I’ve been knitting furiously on the V neck Cardigan. I only have about an inch and half to go for the body then I can pick up stitches for the neckband. Once the neckband is complete I can proceed to the sleeves then be done with it.
And all I can really do is think about being done with it. I can really think about is finishing this sweater and I want to do is finish this sweater. The problem is that I really don’t want to knit this sweater. Only I can’t really finish the sweater if don’t knit the sweater. Right?
I’ve tried to analyze why I’ve fallen out of love with the knitting and many reasons come to mind. It could be the miles of stockinette. It could also be the weight of this thing. It’s getting really heavy and even though the sun has been hiding behind dark clouds the past few days, it hasn’t felt that cool here. So a lap full of sweater isn’t the most pleasant of things.
I think it’s because picking up stitches for a neckband is just way out of my comfort zone. I’ve never done this before and I’m not looking at this with the fearless adventuress spirit that I usually take with me when I embark on a new technique. Instead I see it looming at me like some kind of horrible chore that needs to be done, like cleaning the kitty litter.
Shame on me! What’s changed with me? Nothing so far as I know, but this whole week I’ve been kind of down and out. The contest helped cheer me up and the prospect of mailing out the prizes still cheers me. Other then that I’ve just been feeling kind of blah.
Maybe it has to do with the weather. Like I’ve said there’s been dark clouds all week but for my side of the island there’s been very little rain to go with it, which dissapoints me to some extent. I’m not asking for buckets of rain like the North Shore received, but I would like some showers or some hint of winter weather.
Then again, maybe it has to do with my basketball team losing this week, which makes me feel pretty silly. Really my team hasn’t had this bad a start to the season since 1996 people! I keep telling myself they’re a developmental team. They’re a work in progress.
Much like my sweater. It’s a work in progress. So even if it does look like a gigantic green pile of felted yuck it’s in development! It will eventually attain a state of beautiful. Tonight I shall venture forth to the Aloha Knitters meeting and hopefully I will be distracted from the pain of losing 2 games in a row, which has not happened since the 1990’s. I am still faithful to you my Blue Devils!
I would like to thank my readers for putting up with all this Sports Talk. I would also like to ask if you all heard about the dastardly banker doings of the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Club Fiasco?! Unbelievable. Also, does anyone know of a good online source for Socks That Rocks? So far I’ve only found The Fold. I was hoping to find a place with an online shopping cart as I am becoming rather phone phobic. I also think I’ve contracted hypergraphia from Crazy Aunt Purl. Look how long this post is! Truly, blogging is my therapy.
January 11th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Your sweater is gorgeous!!! You must be so pleased with how it looks. I feel your project boredom pain. I have been dutifully knitting my shawl at least 4 rows each night and tonight I want to cast-on something else. I guess I need some new project excitement. I think you will find the neck band stitch pick-up to be not so bad. I’m sorry to hear about your basketball team!
January 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Don’t be afraid to call Toni at the Fold! She is one of the nicest fiber/yarn retailers out there. She’s friendly, helpful and has so much experience to draw on if you need help with something spinning related. I love to go out to her shop even though it’s over an hour away from where I live.
Blue Moon used to do online ordering, I believe, but it always seems like the colors they post on line are limited compared to what you can find with one of the vendors they sell to.
January 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Your sweater is beautiful. All that stockinette together with gray skies a guaranteed to make a project feel like a lump on ones lap instead of like its wonderful self. Persevere! I don’t know that I would have worn a worsted weight sweater when I lived in Hawaii (oh yes I would have…my office was icy…ignore remark). I imagine it feels pretty hot on the lap right now, but soon the sleeves will be done, you’ll have done the finishing, and you’ll be able to wear it. Woo hoo! The contest cheered me up too!
And since I don’t have a tv I haven’t been following sports for quite a while, but what’s going on with Duke? They can usually be relied on to provide fans with a great season to cheer at! So sorry, Opal. (But I just can’t make myself be sorry about the Cowboys…I’m Texophobic.)
January 11th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Your sweater looks great!! Picking up neckline stitches is not a big deal, trust me! Just be sure you do the same thing on each side. Been there, done that, ripped it out. ;-)
I know what you mean about attitudes changing about a project/hobby. I do that with some frequency! I think maybe we just need little breaks to give our brains a rest and then we can come back to it with enthusiasm. Or maybe realize why we were stalled and do something different with that project.
Maybe put it aside and make something quick, like a simple hat?
January 11th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Dear Opal,
I know what you mean about loosing interest in a project from time to time. Usually it’s because It’s not a pleasure for me to knit. I’ve found that some feeling of compleation is needed periodically for me to feel good. To finish a repeat of a pattern, finish the center, border etc. I’ve knit the sweater you’re making and I found it tedious because it lacked variety. that’s why most of the sweaters I’ve knit have been cable sweaters. More interesting, lots of opportunity to feel a sense of compleation! Still, it’s a beautiful sweater and deserves to be finished if you can stand it! We will cheer you on!
January 12th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Me, too, Opal. I often lose interest in a project and then have to force myself to finish it, especially if it’s large like an afghan. Your sweater is lovely. Such nice stitch definition! And the color is perfect. Hang in there. You will feel so good when it’s done and around you keeping you warm. I’ve always ordered my STR from BMFA directly. However, I think I’ll check out the Fold, mentioned above. Hope your pals at Aloha Knitters cheered you up despite your team’s poor performance. While not a sports person myself, I have a SIL who lives, eats, breathes sports and takes it very seriously. And keep blogging! It is good therapy, and we love to read your posts!
Sue
January 12th, 2007 at 4:00 am
You have my sympathies on the Duke loss. I root for UConn, and they are in exactly the same position as Duke this year - too many freshmen and sophmores, not enough experience. I think UConn will be lucky to make the NCAA tournament this year.
I know how you feel about the sweater, too. I have been making a bag for the Knit Mitt Kit Swap, and even though it grew quickly (2 strands of yarn and big needles), I thought I would never finish it, it was so boring to knit. But your sweater is beautiful, and it will be worth it in the end!
January 12th, 2007 at 5:59 am
You can order any colour you want, even if it’s not on the website, directly from Blue Moon. Just email them and tell them what you want. It might take a week or two, though, if they have to dye up another batch. And they take Paypal, which I like.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:34 am
Keep going with that sweater! It looks nice!
No one else can sell Blue Moon online, that’s actually part of the deal — just to save you some search time. Anyway, you can order online at the Blue Moon site, but the colorways are limited to what they have in stock. Emailing to order as someone else suggested is an excellent idea.
January 12th, 2007 at 7:15 am
i know what you mean about losing interest in a project - i have a basket full of those that i’ve just been thinking about last night and have decided to start frogging because the basket is getting very crowded! guess i was just meant to be a small projects knitter….by the way, i think your sweater is coming along quite nicely - i like the color.
January 12th, 2007 at 10:25 am
C’mon girl, buck up! Sometimes ya just gotta scoop that litter…er, I mean pick up the neck stitches. Ha ha.
The STR fiasco is a crazy story! I only have one skein of STR that was gifted to me by a friend. I haven’t really gotten into a major sock-knitting mode so I’m not stashing any sock yarns.
January 12th, 2007 at 10:50 am
After the beautiful, complicated lace you have knit, i can see where this might be tedious. The sleeves are promising to be deadly. What about a slight pattern down the middle of the sleeve, just enough to challenge your brain?
Good luck, it really is a lovely color.
January 12th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I think your sweater is beautiful.
I also get anxious and begin dreading things that I feel are above my skill level. It’s like having a brick hanging over your head! And I’m happy I gave you contact hypergraphia ;) LOL
Have a great weekend!