Patternist approached Sample Knitter with more friendliness than usual, she wasn’t knitting off her own instructions, so there was no risk of a re-write: Hi Sample knitter, you sure are enjoying Tangerine Trifle.
Sample Knitter looked ready to gush, Patternist stiffened, expecting a jealous twang: Patternist, I am enjoying this project! Everything written out clearly, no cryptic sketches, the lace part had a nice chart, but this short row bit is all in print without a graph, would you graph it for me? I have to count so many stitches, I can’t do it in front of the TV, or when children are talking to me…
Patternist looked at the pattern: It looks very clear to me, I wouldn’t have charted it either, think how many pages you’d have to print out, then paste together. Let’s think of a way you could work this more easily; what are you doing now when you have to count?
Sample Knitter: I’m counting as I knit.
Patternist: Is that the problem, two things at the same time?
Sample Knitter: Yes! I can only muli-task so much!
Patternist: How about you turn, then count the stitches and put this hook marker at the point where you next bit of instructions are? That way you can double check it before you have committed the yarn. Here’s a pencil, you can check off rows as you go too.
Sample Knitter: Oh thanks, two good ideas, that must be why Editor wanted me to keep a pencil with me!