Recently in Stained Glass Scarf Category
Now that May's collar is done, I had to find another project that I could work on while nursing. For me, the ideal project is something that
a) doesn't take too much thought
b) doesn't involve double pointed needles*
c) isn't insanely monotonous
d) can be stopped and started at almost any place without being difficult to figure out where I am
e) is already on going and needs to be finished
f) doesn't require row counting
This more or less eliminates socks on double pointed needles (which is my favorite sock knitting mode at the moment), lace (i.e. the Diamond Fantasy scarf and another lace scarf project I have started), my Habu scarf, Rogue, the Kaleidoscope Vest I am still working on for Dad and casting on something new -- I just have too much that needs finished up right now to justify starting a new project.
The two projects that were left to me then, were the Stained Glass Scarf and my Mountain Colors Targhee Log Cabin square blanket. The blanket might get some play later on, but for right now, I didn't want to deal with scissors and crochet hooks.
So I started working on the Stained Glass Scarf again. It pretty much fit perfectly with my qualifications. It's one of those projects that makes me crazy if I try to work on it in any kind of faithful or dedicated way, because it takes so long for any progress to be visible. The double knitting makes a very nice thick fabric (one that I think would make a great headband for John, so this might not be the last time I use it) but when you have to knit every row twice, it makes for pretty slow going. However, it is just mindless enough not to be something that requires a chart, but not so mindless that I'd rather read a book than work on it. And it's easy to pick up and put down on a moment's notice. About the only challenge is a baby who likes to fling an arm out and grab at yarn -- it's an accidental thing at this point, but knowing my baby it will be more purposeful in the not too distant future.
Since Z usually nurses from 30-60 minutes** a session and we have about 3-4 sessions a day when I can sit in a place where I can work on it, I'm hoping that with a week's worth of nursing I'll be able to see some progress. It would be awfully nice to be able to have this scarf for my husband while we're still in this decade...
* Z is getting more and more active and I worry a double pointed needle could be potentially dangerous if she flung a hand or any other body part in the wrong place at the wrong time.
**Yes, I know this suggests that she might just be pacifying, but I'm pretty good at telling the difference between her real nursing and just nibbling...and she really does seem to be nursing all that time -- I figure I must not have a huge capacity, but I keep producing in a steady enough fashion that if she just keeps at it she gets what she needs. Also, she only nurses 5-6 times a day instead of the 7-8 that a lot of babies her age nurse, and she has one 7 hour stretch at night when she doesn't nurse, so I figure she's making up for lost time. And, truth be told, I'd rather have fewer longer nursing sessions than more short ones... it's easier for me to manage my days that way.
