Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Tweed and lace and cables - oh my!

Leave it to me to start a project, abandon it for say...oh, a year, and then pick it up again. (Carmelita, what?) Next up, I'm back with my stripey, tweedy knee highs that I abandoned after *ahem* last year's Socktoberfestivities. How embarrassing.

It's purely coincidence that I just recently picked up these socks again when we also find ourselves in the midst of Soctoberfest, but regardless of the nonplanning on my part, I'm quite pleased that these socks and I are back together. I immediately remembered how much I loved these once I dug them out. After all, it was never for lack of love that I put these away in the first place. Just a seasonal thing. Who wants to work on tweedy wool knee socks in warm weather- am I right?

Now I've got to work some increases to compensate for my calves. The winging continues...

As does another fling with me and tweed. Rowan Felted Tweed. I purchased a bag at the infamous Blacksheep Knittery sale back whenever it was. I didn't know what I would use it for, but a sweater's worth of this color was too good to pass up.

I've since decided it will become a Tangled Yoke Cardigan. At least for now. Whether I actually finish this knit remains to be seen. We all know how I am with plain stockinette, which is a large portion of this sweater. Wish me luck. I'm hoping the fact that I have other WIPs competing for attention will actually allow me to work on this sweater at a leisurely, non-stressful) pace. Let's see how it goes...so far so good...

I also recently started working on another lace shawl. One can only hope this won't take me nearly as long to complete as Carmelita (though she was well worth the wait). I'm using Malabrigo lace, the most incredibly soft baby merino wool you could imagine. Yummy, yum yum yum!

Here we have the very beginning of a Spring Things Shawl. I owe this one to aimless wandering on Ravelry.

...And if those aren't enough, I also swatched for another sweater while at our little retreat last month. I haven't started it yet, but it's waiting in the wings.

You may be asking yourself, what is she like right now, with all these projects going at once? Who does she think she is? Trust me; no one is as surprised as much as I am. For many knitters having numerous projects on the needles at the same time is no big deal. But for a (mostly) monogamous knitter like me, it's a bit much. I think it's a result of overcompensation for not really feeling overly jazzed or consumed by a single project. After the epic that was Carmelita had come to an end, I wasn't drawn to any one project in particular. So, I just started casting on, one thing after another, using yarn from my stash (at least that part is productive, right?). Will I follow through on all these, or will one or two start to consume me, while others are cast aside? Will I start to feel overwhelmed? Hmm. Only time will tell. But for now, the variety is nice.

19 comments:

Mouse said...

Ravelry is good (but baaaad) for searching out patterns and finding ones you've never seen before but must have RIGHT NOW. Hence the reason I have the queue of doom going over there.

Tusa said...

Good for you! I love casting on and find it difficult to finish a project yet I also enjoy the finished product.

kat coyle said...

i love those socks. you were knitting those the first time i met you. the colors are great. i too have started a lot of projects. must be in the air.

Theresa said...

There's something about fall that really does make you want to cast on lots and knit tweedy wool, isn't there?

Marnie said...

Don't feel bad, I swing between monogamy (and sometimes abstinence) and knitting sluttery. It's all good.

They seem like a really nice assortment of projects regardless and you seem to be someone who can start, put down and start again, which is key. I can be bad at that.

fluffbuff said...

I am glad you picked up those socks again; they are beautiful.

jillian said...

I wonder just how many peeps will be wandering about LA this fall/winter with a TYC made of Felted Tweed obtained at the BSK sale?? It's in my queue :)

knitzalot said...

Good luck with all that stockinette! I'm sure it will be beautiful when you finish.

Anonymous said...

i just scored some felted tweed a handful of weeks ago myself - not a bag full (!) but still enough to do something with. yay for felted tweed - and its' amazing yardage ;)

happy wednesday!

Anonymous said...

i remember when i first saw those socks, and loved the colors. that was a while ago! finish them!

MJ

LotusKnits said...

I'm drooling over everything in this post! *drool*

Thanks for the birthday wishes too!

<3
Melanie

Kara said...

Stripy Knee-highs? Tangled Yoke Cardigan? We are totally knitting twins!

Disentangled said...

Nonnahs? Nooonnaaahs? Is that you? ;-)

Jennifer said...

I go through these cycles too. I tend to be a two project kind of gal, but sometimes the urge to cast on gets the better of me. You've got some great projects on the needles!

Shelley said...

I think it's the football. You have all this time to knit and watch. Heaven knows you don't want to be bored!!

K8 said...

Knitting monogamy is an unknown concept for me. There's nothing wrong with having 4 (or 20) WIPs! That BSK sale was amazing - I think the felted tweed was all gone by the time I made it. And the new shawl is looking lovely (esp. with the Malabrigo lace!)

f. pea said...

As a fellow knitting monogamist, I can say it's generally either boredom or spectacular over-commitment that leads me to keep casting on for new projects. Though finishing a long-abandoned one feels so good! I can't wait to see how your tangled-yoke cardigan comes out!

Madge said...

Gorgeous projects you have goin' on these cool autumn days. Each and every one is beautiful...though I must admit my heart went pitter pat seeing you've cast on your Felted Tweed. (gah, I'm such a tweedhead) You do such lovely work!

I'm happiest with 5-6 projects going at any one time. A sweater, a lace shawl, and little projects - socks, hats, scarves, felted bags - to break up the monotony of the larger projects...so to me you have the perfect combo of WIPs right now.

Anonymous said...

The unbelievable thing is that those projects could not be any more different from each other. That's kind of nice -- you'll always have something to match your knitting mood.