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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Knitting ADD

The birthday socks are complete and ahead of schedule. The colors came out well and should please the purple loving giftee. Self-striping yarn can be a whole lot of fun. For these socks, I used an afterthought heel for the first time. I am not sure how I feel about this construction. It seems a little misshapen to me. I truly prefer a good old fashioned heel flap. Of course, I would probably feel better if I saw them on an actual foot. Since my foot is quite a bit bigger than the recipient, I can only guess at how the pair will fit. I wouldn't want to be accused of stretching them out!
As I was finishing the heel, I began plotting my next project. The planning, researching and listing of patterns occupies a lot of my knitting time. I love exploring Ravelry in search of the perfect pattern. I type in my yarn and lose myself amidst all the amazing projects knit from it. I find myself easily distracted by the options. My queue and favorites list overflow with the possibilities. Some may use their queue to actually keep track of what they will knit. I use mine as a suggestion list. I spend countless hours making lists only to be lured away by a new pattern and yarn.

This has been my problem the last few days. When I was in stash-busting mode a few months ago, I listed my upcoming projects in my queue. I vowed to stick to the list. Now that I look at the list, I am not satisfied. There are so many other things I want to make. I decided I would have to compromise. I reevaluated my yarn bin and settled on one project from my browsing, one on the needles(or ready to start) and one from my queue.

The project which resulted from my recent browsing is the Bedford pullover. Since I made my squishy, snuggly legwarmers, I have been enamored with Rowan Purelife Organic Wool. The yarn is now discontinued, so I was able to get enough for the sweater at a reasonable price. The pattern calls for a worsted weight. Based on other finished sweaters and my experience, I think this yarn will work even though it is a dk weight. I also will make it with a bit less positive ease. I am afraid a bulky sweater would not be very flattering.

In another yarn along post, I mentioned the Through the Loops mystery sock. With the birthday socks my first priority, I never even cast on for the mystery socks this month. Since I have the yarn, pattern and needles at the ready, I will make it my second project. I admit that I cheated and peeked at the finished socks on a spoiler thread. I like them and think they will make a great gift for someone this year. I am just not sure who.

My queue project is the Holden Shawlette. I really like this shawl, and I think it will look good in the yarn I paired with it. The yarn is Wollmeise in the Am kalten Polar colorway, which I bought too many years ago. I am hoping the shades of blue and purple meld with minimal pooling. With generous yardage, I may add another repeat to the shawlette and make more of a shawl.
As far as my reading, I picked up Songs of the Humpback Whale again. I started this a few months ago, but had to abandon it when my library holds were available. While waiting for more books on hold, I decided to resume reading it. The novel is broken into several character voices, and is pretty good thus far. I keep waiting for the wrinkle that Jodi Picoult inserts into all her books. I am also listening to A Secret Gift when I can. It really makes me ponder resiliency and true hardships.

So, are you an ADD knitter or can you just plan and execute without even noticing the next new shiny thing?

(I have also linked up with Nicole's {crafting on})

14 comments:

  1. oh my god! that yarn is lovely. i just love purple and blue together. i can't wait to see that thing all finish! i am going to have to find myself some purple and blue yarn. lol

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  2. Very pretty! Yes, since becoming a knitter I have developed ADD, something I never had before.
    I have a huge stack of Jodi Picoult books and love her writing!

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  3. You know what? I can plan and execute. I put off knitting for a long time because I have plenty of other crafty/artsy things to do. Finally a friend roped me into it. But I promised myself I would not be a knitter who started 5 projects and finished none. One project at a time. I haven't been strict with that - but for the most part I'll either frog something if it doesn't work out and try something new with the yarn - or finish the original project b/f moving on. But hey - whatever works!

    The socks look fabulous!

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  4. ha! i had to give up the idea of a queue because i'd get it organized and then discover a new project (or ten) and everything would get out of whack!

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  5. beautiful socks! it's fun to plan, and then unplan!

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  6. Don't yea just Love Jodi's books!
    Love the sock too

    Leanne

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  7. "I spend countless hours making lists only to be lured away by a new pattern and yarn." - So true! And I really enjoy Jodi Picoult's books also. thanks for sharing...

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  8. Such lovely striped socks. I like browsing Raverly too, but find I get sucked into its vortex too often. That Secret gift book sounds intriguing.

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  9. Gorgeous socks. I just use my queue as a suggestion list. There is no way I would do anything in order, even an order I constructed.
    xo, Ang (peach coglo)

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  10. I have only knit 1 pair of socks (http://thescrumptiouslife.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-potteryand-socks.html), but would like to know which pattern you used for these and what kind of yarn you got (is it self striping and meant for socks?)...I would like to try to make some like these! I am not an ADD knitter or crocheter...I don't plan well, unfortunately.

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    Replies
    1. They are AFterthough Heel Socks in KnitPicks Felici (tyrian colorway)
      http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/afterthought-heel-socks
      http://www.theknitgirllls.com/wordpress/index.php/2011/03/tutorial-series-afterthought-heel/

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  11. That book is awesome. I read it last year about this time. I think it was featured on the DR show or something. You should check out the actual written book if you can because it has the actual words in the letters and pictures of the gift recipients. Really does make you think. Maybe I'll check it out again...

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    Replies
    1. I have both the print and audio versions, so I don't miss the nuances of the letters. It is really good.

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  12. Ah! They're done! And they look fabulous!

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