Extreme pain is a good excuse!
Years ago I decided to knit a complicated cable-pattern sweater for the then Mr Quar.

I did the boring rib bits then started on the tricky part. Lots of complex counting, changing from one stich to another, holding some stitches on a separate cable needle and sliding them across...

As I felt I was doing really well, didn't seem to get confused or miss anything, I decided not to check how the knitting looked until I'd done about 4" deep of it, so I'd have a nice surprise when I saw how good it was.

After concentrating REALLY hard on the knitting for several hours, and starting to feel very uncomfortable sitting in one position for so long, apart from a few loo breaks, I eventually thought 'Right! This is it!' and held it up to the light.

Strangely, it didn't look anything like a skilfully-knitted sweater. It looked more like a shark-bitten fishing net - huge gaps and holes, joined by a few pathetic strands here and there.

Absolutely stunned, I sat and stared at it, for at least a full minute.
What the hell was going on?

I soon realised. Did I mention that I was 9-and-a-bit-months pregnant?
The discomfort I'd been feeling was actually labour pains. All the time I'd thought I was concentrating beautifully and getting it all right, I'd actually been twiddling the knitting needles and tying the wool in useless knots.

Junior was born a few hours later. The knitting hung around for a few years then went in the bin.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Thu 24 Jun 2010, 16:29, Reply)