Break Out

I'm the kind of person who usually has at least two projects on the needles at any given point in time. A simple sock for traveling, socializing or soothing me, and a complicated project that fires my imagination and challenges me. Usually that is sufficient, but these days, I haven't seemed to be able to settle on two.

My traveling sock is the Random Rib pattern that is now into the leg portion on both socks. I still love the yarn and the sock, but because of it's status it progresses slowly. One day, I will feel like I want a finished object and then they will get a few evenings worth of attention to finish them off.

My original complicated project was to be the Frost Flowers and Leaves shawl. But because I've knit the pattern before, I easily memorized it the second time around and now I find it is my comfort knitting. I love the big long rows of patterning. I love that I can pick it up at any time and just knit, no decisions to make, no charts to follow, just interesting knitting that lasts a good long while. I think I've put another two repeats on it since I've shown it last.


Isn't it getting big? I love that! I'm going to work the full pattern, or until the yarn runs out, which ever comes first. Since the shawl is now comfort knitting, I've been casting about (little pun there) for complicated knitting, but I've been tripping over my own feet, so to speak.

First there was the bookmark sock:

I haven't touched it in weeks. I'm questioning my motivation on this one. Creating something extremely complex just to impress the judges at the Western Fair doesn't seem like such a smart idea. And yet.... there's something intriguing about this project.

But still I haven't been working on it. Perhaps the idea of knitting a second sock is scaring me off. Also, how do you display such a piece of art? You can't put it on a sock blocker, it needs a real foot to show it off. But I don't really plan on wearing it. I'd NEVER shove it into a shoe. So what am I going to do with it afterwards? All that work, for one competition, just to shove it into a closet afterwards? I can't decided what to do, so I've just been ignoring it.

Then there was the Austrian Diamond socks which I just blitzed through in a week. After I took the pictures to show you, I started thinking they are a bit too tight for me. However, I often find that my socks fit perfectly after they are just made, but get sloppy as I wear them. So I decided to keep them for myself, but that means that I have to lengthen the toe. My first try didn't turn out right.

It's okay. I know what I need to do now. I want the decreases to happen over the purl, and I need still more length. If I do it right, it will all flow together beautifully.

Since it was a long weekend, I decided I deserved a new project. I know! Another one!

This is a mitten from Selbuvotter, but I've added this years date and my initials in place of the original date and initials. I'm not sure I like it. It actually is that shiny. But the fit is good, which is nice.


So once again, I have issues with my knitting. But this is what happens when you push yourself outside your comfort zone. Things get uncomfortable.