Where the *%$@ have I been!!!

My last post was on January 30.  Yikes!

Winter is gone and it's Virginia bluebell season.

The sad thing is that I don't have too much to show for all the time that has passed.  I'm loathe to admit it, but just a little of the magic has gone out of knitting for me.  At least for the time being.  I'm not sure what happened.  Knitting just seems kind of tedious.  My stash, which isn't even that huge, feels like a burden.

I started and stopped a dozen projects in the past couple of months.  Nothing seems to satisfy, but I, also, I was making too many not-paying-attention types of mistakes.

So, what have I been up to?

For a couple of years I've wanted to knit a Clapotis from Katia Jamaica (discontinued), here are a couple of very nice examples.  I've had the yarn forever--for two different colors, no less--but I just never got around to starting it. 

I was hoping this would be something I could just pick up and put down and it would not require much effort (I've even done a few rows on the train/bus).  Plus, it would use stash yarn.  So, I don't love it, but it'll do (I think I'll really like the end product, though).  I'm just getting to the point of where I indulge in the perverse pleasure of deliberately dropping the stitches.

I started the Snap Cardigan with Blue Sky Cotton.  I bought this yarn last summer. 

It's a little tough knitting this worsted weight yarn with US6 needles, but I like the result so far.

I'm working on the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan from the current IK.

 

I'm not sure the nubby stash yarn I'm using was such a great idea--the seed stitching looks pretty bad, and, yet, I keep knitting. 

Fugly--no?  I wouldn't be surprised if this one ends up ripped. 

I finished one Transitions mitt (well, except for weaving in the ends). 

The part with two colors on US3 needles was fun, the end with ribbing done on US1 was hellish.  I think this contributed greatly to my knitting funk.  It just seemed to go on forever.  Mitt 2 will have to wait for cold weather to roll around again.  Love the Shibui yarn, though.

I finished the shawl from "Scottish Inspirations.

I like it, but the season is over.  Couldn't get a good action shot, but this photo shows the color better:

On the stash acquisition front, my malaise has lessened my enthusiasm for yarn, too (oh noes!).  However, how bummed out would you have to be to ignore this gorgeous Handmaiden Sea Silk in Dandelion?  I just need to decide what to make with it.

A very sweet reader of this blog (and fellow Blythe fan), Bobbe (no bloggy?), sent me this gorgeous shawl pin.

 

I'm looking forward to using it with the above mentioned Sea silk and all my other lace shawls.

Speaking of readers, another reader, Dana, was asking about my Placed Cable (Dana, I tried to email a response, but the message kept bouncing).  Alas, the Placed Cable, another victim of my funk, sits abandoned until cool weather roles around again.

Oh, and, look:  Fabric stash!  One of these days I may get around to doing something with these.

I scored a Lotta Jansdotter remnant bag:

And a bunch of pretty Denyse Schmidt prints:

So, that's the update.  I do think things are getting better--actually, just bringing everything out and blogging it seems to have helped.  Hopefully, I'll be back to more-or-less regular posting.

I can't go without one more bluebell pic.

I hope all of you are enjoying the seasons, wherever you are!

Comments

[Lin]

Well even if you are a little underwhelmed with your knitting it certainly looks great, I like the colour of the Flutter sleeve cardi yarn. The sewing bits look great too.
I have felt like that about my stash too, to the point that I would quite like to sell it all and start again! Too much effort though!

[Nora]

Well, I'm *%$@ing glad you're back - and with such goodness too.

[I received my ShiBui sock yarn btw, and am SO in love with the colour!! Thank you for the heads-up!]

[annmarie]

maybe you just need to give yourself a respite from the knitting and not even think about it for a while. for what it's worth, I like the nubby, organic look of your version of the flutter sleeve cardigan (a design that didn't really do much for me in the mag). and the photos of the bluebells are just lovely. :)

[Nicky]

Glad you're back posting.Not long back from a 2yr stint in US which was sometimes difficult and your blog was a daily must read to brighten my day!Maybe some other creative project is called for?

Best wishes,

Nicky

[Knitting Bandit]

Pretty bluebells...those aren't something I see much where I ma in Michigan. For being in a knitting funk you sure have knit a lot. I think you need a big happy F O to make you feel better. I hate those funks.

[Eve]

I can imagine being there with the bluebells under the trees--how lovely!