On learning new things

A confession here, folks: I am really a throw knitter. I am trying to be a pick-knitter (not a nit-picker!) because it's so obviously faster and, for me, a way to get a gauge that comes close to that of a pattern-writer's. However, I'm relatively new to this pick-knitting thing. And this sweater, this February Lady Sweater has a lace pattern for most of the body in which every other row is purled! Purled! Pick-knitting is not good for purling. Not at all.

So this sweater is a learning experience. It's my first time trying a large amount of pick-purling. I really really really want to go back to throwing for every single purl row. It's driving me around the bend to be going so slowly and painfully when there is a perfectly good (if much tighter) alternative available to me. But I'm persevering and that, hopefully, will mean that at the end of the sweater, I'm at least a competent pick-purler.

I keep thinking that maybe the next time I make one of these things, I will learn how to knit backwards (left-handed?) and then there won't be the need for any pick-purling at all.