[TammyK]

While I don't have to deal with ADD (as far as I know), I am a multi-tasker (something we women-folk are known for) and knitting is rarely (if ever) the ONLY thing I am doing. Unless I'm killing time in a waiting room somewhere (like the 4 hours I spent one day last month waiting for my car to be repaired) I am usually watching TV or visiting with friends while I click away. My method of keeping track of where I am in a pattern usually involves a combination of row counters and post-it notes. If the pattern calls for many repeats of a fixed number of rows (such as 8 repeats of a 12 row stitch pattern for a scarf) then I use 2 row counters - one to keep track of the pattern row I am working and the other to keep track of the repeat of the entire stitch pattern. I use different colored counters so I don't mix them up. If the pattern has a lot of rows or if the rows are very long or complex I will place a post-it note below the row I am working so I can zero in on the row I need to follow. Highlighters can also be helpful in keeping your eye focused on the correct row and preventing you from starting the stitch pattern of one row and finishing with the stitches from another. (While that can be very "interesting" it rarely yields the desired result.)

I have three nephews, all of whom have asked me to teach them to knit at some point. While he has never been diagnosed, I am pretty sure the middle boy has ADHD to some extent - he has always been bouncing off the walls and has the attention span of a gnat. When he asked me to teach him to knit last summer (at age 11) I expected him last about 5 minutes before the novelty wore off and he moved on to something else. I was very pleasantly surprised to see him not only pick it up very quickly, but sit quietly and work for literally hours at a time. After seeing that first-hand it does not surprise me at all that knitting would turn out to be good therapy for focus-challenged kids and adults.

 

[LindaH]

Hey Tena,

If frogging is unraveling knitting work, then I have been frogging all over the place! I took out the part where the scarf was showing the purl bumps with the other color this morning, and I am about to try it again later this evening. I did take some pictures of it before I took it out. Hopefully I will be able to post them in the next day or 2.

I thought that tinking was unraveling knitting work a stitch at a time.. Frogging seems like it is jumping from place to place, not being able to stay still. Much like a frog would do.. Although, I have watched some of the tree frogs around my property sit in one spot for what seems like hours.. Hmmm, maybe frogging isn't that. LOL..

 

[Purple Butterfly]

I thought that tinking was unraveling knitting work a stitch at a time

That's right. "Tink" is "knit" backwards. "Frogging" comes from the sounds of a frog (ribbet, ribbet), and is actually ripping out stitches or rows, or even whole sections.

 

[LindaH]

My aunt and I were laughing like crazy at the word tink this past weekend. Knitting has really brought the 2 of us closer I think. We would substitute the word tink for think just about all weekend, and just die laughing as if it was an inside joke between us. LOL.. It was really fun. Now when I go see her tomorrow, I can actually tell her what tink actually means.. and LAUGH all over again. Especially with the addition of the froggy word.. LOL..

I didn't even know that I was tinking when I was taking out a row or 2. I didn't want to have to try to get my needle lined up just right if I took out a whole row or more, so I would just hand the needles to my aunt, and she would tink away for me.. Isn't that the way to do it? Hehehehe!!

Totally ADD! Seriously though, I prefer to take stuff out one stitch at a time, but if I have 6 rows like I did this morning, I just went ahead and got froggy with it.. (Sounds like that line from one of Will Smith's songs "get jiggy with it" or something like that.. This scarf was seriously stomping all over on my last nerve this morning.. I am ready to be DONE with that scarf!

Linda

 

[Tena]

I have spent alot of time today tinking and frogging..I just didn't know that I was "tinking" until now! LOL

I will get that cable pattern learned if it is the last thing (tink) I do!

 

[Mrs. Pat]

I watch TV, and the time flies when I am knitting "boring" sections. Think of the ripping out of stitches as part of the process. Everyone does it. Just change your attitude, and be happy that you found the mistake. Keep smiling.