Mindless And Endless

One of the things I wanted to do this summer was knit up some dishcloths. Dishcloths are a good thing to knit. They are useful if you happen to be the type who does dishes, something I find I have to do from time to time. When I can't avoid it. Or don't have the cash to just buy new dishes and be done with it.

Even better, though, is that they make handy gifts. You wouldn't think people would get all giddy at the sight of a wrapped dishcloth, but some actually do. They must be the types who don't buy new dishes every time the situation in the sink gets out of hand. That or they are married to someone who will do the dishes. I hear tell that you can make kids do them, but that may just be a rumor...

At any rate, I thought it might be a good idea to knit up a few during my summer vacation. I have the time and God knows I have the yarn. Let's face it. It's easy to suddenly find yourself with fifty bazillion skeins of cotton. They are small and the colors are so pretty. And you can't beat the price! They somehow just seem to leap into the shopping basket. I didn't plan to knit dishcloths all summer long, mind you. I just thought I'd knit a few to have in the reserve pile come the holidays.

The first cloth was handily knit up in a weekend and I figured I was on a roll. I wasn't. I stalled out a bit. I didn't want to do the same pattern again because I am nothing if not a risk taker. I like to shake it up. I'm a real Wild Child!

Of course, I also didn't want to knit anything too hard. The dishcloth knitting was supposed to be a pleasant diversion rather than a hurdle. I'm not that much of a Wild Child! I was already knitting the scarf with the angry row 5 in it so I figured I was getting enough of the backtalk from my knitting, thank you very much.

Then I stumbled across The Nubbins Dishcloth pattern. (you can find it here in in a pdf) It had all I was looking for. It was simple. It was mindless. It had a cute little twist that made it more than just plain, ol' garter stitch. It was a can't miss! I cast on happily and knit away.

Here's the other thing about the pattern. The thing I failed to factor in.

It...

Is...

Endless...

There is no reason on this earth why the dishcloth shouldn't have been finished last weekend. But, I've been knitting for almost a week now and it just goes on and on and on. I can't seem to stick with it for more than a few rows before I want to start gnawing on the yarn and swatting imaginary flies.

It's not the pattern. In another time and place, I'd knit ten of these per day and proclaim to the world that I've never been happier! I'd knit one in gigantical, majestical size and wear it as a poncho. I'd knit one for every single person in the world and not even expect a thank you note because the experience of creating them was so utterly magical. That's how much I'd like this simple, but satisfying pattern.

This particular time and place is not quite so conducive to that level of happiness. I'm still slogging away on The Nubbins and can only hope to finish it sometime tomorrow. Further, the scarf remains on the blocking board with one end dry and the other one still damp. I guess the side near the window got the better end of the deal there, but it would be too much of a hassle to try and pick the whole thing up to turn it. I'll just leave it where it is and hope that End #2 gets with the program sometime soon.

I have no knitterly goodness to share with you tonight. Just the sad tale of my Neglected Nubbins and a half-dried scarf. Not my finest hour.

Let's all think dry and speedy thoughts, 'kay? You don't want another mindless and endless blog post do you?

SA