Clue 1 is finally done!!!!

Clue 1 of MS3

I've finally finished Clue 1 of MS3. I've learned a few valuable lessons: always use lifelines, color code your chart, use a magnetic board and magnets to keep track of your rows, and most importantly don't let your cats help you while you are knitting.

I am so relieved to finish Clue 1, I know that I'm way behind but I'm just so happy that it is finally finished. After having to start over and rip back to my lifelines on more than one occasion I was beginning to wonder if I would ever finish clue 1. I'm using straight needles so I wasn't able to fully stretch it out for the photo, but you get the idea.

I know that most folks are using solid colors but I couldn't resist the variegated yarn! I'm using Pastimes by Conjoined Creations. The color I am using is called 8 Tracks. Its 100% soy silk and heaven to knit with!

Now on to Clue 2!

Life lessons....

"Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood. --Ralph Waldo Emerson"


Its funny how diving in feet first sometimes is a perfect opportunity to distract oneself from the true point of the dive itself. So MS3 seemed like a good idea. The beads seemed fabulous but then as I was using them I began to question my color choice for beads since they weren't standing out as much as I wanted them to, but I kept on knitting. Then I read about folks color coding the different stitches on the charts to make it easier, but I ignored that suggestion and kept on knitting. Then I read numerous accounts of the glory and power of lifelines, but then again I kept on knitting. Somehow if I kept on knitting then everything would somehow magically work out. Yeah....not so much.



So earlier last week I dropped some stitches, picked them up and kept on knitting, with the dull beads, without a color coded chart, and without lifelines. Then I realized my knitting was a bit off so I ripped it out a few rows and kept on going (it was still a bit off) but I rationalized it to myself and kept on going. That resulted in me tinking, then ripping, then tinking again to reach a point that I was fairly certain I knew where I was, so I put it down, grabbed my trusty pair of corn socks and headed off for a few days of academic stimulation.

During those few days I saw this......

this

Site Steward (the squirrel)

some of these

BRM's

I found a few of these

Shell Beads

marveled at a herd of these

Tule Elk

was fascinated by these

Dragonfly

and was in total awe of this

It was great to do some field work in an area outside of my normal geographic area and it was a great opportunity to meet new people, see new things, and be inspired once again. It was an unexpected and highly welcomed feeling to be excited once again about my chosen profession and at the same time it made me come to terms with the "progress" I was making on MS3.

So today I gave it another shot, with the dull beads, a somewhat colored chart, and no lifelines. I made a mistake, I tinked back and then realized starting over isn't always the worst option possible. Going along with it, acting like everything is fine and knowing it isn't is a lot worse than taking a break and starting over with a new perspective and a new respect for a challenging task.



So I'm starting over, from the beginning on MS3 and its OK. I'm changing my beads. I'm going to use lifelines, and I'm going to color code my chart from the very beginning. While diving in head first can be fun, sometimes the best lessons aren't fun but necessary.