balanced unbalance
I’m always working on some project or another, and most weeks I talk about what I’m working on Wednesdays as part of Tami’s WIP Wednesday project. You can see past WIP Wednesdays … right this way.
I often have lots of projects on the needles, but four shawls, a coat, and a series of swatches is a little much, even for me.
It presents a bit of a dilemma.
Do you work a little bit on all of them, but not really see a huge amount of progress?
Do you focus on one of them, and neglect the others?
Do you come up with a “knitting schedule”?
I’ve been trying to give a little bit of attention to each project, but some have ended up neglected.
The oldest work in progress on the needles still hasn’t come out of it’s project bag, and the swatches haven’t been touched.
The coat got an evening of attention, and I attached the last ball of yarn for this piece, but it still looks like a big grey blob.
The golden shawl has spent the week perched on my desk receiving bits and pieces of attention, while the purple shawl has seen lots of attention, but is at the point where you can only measure progress by the diminishing ball of yarn. I did a quick review of the yarn I’m using in the gold shawl Monday.
The blue shawl on the other hand has seen the most progress. Between the loads of attention, and the fact that it’s three strands of lace weight held together on a US 7 (4.5mm) needle it’ll be done in no time. (Which is usually what I say right before projects stall.)
Maybe the best balance for projects is a sort of balanced unbalance?
This was part of Tami’s WIP Wednesday project. If you’d like more WIP Wednesday posts, from other bloggers, visit Tami’s blog.
first shawls of the new year
I might have accidentally cast on two more shawls the other day.
But one’s on a US 7 (4.5mm) and one’s on a US 5 (3.75mm) needle, so they’ll go fast and don’t really count.
Right?
Noella – Mesh Swirl Shawl
Noella is now available on Ravelry.
Noella – The Mesh Swirls Shawl combines stockinette, mesh, and simple shaping to create a shawl that is the essence of meditative knitting.
Loop after loop.
Stitch after stitch.
It’s the perfect project to work on while catching up with friends and family.
“Noella” – a French Feminine form of Noël, which means Christmas.
I love this shawl specifically for it’s simplicity. I started knit it at the end of 2012 just two days before Christmas, as a gift for my mother, and ended up giving it to her in mid March – but I think I get brownie points for it being before Mother’s Day.
That being said – if you have more than two days – this shawl makes an excellent, special, last minute gift for any occasion. And if you don’t have more than two days, it makes a great project for sitting around, hanging out, talking, laughing, and knitting.
Yarn: 2,475 yards (2,263 meters), lace weight
you’ll be holding three strands of yarn together throughout the shawl, so you’ll need 3 balls of 825 yards(754 meters). Please keep this in mind if you’re substituting yarn.
Sample Shown in:
Jade Sapphire, “Lacey Lamb”;
3 balls, 825 yards (754 meters)/ball, colorway ‘225,’ 100% merino wool
Needles: US size 6 (4.00 mm)
1 set of 5 DPNs (optional)
1 32 inch (80 cm) circular (optional)
1 40 inch (100 cm) circular
use needles needed to obtain gauge
Notions: stitch marker (1); tapestry or yarn needle
Gauge: 23 sts and 36 rounds = 4 in (10 cm); in washed and blocked stockinette stitch
Blocked Dimensions: 35 inches (89 cm) in diameter, blocked
(exact dimensions may vary depending on how aggressively the piece is blocked)
Noella is now available on Ravelry.
