Projects, We have projects

Projects - boy, do I have projects going on.  Unfinished.  I have officially declared myself the Queen of Casting On. 

Earlier this summer I'd made a small committment to myself to limit what I had on the needles at any one time.  But that didn't last long.  I am hopelessly drawn to new projects.  And I guess I think I'm Super Knitter and can get it all done.  Well, I do - eventually.

Take a look at this work in progress (WIP).  It's a Striped Study Shawl. 

It's a very easy shawl done with short rows.  I love how the purple yarn defines the stripes and the variegated yarn plays off of the purple with softer shades of lavendar, pink and pale green.  Both yarns are Colinette Jitterbug in the colorways Velvet Bilberry (the purple) and Marble (the variegated).  

I use this as my mindless knitting project, because it is so simple.  I'm hoping to take this on vacation to the beach and finish it up, if I haven't finished it before then.

Next up in the actively working on it projects is Leaving, a gorgeous sweater pattern by Anne Hanson of Knitspot fame.  If you aren't familiar with Anne's patterns, I urge you to go visit her website immediately.  I became hooked on her patterns several years ago.  She is a genius at design.  So many of my projects are Knitspot patterns. 





These pictures are of the Leaving sleeves.  The yarn used is The Woolen Rabbit Opulence in Arabian Nights, a luscious fingering weight yarn.  I've now completed both sleeves, the back and the left front.  All I have left is the right front.  Piece of cake, righ?  Well, theoretically.  But see, I still have a ton of other projectst that all scream to be heard and worked on. 

Like this Ondule sweater - also a Knitspot pattern.   The yarn used in this is Knitting Notions Classic Merino Superwash in a bluish-purpley yarn.  Super soft and warm, a true joy to knit with. 

Now this isn't a particularly good picture.  You can't see the wonderful texture of the pattern.    I have completely finished knitting this sweater - well all except for the neckband, I believe.  But I have to steam block it and seam it up. 

This is no longer a problem, because I have taken a blocking class from Anne and I've successfully seamed another sweater.   So what I my problem?  It's the unrelenting summer heatwave.  I just cannot make myself block with steam when it is over 100 degrees outside. So this project is on hold until after the heat dies down and the autumn winds and cooler temperatures come my way.

But the way I look at it, I'll have 2 wonderful sweaters to wear this winter - Leaving and Ondule.

Now these are only three of the thirteen projects I currently have going.  Yes, thirteen.  And chomping at the bit to cast on for something else.

I'll share 3 more projects in progress in my next post.  But before I close out, I wanted you to see what seduced my knitter's mind this week.  Yes, I caved and joined the Mystery Shawl KAL on the WestKnits group on Ravelry.

And since I'm late to the party and don't have enough stash yarn (so wrong, I'm drowning in yarn), I ordered some beautiful blues from Purl Soho in New York City.  The yarn I chose is Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light.  Here are the 3 colors I'm planning on using.

Colors are Betty Draper Blues, Well Water and Denim.  Love, love, love these colors.  Hope they'll work well together since I'm kind of going in the dark here.  I've never done a mystery shawl before.  But how can I go wrong with these three blues? 

Tomorrow the yarn is supposed to arrive.  YAY.  I'm behind already since the first clue came out Monday, August 1st.  But I've checked out what I have to knit for the first clue and I think I'll be able to catch up.  Now to stay focused on this over the month of August.  I'll keep you posted.

Until next time,

Kat