No method to my madness

You've probably seen blogs from some designers - especially the professional ones - where they show you their design process. It starts with a sketch or two, several swatches, and then slowly, methodically and with much thought and care, they create a beautiful garment.

Yeah - I don't design like that.

I get an vague idea and I go full force grab the yarn, cast on and go - whatever happens - happens. And most of the time it works.

When I started the scale pattern on Daenerys, I had no idea how I was going to end it. When I got to that point - I just sorta let the stitches take me where they wanted to go.

I've always been like that. If there was a project for art class where we had to do a "brainstorming" sketch before starting the actual project I'd do the most half-assed sketch you'd ever see, or I'd skip it completely, take the hit on the marks and go right for the jugular- the actual project.

Preparation is for wankers.

Anyway, my point to all this is in designing my new shawl, I started with a vague idea that floated into my head during one of my lunchtime walks. I cast on for it yesterday and knit happily along until it was time to add in a new stitch pattern - but what pattern??? I hadn't thought that far ahead.

So today on my walk, I thought a little more and decided I wanted a continuation of the leaf theme - but different than the leaf pattern already used.

This was going to take a little forethought.

Crap.

I hate forethought.

Now, I'm knitting this in Fluffy Cat. Lovely yarn that it is, it doesn't like being frogged - it starts too look a little worn out after too many do-overs.

So, I grabbed a ball of spare yarn and I *gasp* began to swatch!Now it took me almost all night to get it done and charted with the first stitch pattern - but hot damn! I like it! I should be able to get it knit into the shawl on the weekend.

Then it's on to the third stitch pattern.

No - I don't know what it is yet.

I guess I'm just a damn the torpedoes kinda girl - but so far it seems to be working for me.