Knitting a la carte

I present "Shedir" from Knitty, Fall 2004 Surprises for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, started Wednesday and finished yesterday. I went to my LYS looking for Rowan Calmer, the yarn called for in the pattern, but none of the colors inspired me. As soon as I saw this color of Rowan Felted Tweed (color #155), vavooom! I felt the rush. The quickening pulse. The "I've gotta have it" voice in my head. AT 191 yards per skein, I knew I would only need one to make the hat. I was a little concerned about the yarn substitution until I did some research and came across Eunny's version. I followed her suggestion and only worked 3 repeats of the main pattern; however, I didn't twist my stitches because my Addi's are a bit too blunt (OK, I didn't feel like working that hard for a subtle effect). I loved working with this yarn, and the pattern was easy to memorize once I started to see the repeat. I'm mostly pleased with the fit. I'm thinking of making another in the Calmer when I find a color I like and will probably add several more rows of ribbing.

This was just the project I needed to get my knitting engine running again. It's not as though I took a break from knitting for any length of time, it's just that I haven't felt very excited about anything. Now I have the opposite problem: I want to knit everything all at once!! I've heard this phenomenon described as "start-itis", but my friend Aimee came up with a great description of this knitting strategy. When she has multiple projects going at once, she says she is "knitting a la carte". Sampling here and there. A smorgasbord of knitting. So, here's what I've been snacking on:

As an appetizer, self-striping socks (2x1 rib) in Regia Crazy Color #5439 (no new photo since my last post, but I have been chewing here and there.) A spicy little dish, these socks have lots color, but so far too much red for my taste, so I can only handle a little at a time.

"Here and There Cables" from Scarf Style in Reynold's Odyssey (color #404 Lavender/Sage mix):

The delicate balance between color and texture are enough to make this a satisfying side dish, and the cables have the potential to make it an entree for someone of average appetite and attention span, but I need something easy to cleanse my palate between bites....

So I started "Klaralund" from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton's Hands Knitting Collection Book #2 in Noro Kureyon in color #188. What you see here represents today's meal. I just love this colorway and am reminded of my torrid affair with this yarn last year. Unfortunately, I have decided to knit the next size up to achieve the desired roomy fit and have to frog it all, which is not the same as regurgitating... OK, so maybe I should stop the food analogy here.
So much for taking a break from sweaters! Since I have to frog Klaralund, I decided this evening to cast on for the "Must Have Cardigan" in a no-label 2-ply merino cashmere blend from my stash! While everyone else is on a diet, working out and practicing self-control, I am knit binging. Heh heh. I always wanted to be a rebel!

It must be the weather. Yesterday it was 67 degrees. For Portland, Maine, in January, that was a freakish, record-breaking occurrence. This is the time of year when my knitter brain wants to settle in on the couch in my jammies, working magic with wool. Instead, I was hanging around in a T-shirt, without socks and feeling like I "should" be outside, enjoying the sun, with a big fat confused housefly that eluded execution. Fortunately, it's cooling down rapidly and tomorrow's forecast is for a "wintery mix" (translate to wet slop). Twisted, I know.

BTW: I was tired of hand-washing my Jaywalker socks, so I threw them in the wash (on cold, knit cycle with like colors) and they came out fine. A little fuzzier, but no visible shrinkage.