Wow, I have been horrible about updating... About knitting, too. Life has gotten in the way and I feel busy and tired and just can't seem to get myself in a "real" knitting mood. I feel like this happens every year. Like I go through this cycle of a month or two where no project seems right. Eventually it balances out but, it is a waiting game.
Despite all of that, I have finished a whole lot of projects since we last spoke.
First was Strathcona by Jane Richmond in Quince and Co Sparrow. I had never used Sparrow before and to be fair even though I LOVE linen, my only knitting with it had been in the chain variety. Sparrow is a much improvement on my previous linen projects, and I imagine if I weren't putting myself through a yarn diet that I would want a whole wardrobe made of the stuff. I ended up gifting this to Sarah, to make up for the previously mentioned Bolt catastrophe.
Then I moved onto Crocus Shawl by Rose Beck which was made with yarn from Dallas. I ended up really liking this pattern. I happen to have an affection for that shape of shawl so this was nice.
After Crocus, I decided to dip back into my Dallas stash and picked some yarn out for Aichmo by Lisa Mutch. This was pretty neat and easy garter which gave my mind a break from the lace charts of my previous projects. The contrasting yarn is Shibui, which you can never go wrong with.
Then Lisa asked if I would be interesting in test knitting again. DUH. So I hauled some Araucania and Cascade Fingering out for Decibel. Another garter, stripey shawl to add to my collection. (P.S. The pattern is now available on Ravelry and I highly recommend it!) I used slightly smaller needles than those called for so this certainly isn't the biggest thing I've ever knit, but I am happy with it and the color combination will be perfect for fall and winter.
And then because apparently I hadn't had enough, I cast on for Glitz on the Ritz from knitty with some tosh merino light in Jade. I ordered that yarn a long while ago and had been waiting and dreaming of what to do with it. Well, I figured it out. This pattern was a lot more complicated than the others but certainly not an issue to knit.
Phew, ok... I feel as though my brain isn't allowing me bigger projects at the moment. I have cast on numerous sweaters only to have them lay around and gather dust until I either work a row or two, or frog it while I cry at my good intentions. I have a few sweaters planned actually, so hopefully before fall my brain will revert back to its normal self. Until then I will keep casting on these shawls... small, but challenging. Can you ever really have enough? I am starting to wonder...
Happy Knitting! (And 4th!)
