And So It Goes...

I thought I had a fairly decent handle on things.  I thought I had my startitis under control.  Then I realized there's less than 3 weeks until Rhinebeck and I didn't really have anything Rhinebeck-worthy to wear.

I dove into the stash, browsed some patterns, and came up with the Brush Creek Shawl.

I cast on, and got about 30 rows in before I realized I was horribly incapable of counting accurately, and  tore the whole mess out.

I cast on again, and realized I'm not horribly incapable of counting accurately but I am horribly incapable of reading accurately, and tore the whole mess out.

I'm using a gradient kit from Black Trillium Fibres that I got back when I was on that cowl jag.  The color is "quartz" and this is the darkest of the 5 shades.

I'm almost to the charts on the pattern, and up until now I was certain I could finish it for the 17th.  Now I'm not so sure.  They're quite daunting.

Also, I've had to put the newest blanket on hold for a bit.  I did make some progress, though.

It's getting there.  And so far it has no completion deadline.

I should find some wood to knock on.

Season's Greetings

It's (almost) that time of year again.  According to increasing Facebook posts, Christmas is just under 3 months away.

Every year I say I'm going to knit Christmas stockings for my family.  Every year I don't.  I had an idea that I would buy a felting yarn and then embellish the stockings with buttons, maybe some embroidery, and everyone would get a different color.  It would be easy.  I could definitely make 5 really big socks over the course of a year, right?

I probably could have, but now I'll never know.  I found a pattern I really liked sometime early last year and stored it away.  I got the yarn I wanted at the Wool Walk this spring, certain that by this December I'd have 5 of them ready to go. I downloaded the pattern, put my starting yarn on the swift, and eagerly got the needles and notions I would need.

Then I looked at the graphs.  There are 3 different patterns to choose from.  They are all worked over 104 stitches and repeated for 78 rounds.  And that's just for the "leg."

I would absolutely NOT have 5 by December.

I used Cascade Yarns 220 Heathers for this project.  That's a worsted weight 100% Peruvian Highland Wool.  These are knit on size 3 needles.  The fabric is exceptionally thick with very little stretch, which is perfect for stuffing with holiday goodies, but not so perfect for hand muscle health.

I'm absolutely in love with this one, while simultaneously dreading making another one, let alone four other ones.

The plan is to have each of our names professionally embroidered onto the cuff.  I think I can definitely make one per year without wanting to cry.

Startitis

With the completion of the last minute hat and the unplanned blanket, I seem to have come down with a case of Startitis.  There's another project that's been on the needles for months, but that's still having a nice bath and isn't ready for its photo shoot yet.

I've managed to limit my exposure to just two projects.  Three if you count a second sock.  But that's really just a continuation of an existing project.  

One is a gift for a good friend's birthday next weekend.  

This is a face mask for fall weather motorcycle riding.  Knit with Zauberball Starke 6 in color #2100. It's a 6 ply, so it's cozy and tough.  And machine washable, which is important for a face mask.

Also on the needles is yet another tiny human blanket.  This tiny human isn't even on its way yet, but it will be and it never hurts to get a jump on things.

This lovely is made with Polka Dot Sheep Tenderfoot 80/20 in color Beargrass.  This blanket is going to take me approximately one lifetime to complete, so I'm glad I'm getting a bit of a headstart.  The construction is wonderful so far, albeit slow going.

Think it's a blanket yet?

And of course there's the sock.  I knit the first one ages ago and then got distracted with other fun things.  I just fished it out of the WIP bin and figured it's time to make it a pair.

I'm sure at one point I had the band to this, but it's gone now.  If memory serves, it's a Paton's Kroy Sock.  

Anyone want to place a bet on how close the baby is to arriving before I finish the blanket.  I'm not delusional enough to think that starting it this soon means it will be done ahead of time.

That's just crazy talk.

When Bad Things Happen To Good Yarn

I had about a day and a half to make a hat.  That's very doable.  No problem.

I went to my LYS, got the yarn I wanted to use, and promptly cast on.  I knit just about half and decided to put it down for the night.

I woke up the next morning, laid in bed for a bit, and got ready to finish up the hat before it needed to be with it's recipient.

Nothing could have prepared me for the horror that lay before me.  Needles destroyed.  Cable all but missing.  Yarn in scraps on the floor.

It was a yarn bath.

I mourned the appropriate amount of time, scolded the canine assailant, and cast on for the second time. I now had but a few hours to finish.

Done, bagged, and ready to be gifted.  I may have had to take this picture in the car on the way there.

Sometimes The Yarn Just Knows

As tends to happen when one reaches a certain age, the tiny humans begin making their appearance with some frequency.

These tiny humans need blankets.  It's a necessity.  And blankets of the hand-knit variety are my personal favorite.

This is the Twinkle Twinkle Blanket.  If you look close, there's itty bitty stars everywhere.

The variegation in the yarn makes it a bit tricky to see.  Someone told me the favorite colors of this Mommy are teal and gray, and I happened to have those very same colors in the stash.  I've had a few skeins of Swizzle in the stash for quite a bit of years.  I knew I liked the yarn, but it hadn't told me what it wanted to be until just that moment.

Maybe it knew all along, it just wasn't time yet.