You think I would know better by now.

 

I've crocheted countless patterns by other designers, always smiling smugly to myself when I "catch" an error in the design or notice one tiny detail that would make a big difference.

 

But yes. I have fallen victim to the most agonizing of the overlooked, those four little words "at the same time."

 

I'm crocheting a lovely sweater for my sister, a longsleeved cotton with an open neck and a high bottom ribbing to expose the belly.  (Even after carrying 3 children, my sister has a beautifully flat belly!) The pattern includes the typical increases and decreases. It even has an usual element that caught my eye, namely the ribbing. Maybe I was focussing too much effort on the unusual ribbing, but after completing the back and the split-side front of the sweater, I figured "heck, I have this down!"

 

It was after the second day of crocheting the first sleeve. The pattern was going nicely and some quick math assured me that I was going to have just enough of the dye lot purchased months ago in NYC to complete the project. I had completed the required rows of "pattern" and was about to finish the last increase row. Then the dread started, slowly at first. "Well this arm sure seems long already and I haven't even started on the capping yet."

 

I re-read the pattern. Yep. pattern row for 17 inches. Increase 2 stitches at the beginning of every 5th row, 8 times. Yep.

 

Then I saw them. Those sneaky little sabotaging words...

 

"Work in pattern until piece measures 17 inches from beg, AT THE SAME TIME, ..."

 

What?

 

I was supposed to increase AT THE SAME TIME?!!! Does that mean...??? (I will omit the choice explatives I uttered here in desperation for all the work and disgust with myself for not noticing earlier. "...at the same time..." That means I have to rip it out to almost the beginning!!  "...at the same time..."   AAAGGGHHH!

 

::sigh::

 

I frogged nearly 2 full skeins.