A Whole Lotta Curling Going On

The blue sweater is ready to be worn but the piggy buttons from Kathyb's fun swap, which I was counting on, are not going to work.  I made the button holes too small and now I need small round buttons that will slide through the silly-tiny holes.  Now EZ Cardigan is moving on and I couldn't be happier!  It will be so thrilling to have two sweaters finished in less than four months.  

 

I was not sure about knitting with fingering weight wool (I'm using Knit Picks Palette).  I kept  thinking that it might take longer to knit a sweater with thin yarn and small needles and I might get bored and quit/frog.  Not true!  Actually the fine yarn seems to make the knitting smoother and faster. 

BUT there is a whole lotta curling going on with this sweater!!  Because it is knit all in one piece I can't block or press each piece before joining.  Without the blocking it is curling around the neck, around the arm holes, around the bottom--I just keep knitting and it keeps curling.  When I look down at it in my lap it is just a big ball of peach wool and I have to paw through it to find the edge and start a new round.  I know there's a sweater in there somewhere!

 

I grabbed an arm load of Simply Soft and started what I am calling "Multicolored, Shawl of Many Textures."  Even if it doesn't turn out to be a pretty as I think it will, you can't beat Simply Soft for a shawl.  It will be warm, soft and flowing.  I can't wait!

 

Finally, to satisfy my multiproject desires I started Malabrigo Wristlets.  No fingers, no thumbs, just ruffled warmth around the wrists and hands.  Ummmmm!!

Life is good!

Fried

I'm thinking that my brain is fried.  It needs a rest!  The last week has weighed heavy on the whole family and it has caused me to be unable to knit, read, THINK, or do anything useful.  It all started on Sunday when Fireman son began having chest pains while on duty.  Then, the whole family fell down the rabbit hole that is commonly known as "the hospital" and lost two days to fear, worry and waiting while tests were completed.  It's Tuesday and they still don't know what caused the chest pains but at least we are confident it was not a heart attack!!  I'm very thankful for that but still...fried!

 

Before the hospital hullabaloo I was having trouble deciding what to knit next.  I finished the blue sweater and continued working on EZ Cardi, but I'm a multiple project knitter--always with at least two projects going.  So what next?  I can't think.  My brain is fried.  It must be work!  It has been a long and tiring tax season and while we are nearing the finish line I am ready to quit NOW.  I have important stuff to do like decide what I will knit next!

 

Several blogs are talking about favorite yarn types--an interesting topic!  If you had asked me ten years ago I would have told you that I am a wool girl through and through.  Don't give me any of that acrylic junk.  Today, I am still not fond of most acrylics but I do have a love affair with Caron's Simply Soft!!  A few years ago I bought some Simply Soft for a shawl on the knitting machine.  It works great on machines because of the silky surface of the yarn.  The machine shuttle slides over it easily.  I loved the texture of the shawl and it is very warm.  It also washes and dries in the machines.  Who could ask for more from a yarn?

So yarn favorites:  Malabrigo first, Blue Moon Socks That Rock second, and Simply Soft third.  I'm easy to please!

Life is good.