I Think It's Safe Now . . .

. . . to admit I've been trying to knit a project that scares the shit out of me.

I've been hording my Wollmeise in Versuchskaninchen I(which means guinea pig) and looking for the perfect project. I first thought that since I had 4 matching skeins of it that I would knit a sweater. But I didn't know what pattern to chose and I didn't want something that would fall out of style or not fit me if a gain or loose weight. So the next thought was lace (I'm coming around to the thought of a a triangular shawl) but I have always loved stoles. And I have always loved Anne Hanson's lace patterns, and thanks to Ravelry I found the stole I wanted to make.

Simurgh.

Even typing it sort of scares me. But I keep telling myself that it's just a bunch of knit and purl stitches and that no one's life depends on it so just go for it. The only reason why I'm even blogging about it because I'm already 112 rows into it so hopefully I can hang in there. It's made in two parts from the center so when you get one part of it finished you have to remind yourself that you have to do it again. I have done a few beginning lace projects and my Lakeside knee high socks were a more complicated lace project so I thought I would try this pattern.

Here is a picture, it's a bit wonky because it's hard to get a picture of lace pre-block.



The colorway that I chose is more variegated than it should be for the pattern but it doesn't matter to me, I love this yarn and the pattern. I just hope that I can get it done and not stall or have a melt-down. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

You Had Me At Lace

Saturday was a really good day. I got my wonderful package from Germany. And all I have to say is you had me at lace. The lace is more than I can describe, it's amazing. The yardage is HUGE, 1740 yards per skein, per skein! I was lucky and I got three colors of lace, here they are:

Pfefferminz Prinz (Peppermint Prince): a really cool mix of green and blue


Miss May: purples, pink and little bit of brown


Rhabarber (Rhubarb) shades of green and red (it's a bit darker IRL)


I have some projects in mind for the yarn, but right now I'm not going to commit, I'm just going to sit and admire it.

Another reason why Saturday was also great because ItShe, Grape and I went to a book signing party for Knitting in the Sun because our friend Anne of CraftyDiversions has two lovely patterns in the book. It was great to see Anne again and met her friend Chia (hopefully we will see them again soon). It was really nice to be able to see the patterns from the book all knit up. There are a lot of really nice patterns in a lot of different categories, something for everyone. There are a few patterns that I wanted to knit right away, but I have something on the needles that scares the shit out of me right now and that's what I'm concentrating on right now. If the "project that scares the shit out of me" ends up working I will post pictures of it soon.

44 Days 16 Hours and About 6 Minutes . . .

That's how long I lasted without buying yarn. It is with mixed emotions that I post that I have broken my streak.

What yarn could be worth breaking the "trying really hard to knit from the stash streak"? There is only ONE answer for me and that is:

WOLLMEISE LACE

I have been stalking Wollmeise lace since it first debuted. I have always wanted it, desperately. I have managed to catch about 7 or 8 updates but never bought anything because there was no lace. I even put up two skeins of matching Versuchskaninchen 1 to trade in hope of catching the elusive beast, but there were no takers.

But I have broken my no new yarn fast for a good reason. I was able to get my hot little hands on some Wollmeise Lace . . . I still can't believe it. This post is edited to add that I did the math (I know the horror of me doing math) and I figured out that the entire cost of the yarn plus international shipping divided by the yardage (which is incredible) comes out to about .0252 cents a yard, which is less than a cent a foot, which is a price I can totally live with.

When it gets here I'll take its picture so you can all see it! Yippie!

Cricket . . . Cricket . . . Cricket

Well there isn't much knitting wise going on.

Why is that? Well I'm done with my Hemlock Ring Blanket and I don't have anything else on the needles right now because I wanted to make sure there was no other knitting distraction. Part of the reason why I was able to get so much knitting time in was because the husbands were brewing a double batch (20 gallons) of beer which thankfully takes a while. And even better ItShe was so generous in making all the meals we ate on Saturday and I didn't have to do anything. Which is why the marathon knitting day of over 12 hours was so successful. All I need to do it block it out, pack it up and mail it out to my old boss Ken and his wonderful wife Betty.

I don't know what I will cast on for, maybe a sweater with the yarn I got at Stitches West, or that shrug I've been wanting to start, or Vivan caught my eye, and of course I need a pair of socks on the needles at all times. So many patterns so little time.