Nothing that I knit is working out at the moment. When I feel like this, I think maybe its time to stop knitting from patterns for a while. I'm terrible at following patterns, and I always adapt them - then things don't work out. At the moment the list of disasters is as follows:

Convertible Cardigan - keep missing things I'm supposed to do in the pattern. Don't want to do pockets as think it will be too bulky. Don't like the cable. Don't like the selvedge. Its going to be ripped!

Bridie - beautiful pattern but hubbie pointed out (correctly) last weekend that I never really wear those russet-y autumnal colours.

Also knitting a baby hat for yet another newborn in my circle of friends. Using a lovely yarn I won in a Simply Knitting competition - Regia Bamboo sock yarn. However, didn't use one of my usual patterns and the stitch count doesn't work out for this new-to-me pattern.

I used to think it was me (and often it most definately is), but also I've become much more cynical about patterns recently, through talking with other knitters. Sometimes, they're not well written. Sometimes they're wrong. Now I know why - designers are paid peanuts for patterns, and are usually under tight deadlines when producing them. But its annoying when you work on something, using expensive yarn, and it just won't work.

Tonight: a break from knitting and some reading for the (knitting) soul by Elizabeth Zimmerman I think!