [30, 34, 36, 40, 42] stitches evenly across row 54 [60, 66, 72, 78, 84] stitches remain.

Work in moss stitch for 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Decrease 3 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows 48 [54, 60, 66, 72, 78] stitches remain.

Work in moss stitch for 4 inches (10.2 cm)

This row:  14 [17, 20, 23, 26, 29] in moss stitch; decrease 20 stitches; 14 [17, 20, 23, 26, 29] in moss stitch.

Work in moss stitch for 4 inches (10.2 cm)

Cast off

Sleeves (make 2)

Cast on 72 [76, 80, 80, 86, 86] stitches

Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Increase 2 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows. Increase to 76 [80, 84, 84, 90, 90] stitches.

Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next two rows 74 [78, 82, 82, 88, 88] stitches

Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next two rows 72 [76, 80, 80, 86, 86] stitches

*Work in 4 x 4 rib stitch for 8 inches (20.3 cm)

Work in Stockinette stitch for 2 inches (5 cm)

Cast off

Every attempt has been made to ensure that the instructions are clear and correct.  Please notify us of any errors so we may correct them immediately.

© Leanne Dyck, May 09