new love

I've broken up with the hourglass.  I had searched for ages for the perfect sweater to knit with the wool from my parent's neighbor's sheep.  The wool that I dyed this time last year when the days were gray and dreary.  The yarn that is destined to become the first adult sized garment I've ever knitted.  I honestly thought the hourglass was THE ONE.

After a torrid affair that included knitting about a third of the sweater twice, I realized that there was too much of the same-old same-old.  Too much round and round to keep my attention.  Knit, knit, knit was all that sweater ever wanted.  It refused to challenge me and I clearly wasn't going to grow in the relationship.  So I left it.  Months ago.  And while I knew I wouldn't go back, I didn't have the nerve to tell it that it was over.

But now that I've found a new sweater to invest tens of thousands of stitches in, I have to make it official.  I've been spending all my spare time with this one, sneaking stitches every chance I get.  My new love is the tangled yoke cardigan, and I found it through Ravelry.  I know nothing about online dating, but I can't help but think of Ravelry as the internet matchmaker for knitters and knitting projects.

As might be expected, my new infatuation has prompted me to spiff up my notions bag.   The fabric is linen from a thrifted skirt, the pattern is the travel pouch from Last Minute Fabric Gifts.  A good little bag for all of those knitting tools.  But enough about that, I'm must get back to my knitting affair...

Comments

[Sarah Jackson]

I'm knitting that one too! I'm getting ready to tackle the cables tomorrow. Ravelry is the best for finding just the right project - I love it too.

[Mom]

It has now been several years since the retired doctor and his wife sold the farm next door and took the sheep away to a new home on the mainland. I miss the late in the day baaaaaaa' s asking for their dinner. I miss driving down the dirt road on my way home and seeing those wooly bodies grazing in the sun. I miss the early spring lambs.. and how they would so joyfully prance about. Most of all I miss the sweet way the farmer and his wife would sit by the pond in their double seater adirondack. It is nice to know that the labor of their years next door continues to produce warm and wooly wonders! Knit, Knit, Knit ..... This sweater you make warms more than just the body it will someday cover. Knit, Knit Knit...... I always loved the sound of the needles as my mother would knit.... Click Click Click I hope that someday your little one will love the sound as much as I do. All those sweaters, mittens, scarfs and hats, knit for seven siblings in seven different sizes warmed me as a child and now that click click click warms me as it is my turn to be the grandmother. I love that you are my mothers child! Click Click Click

[knit, crochet, stitch, stick]

I'm glad you have found a pattern that works, I find ravelry is one of the best things to happen to knitting, it was so hard to get hold of patterns.... until now (que dramatic music) The wool looks good, I am looking forward to seeing the sweater

[Tracy]

oohh, the nervous anticipation of a new relationship! I hope this one works out!

[emily]

i love the way you've written this.

[coastalgirl]

WOW! You almost have me wanting to learn how to knit!

[Blue Valentine Press]

I too love Ravelry for finding patterns, it's a great asset to the knitting community. I'm giving your blog an You Make my Day Award.

Cheers!

[Grace]

I'm in love with the way you wrote this! I was also debating between the tangled yoke and the tilted duster, and I chose the tilted duster, although in some ways I think the tangled yoke would have been more "me". However, there's still time to change my mind, as my yarn STILL has not come in for the tilted duster (I ordered it into my LYS on January 8 or thereabouts).

anyway, I can't wait to see your tangled yoke!
xoxox

[leslie]

oh new love. it really is just the best. i think you found a wonderful match. there is just enough challenge with just enough comfort. a very good balance.
lovely color.

[kristi]

i will probably never know anyone who actually can say that they have yarn from a sheep they actually KNEW and that they dyed the yarn themselves...how very cool. i'm a beginner knitter, but maybe someday i will be able to make something as lovely as the piece you have shown here...can't imagine! good luck.

[h.]

Oh how torrid!

I love this post! It makes me think how I always feel like I am unfaithful when I pause in one project to work on another. I am such a hussy in that way... having so many crafting romances going all at once!

[sarah]

I love the tangled yolk cardigan...It'll look gorgeous in your yarn. It's good that you were able to pull out the hourglass sweater...sometimes I finish things just to "finish them" even when I KNOW I'm not happy with them. That's very bad of me, I know. I'm so happy I found your blog...lovely!

[Elizabeth]

love this entry and the metaphor of a challenging relationship. Good for you for knowing when to "cut your losses" and move forward.

;-)

E