The Tubular Blues

I'm at that point in my Diminishing Rib Cardigan, featured on the cover of Interweave Knits Spring 2009, where I'm nervous about finishing but excited to have a complete sweater. I've finished the body and have been tackling the tubular bind off.

Since I knit the beginning of this sweater more than twice, I promised myself to read directions carefully and follow them so the rest of the sweater would be knit once. I admit I did a little branching out on this sweater, because I wanted the waist ribbing to be closer to my waist that the pattern calls for. I also measured a favorite sweater for length and made all adjustments needed to get a good length for me.

Yesterday, measurements were in order, so I followed the directions as written for the tubular bindoff and although it looked horrible I perservered thinking the pattern has got to be right and as I continue things will look better. I did the set up row and about 2 inches of binding off before I came to grips with the fact that things were wrong. So I ripped out the 2 inches which was extremely slow going, and took out the set up rows.

After examining my knitting I realized that I had gotten off track by slipping stitches where I should have knit, and knit where I should have slipped. I should have read my stitches as well as the pattern. So I did the set up rows again and decided to reread the instructions before starting the bind off. And there it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The part that said knit 1x1 ribbing
for 1 ¼ inches. So I did a few rows of 1x1 rib and just now rechecked the directions. There is no part that says knit 1x1 ribbing for 1 ¼ inches for the hem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The directions say that for the waist shaping. Oy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It would appear that my eyes drifted to another spot on the pattern entirely. I seem to becoming completely incompetent.

My question to myself now is shall I rip out those extra rows of 1x1 rib, or leave them?

I'm dreading trying the tubular bind off again, but determined to get it right.

I really want to move on to the sleeves.

Perhaps I need to set this aside and work on the Momogus V Neck Shell as a palette cleanser?