I worked on my endpaper mitts. I am struggling with the yarn, which loves to stick with itself in a bizarre mating ritual that spawns knots. I am struggling with the itty-bitty needles that make me feel like I have gone blind. And I am struggling with my own prejudices that other people, especially pattern designers, are morons. I just do not believe anyone has any clue how to make things that will fit me. These are mittens, but looking at the pattern pictures, the cuff goes way up the arm and the designer has very thin forearms. I finally decided that I would do the ribbing in the larger size needles in hopes of having the cuff fit my arm without emulating a tourniquet. I may take a photo at this point, but I might prefer to ignore this project for a while longer.
(I really do struggle with this idea that anyone who has written a pattern has written it wrong. Either there is something I do not like, or the chosen yarn is silly, or it will never fit me (which is really irritating when one is considering a shawl and one wears regular sized clothes). And that is not including the pattern authors who have outright errors. I am still angry about that Hip Knit Hats book where every single pattern was listed on the errata page— which is not listed in the book, though with more than a dozen major errors, one would think the publisher could have planned ahead and listed a stub page for potential errata. They could not possibly think that they would get a perfect typeset, right?)
I am considering the “Dancing Leaves” lace shawl by Evelyn Clark, but that leaf shape is a standard one, so what I would be buying is someone else doing all the math. What kept me from buying it instantly is the rock-solid belief that other people’s math is not to be trusted. It is not like I can write to her and ask “Are you a moronic twit who publishes patterns that are completely worthless?” Obviously tact would require that to be rephrased, but essentially, that is what I want to know. Can someone vouch for that particular pattern? Has anyone bought anything off her website and are her PDFs hinky?
In the meantime, I started working on a hat, top-down, from the Spunky “Hotrod” superwash merino that I spun up very thick and soft. 
I don’t know if your heart is set on the Dancing Leaves shawl, but I have knit Evelyn Clark’s Flower Basket shawl pattern, available from Fiber Trends, and I know that it is correct. No errors at all, and I knit it twice. I think it was definitely worth the price because it’s an easy pattern to knit, but looks beautiful. The people to whom I’ve given the shawls I’ve made have loved them, and I’m planning to make more when I have time.
Comment by seedless grape — January 4, 2008 @ 11:31 am
I prefer shawls which are non-triangular. The triangle business leaves my behind cold and I spend way too much time holding onto the shawl because it will not stay put until it is enormous enough that I can fold a good amount of the fabric over my shoulders to the front.
So what I like about “Dancing Leaves” is the 3/4 circle.
What I did not like is the warning on Evelyn Clark’s website saying that patterns are sold as is without guarantee that they are error-free.
Comment by UndyedYarnpire — January 4, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
It is understandable to not trust another’s pattern, but from my personal experience with knitting many EAC patterns, you can trust that Evelyn A. Clark patterns are correct. I recently finished the Dancing Leaves Lace Shawl , and there is nary a mistake. I’ve knit most of Evelyn’s shawl patterns and some sock, hat and scarf patterns as well. Haven’t found a mistake in any of them. Ask ‘brooklynn tweed’ for his opinion of Evelyn’s pattern. He doesn’t know her, and has a totally independent opinion. You’ll probably be able to find a multitude of EAC fans out there who will vouch for the accuaracy in her patterns. I’m one of them!
Peggy
Comment by Peggy — February 4, 2008 @ 11:05 am
Peggy: Thank you for sharing your experience. That was exactly what I was searching for: someone who bought the pattern, knitted it, and was still happy with the experience and the result after all that.
In this era where negative comments are stripped from review sites, it is very difficult to distinguish between something new and something awful.
I bought the book Wrapped In Comfort (by Hyde) because all the shawls in it were of the most-of-a-circle type. I still like the “Dancing Leaves”, but $10 for one pattern or $14 for a book? There are a number of errors in the book though and, when I am done with the one pattern, the book is going to the library donation pile.
Comment by UndyedYarnpire — February 4, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
The way I look at it is “$10 for a pattern by a tried-and-true expert”. But I’m a fan of Evelyn’s, so that’s my opinion with full disclosure. Were you able to visit our Yarn Girls They Do Get Wooly blog? There’s a pretty picture to entice you…
Peggy
Comment by Peggy — February 4, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
I did see your finished shawl. That was awesome. I even left you a comment. Which I rarely do because 90% of them disappear (so if you get 6 of them, I am sorry.)
Comment by UndyedYarnpire — February 4, 2008 @ 2:51 pm