WIP Wednesday: Keeping it all in the Air
I’ve never really been a monogamous crafter, I always have multiple projects going on. I like being able to pick up and put down projects as needed. If I’m stuck I like being able to put that project aside for a bit, or even if I’m not specifically stuck I can bounce from one project to another. Of course there are times when I like sitting down and focusing intensely on one thing. But even when I’m focused one project there’s always at least three or four other things happening in the background.
The problem with this method of course is keeping track of it all. Most of the time I’m pretty good at it, there are lots of lists, and post-it notes involved, but generally everything gets done in a timely enough manner.
Every once in awhile though something slips through, I’ll put a project down and forget to (for whatever reason) pick it back up. Which is exactly what happened with this shawl. I put it down because I needed to start the next chart, and then forgot about it.
For three weeks.
Oops.
I thought I remember putting it down because there was some problem that I needed to rip back to fix, but I didn’t see anything when I picked it up to start knitting. Hope that doesn’t come back around to bite me.
Either way, I started the third lace section last night, and am speeding along on it, falling in love the the colors, and the yarn, all over again. I even remembered to stop at the end of a row (something I never do) so that I could spread it out, rather than show (yet another) shot of a brown and purple blob.
For more Work-In-Progress Wednesday posts, check out Tami’s blog.
Kora
Kora is now available for purchase as a download, for $6.00 either on Ravelry, or directly through the blog … buy now
This shawl came out of my desire for a simple project that didn’t take much thought and that would travel well. So I designed a shawl that would combine large sections of garter stitch with smaller portions of simple lace patterning. The combination of cushy garter stitch and simple lace make for relaxing knitting and a cozy finished object.
Knit in one piece from the top down, this shawl begins by casting on 12 stitches at the back of the neck and increasing eight stitches every other row to shape the shawl into a circle. But the fact that the piece is knit back and forth means that there is a slit from what would be the very center of the circle to the outer hem.
This construction lets the shawl curves easily around the shoulders and stays where you put it. It also means that this shawl could easily be turned into a circular shawl.
Yarn: 840 yards (768 meters), light fingering weight
Shown in: Madelinetosh, “Tosh Merino Light”; 2 skeins, 420 yards (384 meters)/skein, colorway ‘composition book grey’
Needles: US size 8 (5.00 mm) 40 inch (100 cm) circular, or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: 9 stitch markers, tapestry needle
Gauge: 21 sts/4 inches; 34 rows/4 inches (30 sts/10 cm; 32 rows/10 cm) in washed and blocked garter stitch
Blocked Dimensions: 18 inches (46 cm) down the center back
Skills Used: cast on, bind off, knitting and purling, k2tog, ssk, yo, k2togtbl, weaving in ends, blocking lace
-1 +1 equals 3
WIP Wednesday two weeks in a row? Crazy.
First off, I ripped the beginnings of the red shawl, but have yet to restart it. And so, the ball has been added back to the pile of projects waiting to be started. The pile is growing at an alarming rate.
I’ve finished three sides, turned the corner and started down the last side of the border on my second Arrowhead Stole. If I don’t get distracted I could finish this week. If I get distracted, who knows (that pile of projects to be started is calling).
I (re)started a hat last night. I changed my mind about the original cable design and had to cast on again with fewer stitches. But now I’m rethinking this version and I haven’t even started the pattern yet. Fingers crossed I don’t have to restart again, but we’ll see how it goes.
This has been getting most of my attention this past week. A couple stripes every day and I’m now almost done with the diamond panel. (Not that you would know that there is a diamond panel from this picture, let along that I’m almost done with it). I have to see if I have a longer needle. If so, I’ll transfer the shawl and try to remember to snap a photo of it spread out.
Until next week?
For more WIP Wednesday, check out Tami’s blog.
