sometimes it’s fun just to knit

Posted on | April 14, 2009 | 17 Comments

One thing that worried me when I signed up for NaKniSweMoDo is that focusing all my energy on the production of sweaters would quickly prove to be overwhelming and ultimately frustrating.  I do enjoy knitting sweaters and love the idea of using the sweater-quantities of yarn in my stash, but I feared that working on one largish project after another – and yes, I’m considering sweaters a largish project – would wear me down. 

I believe it’s starting to.  I feel like I’ve knit a lot this year, but I don’t have much to show for it.  Last week I pulled out a skein of handspun and cast on for a hat – just in time for summer!  Ha.

I owe SB a hat after appropriating his for a last-minute gift the Christmas before last.  I’m ashamed it’s taken me this long to replace it, but this is a much better hat so he’ll probably forgive me.  It’s not quite as purple in real life.

The pattern is Claudia and it’s a well-written, easily adaptable, FREE pattern.  I used the same size needle throughout, only knit one round between the crown decreases and it fits SB perfectly.  It also fits me perfectly, so I’ll definitely be making another!

Fresh from accessory success, I played around with starting a scarf.

I had doubts that I’d have enough handspun yarn from the get-go, but I fell into the simple vine lace pattern and was enjoying the knitting so much that I kept going until I’d knit half the skein and confirmed that yes, it would be too short.  Scarves can definitely be too short – can they ever be too long?  Not for me.  This will be frogged, but it will live again, perhaps as a border on a larger scarf or shawl. 

Oh, and I’m 3/4 of the way through the first sleeve on the Abstract Jacket.  It was the perfect portable project for Easter at my MIL’s and once I got past the chart frustrations (they continue), it was easy going. 

I think I’ll be able to do this sweater thing if I intersperse the knitting with smaller, therapeutic projects.  And spinning.  More on that later.  ;o)

Category: Finished Objects

Comments

17 Responses to “sometimes it’s fun just to knit”

  1. margene
    April 14th, 2009 @ 3:04 pm

    It’s the same thing from my point of view. One can easily knit 12 sweaters if there is other knitting for company and entertainment. One cannot knit sweaters alone. Nice hat! Too bad about the scarf but it will be beautiful yarn to mix with another.

  2. Carrie
    April 14th, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

    what else would a sweater be if not largish?

  3. Tami
    April 14th, 2009 @ 4:15 pm

    Instead of a scarf have you considered a cowl? Cause aren’t they really ‘short scarfs’? ;-)

  4. Cheryl S.
    April 14th, 2009 @ 6:11 pm

    Your handspun is beautiful!
    Yes, I agree with Tami – a cowl would be very nice!

  5. Emily
    April 14th, 2009 @ 8:49 pm

    I think knitting projects get lonely when there is only one of them.

  6. Lynn in Tucson
    April 15th, 2009 @ 12:44 am

    Too bad about the scarf! I love the way it looks in that pattern.

  7. Anne
    April 15th, 2009 @ 5:56 am

    I am totally with you on the smaller project thing. There’s no way I could knit nothing but sweaters this entire year. Heck – I’m not even sure WITH the smaller projects I’m gonna make it.

  8. Jen
    April 15th, 2009 @ 6:06 am

    I really prefer smaller projects, too. Coasters, potholders, dishcloths & hats, etc. The hat looks fantastic – I definitely need to make a round of hats for us for next winter.

    How many sweaters have you made so far this year? I also consider sweaters large projects, for sure.

  9. cyndy
    April 15th, 2009 @ 6:34 am

    I have a pair of fingerless mitts that need to be frogged for the same reason. …(didn’t think I would have enough yarn to finish) …
    it’s the stuff hope is made of.

    good idea to make a cowl..nice remedy!

  10. Becky
    April 15th, 2009 @ 6:37 am

    Will you show another pic of the hat so we can see the whole thing? From the pic you posted, it looks like it deserves a bigger pic. And the scarf yarn: did you spin that? I love the visual texture of it spun up. The little color changes throughout are beautiful.

  11. Monika
    April 15th, 2009 @ 8:54 am

    Your handspun is gorgeous, for the hat and the scarf. Tooooo bad it’s not enough for a scarf though, I really liked it. Can’t you spin more of it? You have my admiration for knitting all those large sweater projects! Good idea to do some small things in between. :)

  12. Bubblesknits
    April 15th, 2009 @ 9:05 am

    I get burned out after a while, too. That’s typically when I whip up a dishcloth or two. :-)

  13. stacey
    April 15th, 2009 @ 9:50 am

    I love the hat pattern! I agree I love the idea of knitting sweaters, nut I always have to have some small project to fill in.

  14. Sgt. Britty
    April 15th, 2009 @ 1:17 pm

    Thank you for my little hat! I’ll wear it with pride! The picture doesn’t do it justice–it looks fine on the pic, but it’s even better in person.

  15. crazy for yarn in alabama
    April 16th, 2009 @ 8:35 am

    Great hat!!

    I can’t work on a large project exclusively…I’ve got to have at least a couple of socks going at all times seems like.

    Love the yarn!!!

  16. Laurie
    April 18th, 2009 @ 5:15 am

    Yummy handspun. Knitter does not live by monuments alone.

  17. mel
    April 20th, 2009 @ 5:19 pm

    That little hat looks great (such pretty handspun!!) and the vine lace too, even though it will be frogged. I’m always in envy of your knitting productivity – Nakniswe… would be so far beyond my reach. Yay for small projects to keep you going through it!