I note it’s been over a year since I last posted. Well, it’s not like much has happened in the past 12 months…

I’m knitting a sweater for a friend of mine (they know about it, so no mad panic or worries about spoilers). I’m making this:

…and last night when I stopped knitting I noted that a moron had temporarily taken over knitting for a couple of moments a few rows ago…

In my defence, the cables at one end of the row twist one way and the ones at the other end twist the other way, so I only switched method about 100 stitches too early, is all. There are two ways to fix this – pull back 2 rows with 10 cable switches, 9 of which are correct, or hack in and fix just these 6 stitches.

I took photos so that you too can marvel in the skill of my advanced knitting technique, and maybe also get enough info to have a crack for yourself should you ever find yourself in this exact bind.

Step 1:  move the field of action to the place in the row where the terrible mistake lies.

Step 2: Carefully drop the 6 stitches that make up the cable over (in this case) 2 rows, i.e. back to and including the cable-twist row, and place the stitches on a holder or spare needle.

Step 3: decide that that isn’t going to work and separate the stitches to a holder and cable needle

Step 4: now you are ready to start knitting up again. Awkwardly wielding holders and knitting needles, use the dropped-stitches yarn to re-knit the rows you’ve dropped, being careful (and I can’t emphasize enough how crucial this is) to twist the cable the right way this time.

There is quite a lot of yarn floating around, but as the saying goes, that shit’ll block right out.

Step 5: transfer the 6 stitches from right to left-hand needle and re-knit the latest row (you could turn it around and purl them without transferring, but why make life harder for yourself?)

Step 6: Transfer stitches back onto the left-hand needle/back to where you were. Have a stiff gin and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Step 7: knit the rest of the sweater and pay attention more better this time.

The yarn, for those who care to know is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and it’s laaaarvely.