Almost Over

I can't believe that spring break is almost over! I have so enjoyed lounging, relaxing, attempting not to stress. I think I can actually face heading back to work on Monday without feeling like I am coming unglued.

On the knitting front: I have finished chart two of Guinevere and started on chart three. I may actually be the slowest knitter on the planet. And why is it that when you have something you need to finish, and it is a complex yet lovely project, all these other projects come rushing in taunting you because you really don't have time to do them? I'm not talking about projects for me or even my family, but projects for people who have done nice things for me, projects for new babies, projects I'd really like to do but feel like I can't because of the lace. Now, don't get me wrong . . . I love the lace, feel pretty passionate about it really, but I am not a monogamous knitter by nature. This is really hard!!!

Lace Musing

So, what is it about lace? When I first started knitting, I remember a friend working on a lace shawl for her mother in Indonesia. It was one that started with a center motif on DPNs and just kept growing and growing. I remember she stopped bringing it into the store when she had over a thousand stitches on her needles. As I sat there working on a sleeveless vest on size 10 needles, I thought there was no way in hell I would ever do anything like that. For one thing, lace is not exactly me. Too frilly and girly, I thought.

A decade or so later, I embarked on sock knitting. Little needles, fine yarn. I love socks, and now I have been captured by lace knitting. I have visions of knitting stoles for my windows (I am still not the lace-wearing type). And beading! Don't get me started!

Why does it appeal to me so? It is incredibly labor-intensive and time consuming. I just finished row 102 of Guinevere (SoS1) and there is precious little finished knitting there. The thing is every time I finish a pattern row, I get a huge rush of satisfaction. I love it when all the YOs and dec's work out. Something very mathematically satisfying there. Lace knitting is all about balance between those increases and decreases, between the concentration it takes to complete a pattern row and the mindlessness of the purl back row. There's also a yin yang thing about how carefully I count those rows and stitches and the danger of lace knitting. Anything that suggests the use of a lifeline must be inherently dangerous, no?

Speaking of which, I have yet to put in a lifeline. I am tempting fate, I know, but if you could see how careful I am with this knitting. The way I count and mark my pattern, the way I carefully cover the knitting and hide it from my cats, the way I never, ever leave it in the middle of a row. I sound like it is a child I am nurturing. If it were for me, I doubt I would be so careful with it, but it is destined to be a gift for a dear friend. The next one will belong to me . . . or maybe my living room window :)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho . . .

It's back to work I go. . . well, went, I guess. The day is over and I am thinking about settling in for a nice evening with my stole. Thanks, DK, for the well-wishes. I love working on this lovely lace pattern. Something about it soothes my mathematical need for balance (I always liked algebraic equations because they had to balance). I know that the recipient will be absolutely pleased, surprised, and joyful. That already makes me happy.

I am counting down the days until Spring Break. A week from tomorrow, folks, and I will have a beautiful, glorious week of knitting and writing days. I can sleep in, stay up late, drink too much wine, eat too much food, and just be a happy girl. Spring Break is not for kids; it's for teachers who need to re-charge to get us through the last precious weeks of school before test season.

Sick days are good for something

I am home from school with the worst cold I have had in five years. I feel like crap, and since I can't find a cold medicine that doesn't keep me awake I got up early and decided to finish a pair of socks that have been languishing. Pictures later after I get more batteries for the camera.

These are just a simple pair of cuffed socks made in Tofutsies. As much as I like how they look and feel, I don't think I will use this yarn again. It splits so easily, which was a minor pain when I was knitting, but a major one when it came to grafting the toes. When the first one was all splitty and irritating, I chalked it up to me being uptight and anxious to finish, but the second one was just as bad. I don't need anything to make Kitchener-ing more stressful!!!

The good news is that I have another FO under my belt and more ChoreWars points to rack up :) Oh, how I love Ravelry and Lime 'n' Violet! Now if I can just get rid of this nasty damn cold I'd be happy. I worry about it moving into my chest. I am so congested now I can't get a full breath without working for it.

I think I will grade papers and work on the Secret of the Stole project I started last fall. I became disenchanted when I realized it wasn't going to work for its original purpose, but I have decided who I will give it to now, and I feel inspired again. I fear it will seriously cut into other knitting, but the recipient is a very special person so I can take that into account while I spend hours with beads, little needles and tiny thread :)