I totally get now why the ear flaps are knitted on double pointed needles. That said, I am as much a fan of new patterns as I am of taking a test on any subject. I don't know why I freak at the thought of a test, but I do. Any and all knowledge I have of a topic goes flying out the window the moment the word test is said. If I know there will be a test before I begin to study, I will only see a blank page. Happens every time and I did not ever grow out of it. 

So it goes with following a new knitting pattern. The pattern called for an increase in stitches at both the beginning and end of the row. I missed the part about the end of the row and so I ended up with an ear flap large enough for an elephant. Perhaps that is a tad bit of an exaggeration, but not much. If I was knitting an elephant, it would have been the perfect size. 

After completing said two gargantuan ear flaps, I realized something was very wrong. I had two right ear flaps. I admit that I saw it coming, but I had to see it completed before I looked at the pattern to see what went wrong.  Found the error of my ways. That little extra stitch at the end made all the difference in the world. Cut my rows down to twenty instead of thirty-five reducing the gargantiousness of it. (yeah, I made up that word or just misspelled it) Then it came to knitting the flaps onto the circular needles.  

That took some back and forth off the needles as I didn't use the double pointed needles. I didn't have them in the size I was needed, so I used regular ones.  Back and forth I went, till I got it right. Almost right.

After knitting the first flap and adding 18 stitches, I knitted the second flap on. Then I realized I was using the wrong strand of yarn. Instead of picking up from the ball, I had picked up the leader yarn from the ear flap.  Auggg!

I hate picking up stitches. I ripped the ear flap from needles and threw the whole thing to the side.  The little voice in my head told me not to lose my temper and rip out everything.  I know I would rather go to the dentist and have teeth pulled then pick up stitches, but tomorrow is another day. Things always look better in the morning.  

I've lived long enough to know to listen to the little voice.

Morning came and I was glad that I hadn't ripped it all out.  With the rising sun, I figured out a way to fake the double pointed needles and got all the stitches where they should be.  So easy, when you pay attention to what you are doing and not blanking out because there might be a test.

Next came the joining. Do not twist. I said DO NOT TWIST. For the seventh time, DO NOT FRICKING TWIST! Wheh!  All is on the needle as it should be without twisting. Like I heard my self the first time. Maybe the voice could have told the yarn instead of yelling at me. Sheesh.

Now it's the easy part. (Famous last words?) No, really. It's just simple knitting in the round for the three to four inches. 

I still think it's going to be a lot bigger than I expected, but an adult may be able to wear it comfortably. Alicia said she would wear it. She is a crazy person. 

On the tube, NADA. The Vampire Diaries were ok, but I would rather have the peace and quiet for the time being. Threw the Lord of The Rings DVD on earlier today. Watched none of it.