The Unapologetic Knitter

The last time I went to spin, and believe me, it's been awhile, it was not so delicately pointed out to me that I have an inordinate amount of knitting projects going on. I didn't take offense, and I'm not about to count my unfinished objects out here or apologize for projects I've not finished. I don't know why I do this, but I do. I get bored, or in the case of the monumental shawl, I got hot and I moved on to the baby blanket. I still need to finish that, but it's more than half way done, and the baby isn't due until October. There's time, and I've said it more than once, I work better with a deadline. Such is the stressful life of a procrastinator.


My latest project was out of my control, if you call being possessed as out of control. Strolling through the magazine racks at Barnes and Noble, my gaze fell upon the fall issue of, Vogue Knitting. It was the cover photo that spoke to me as I usually never buy this magazine. Oh sure, the model is pretty enough, and I love her necklace, but that cardigan? Must be mine. Will be mine. I recognized the yarn without having to look it up, and a voice in my mind yelled at me, "hey, you have a boatload of Rowan Kidsilk Haze that's been waiting for a project like this!" Well, there's not precisely a boatload, but certainly enough. I have seven skeins. And look! The instructions call for exactly that.

Kizmet.

I swatched. Not a whole swatch mind you (there are only 7 skeins), but enough (2 lace repeats) to let me know that I was spot on gauge with a size 6 needle. The needles I was using for the baby blanket. Yet another reason for that project to wait. I cast on yesterday afternoon and knit the beginnings of the picot border and then the lace part of that before I realized I should have done a provisional cast on so I could knit the hem instead of seaming it later. Too late! I'm not unraveling mohair. I knit the second half of the hem and began the lace. Only then did it become apparent that I had the wrong tools for the job. The Addi turbos were not going to do. I needed sharp tips and I didn't have Addi Lace needles in a US size 6. I had a 4, 5, and 7, but no 6.

What's a knitter to do? I headed to the yarn store to buy a pair. I ignored the yarn (though Leo got a snoot full of every basket at nose level), intending only to buy the needles. I escaped with Leo, the needles and the cutest thermal glass. It was close. I wanted to snoop in the boxes of yarn waiting to be displayed, but I was good. Besides, I wanted to get home and and transfer those stitches to the much sharper lace needles.

The weather is too warm here to wear mohair, but it's not too hot to knit with it. It's whisper light and the perfect thing to knit in this hot weather we have here in Motown. Besides, I have my thermal, non-sweating glass full of lemonade to keep me cool now.


So yes, while I have a lot of projects waiting for attention, yet again, I've been sidetracked. Who cares? I'm an ambitious little knitter and there are always fewer hours in the day to do all of the great things my mind says I can do.

Deal with it. I know I do.