Saturday, April 26, 2008

Just keep knitting...

I've managed to keep knitting in spite of myself. In spite of the fact that yarn keeps finding its way into my stash. Argh. The stash vow is broken and as a result, I feel oppressed by my yarn. Isn't that weird? I just want to knit, but all the possibilities of possibilities keep me from actually turning the yarn into knitted items. Should I make this? Should I make that? I have too much yarn for that, but too little yarn for that? Will it be worth my time? Will it look good?

Part of the problem is that I've been knitting for other people right now. When I have to please just myself, I can let mistakes go or feel free to take a risk, but when I knit for other people I get all paralyzed by whether or not the knitted item will suit their needs or taste.

I finished my socks for my Sit 'n Knit Secret Sock Exchange. I designed them myself, and I hope the recipient will like them, but the entire time I was knitting them, I was plagued by worries that she won't. Drat. No pictures or details 'til next week!

I've also been knitting a little thank you gift for my boss who has recently taken up knitting herself. She' s done a lot for me this year, and I've helped her with her knitting (which is a gift she'll give to someone else.) Will she like my present? The color is right, I'm pretty sure. She wears scarves. I like the idea that the scarf is reversible, but will she like the pattern at all?oh...the uncertainty.



I have lots of things I want to do. Design an a cabled sweater. Knit the Printed Silk Cardigan from Interweave Knits. Knit a hat for my brother.

BUT, I FORGOT! (see how easily I am distracted)I have had some persevering pay off. Despite travels, distractions, and uncertainty about the quality of a project, I finished something that I've worn and LOVE!

Pattern: Laminaria
Yarn: Hill Country Yarns Superfine Superwash Sock Yarn in "Teal"
Enabler: Hill Country Yarns Sock Club

Knitted on: Size 7 Knitpicks Options Needles.
Time spent knitting on airplanes and in various stages of distraction: Fifteen days, April 3-18.

I no longer believe in using 100% wool to knit socks, especially 100% merino wool, because I think it leads to holes in one's soles and thus, one's soul. I'm also not especially fond of knitting with cobwebby lace mohair yarn I'm using for Muir, so the teal sock-weight yarn was a joy to knit lace out of. The pattern is well conceived and not too hard to execute--I found I could knit independently of the printed pattern after two or three repeats. I made the smaller version out of yarn heavier than called for, so the size is pretty good. But now, I really want to make a BIG SHAWL.

1 comment:

nicolina said...

haha... the pattern is called laminaria.