Hello Knitty

Sundara Silk Lace in Amazon Gold. My lone skein of lace weight yarn. I do not like knitting with lace weight, but this skein is so incredibly beautiful that I’ll make an exception for it. I’m not sure what it’s going to become yet, but I’ve got a couple ideas.

This week has been a pretty blah week. I’ve been plodding along on my Whisper Cardigan, and finished the upper body and the second sleeve, but I haven’t been feeling it. I want to knit this project. I know it will be much loved once it’s finished. But every time I look at it all I can think is DO. NOT. WANT.

It doesn’t help that the next part of the project is mind numbingly boring: 308 stitches, knit in 1×1 rib on size 2 needles for 3″. I started this morning but quickly put it down because I don’t want to do it.

All week I’ve been fighting the urge to cast on for something different. Another cardigan, a shawl, anything to break up the monotony. But once I’ve decided Yes! I am definetely going to cast on for X project, something else catches my eye and my attention wanders. I’ve lost my knitting mojo. If you see it would you tell it to come home soon? I really miss it.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Heavyweight in Bleck. Grey with a slight purple tint.

This yarn was a birthday present from my parents. It was bought specifically for a Textured Shawl. For you non-Ravelry users, you can see an example of the shawl here.

My first car was a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle, white with blue interior, and the fact that I didn’t die in it is a minor miracle. In one year I got into three car accidents (only one of which was my fault), and it poped out of gear, rolled down the hill in front of my house, and crashed into my neighbor’s house. That car = cursed. I loved it anyways.

A year and a half ago my car (not the Beetle – that car is long gone) was totaled in a car accident (not my fault!), and when it came time to choose another car I bought a Volkswagen Jetta. Even though the Bug was a death trap, it made me love VW’s, and I’d wanted a Jetta since I was a teenager. Please don’t ever let me buy a car based on nostalgic feelings because the Jetta? Piece o’crap. So we bought a Subaru.

If you live in North Idaho there is a very strong chance that at some point in your life you will own a Subaru. I’ve only had it for two weeks so I can’t say too much, but so far I’m happy with it.

In other, less exciting but more knitting related purchases, I bought this really cute project bag from Seabreezestudios.

The outside is corduroy.

And the inside is a really cute apple print. It’s one of Yukiko’s larger bags, and it measures W9.5″ x H6″ x D3 4/8″. I’m using it for my Whisper Cardigan, and it will be plenty big enough to hold the project until it’s finished.

Another great etsy find I have for you is my friend Jodi’s button shop. She sells vintage buttons. Check out this beautiful set I bought!

Here is Jodi’s description: A set of ten metal buttons, circa 1880-1900. These monumentally beautiful buttons feature a lovely faceted citrine colored stone (possibly the real thing) set in a metal button that is accented with scrolls around the rim. They measure 1/2″ in diameter and use a metal loop shank to attach. Pristine condition.

Aren’t they lovely? I never thought about looking for neat buttons on etsy before, but it makes so much sense! If I’m going to spend many hours knitting a sweater then I want to find the perfect buttons for it, not just settling for something I find at a craft store.

What are your favorite etsy shops?

It seems like it’s been forever since I’ve written a blog post that wasn’t just pictures of a finished project! Between weather so hot I can’t bear the thought of sitting with a laptop in my lap to overcast days that make for rotten pictures, the past few weeks have not been blog friendly. And when it is a great day for pictures I forget my camera, which was exactly what happened last Saturday at World Wide Knit in Public Day.

I had a great time! It was a lovely, sunny day. Because of my work schedule I’m not able to make it to any knitting groups at my local yarn stores, so this was a fantastic chance to put faces to names I see on Ravelry. There were nine of us, and we met in the park by the downtown library (which isn’t the library I work at). Everyone was so friendly, and I got to see several beautiful WIP. I worked on my Dream in Color Shrug.

My Whisper Cardigan is coming along. Do I need to tell you how impossible black with flecks of purple is to photograph?

I really and truly could not manage a better photo than this. And yes, that blindingly white thing sticking out of the end is my arm.

The sleeves and the top of the back are all knit in one piece, so taking pictures any other way looks like a long piece of nothing. I have another 3/4 of an inch to knit on the back, and then I’ll be ready to start the other sleeve.

My plain toe-up socks I’m keeping in my purse are coming along as well. So far they’ve been knit at a restaurant, in line at the post office, while waiting at the bank, at work on the Bookmobile, in my husband’s car, and in my new car.

Wait, what? My new car? Tune in tomorrow to find out all the details.