In Between
It seems that I am at a mid-way point with almost all my projects right now. Perhaps I am dividing my time too much. This weekend I worked on the Backyard Leaves scarf for mom (I've only got four repeats left on the second half of the scarf, so it's beginning to feel like the home stretch), my Morehouse Merino Melody's Shawl (an immense quantity of circular stockinette knitting with lace weight yarn), spun about a bobbin's worth of the silk wool blend from my mom, and finished up one of my Jaywalker socks.
It did take some effort, but I actually got the next sock cast on. All things considered, this is not such a bad pattern. Not to difficult to make it feel like hard work, not just solid stockinette, either. And I think the pattern works well for this yarn.
I know, this is not earth-shatteringly exciting knitting content. Not sure why my knitting life is mostly filled with simple things right now. In some respects, I think it's mostly for practical reasons. Given that it's winter here in Chicago, the handiest items for keeping warm are socks and scarves. These are also the garments that I think are easiest to gift and also know that the recipient will probably be happy using. That, and, while I've liked what I've seen in the recent knitting magazines and books, I really just haven't had a sweater reach out and grab me and demand to be knitted lately. So socks and scarves it is for a bit. I'm looking forward to the scarf I'm going to knit for my aunt -- it's been a while since I've really designed anything and it will be good to work out the creative side of my brain.
One thing that is helping me through all this knitting is a new discovery (for me, at least, clearly many of you already know about it) that I learned of through Marie Irshad's KnitCast podcast. I just love being able to download podcasts via iTunes, because I really enjoy listening to something while I am working on a piece that needs a fair amount of attention. Marie's podcast is great fun, and it was also my introduction to Brenda Dayne's Cast On podcast. I spent the weekend listening through her back recordings. Most of her podcasts are about an hour long and you get a little music, a fair bit of knitting info (not technique, really, more news and discussion of knitting culture) and a little bit about Brenda herself. And I like that. Just like I enjoy getting to know people through their blogs, I find that I also enjoy getting to know people through their podcasts -- in addition to hearing nifty thngs about the knitting world. Brenda and Marie make the perfect complement to getting another pattern interval done on whatever project you're working on.
Your Jaywalker looks great - I agree, it works well with that yarn. I'm knitting Jaywalkers right now and am enjoying the pattern. Almost as speedy as stockinette, but visually more interesting to do.
thanks for the tip on Cast On, I hadn't encountered that yet. At least if you split your time between projects, you won't get so bored and desert one.
I spent the weekend listening to back episodes of Cast On, too! Isn't podcasting just the best. I love Brenda's voice. She reminds me (in a good way) of that nationally syn. host Delilah. I don't really like that woman's show, but I do like her voice. Thankfully, I happen to like the music, conversation, production quality, and general feel of Cast On, in addition to her smooth voice. And it's free!! Aren't the Internets grand?
I agree - the yarn pattern is working well in the Jaywalker. I'm on the gussets of my first one. It's an animal print (don't ask, long story) and it is working pretty well (pic and update on my blog). Interesting zig-zags and nearly as quick as simple St st.
The Jaywalker looks great and I recognize that Longaberger basket as prop!
No pooling. Nice.
Cast-on is my FAVE podcast right now. Just what I want in a knitting podcast and I like the sound of her voice. She's funny.
Love the jaywalker socks. Very nice.
Wow! I keep seeing amazing Jaywalkers! Yours are so pretty in that colorway.
(P.S. It's national delurking week, or some such thing, so I'm delurking. I read your blog all the time but don't comment as often as I should. You're really inspiring, both through your knitting and your outlook. I wish you the best for 2006 and the future!)
Those podcasts keep me going all day long as I drive from appt. to appt. with my job. I listen to them over and over again, and never tire of them. I use my flash drive plugged into a cigarette lighter adapter, and it is as easy as can be.