Saturday, July 17, 2010

Current Knitting

 Warning: This blog post contains Harry. 


Puddle #1: The King Bat Shawl


Harry has refused to budge when I asked him to help out, but I am slowly creeping around the edging, having actually finished one and a half sides. Although I try very hard to do at least one repeat a day, just about anything, including a compulsion to alphabetize my sock drawer, is sufficient to divert my attention. As someone once remarked to me about the first The Lord of the Rings movie: "I thought they would never get to Rivendell...." And speaking of the endless march to Rivendell, we have...

Puddle #2: The Queen Susan Shawl


Although I dearly love the pattern, I have to admit that it is a stupefyingly boring knit. The delicate tracery is mostly composed of a single motif, and I am thoroughly weary of it. Being only on Row 52 of 165, this initially sweet little pile of fluffy gossamer has mutated into the Tyrannosaurus Rex of the UFO basket, snapping and growling at me whenever I pass it by. Which I try to do often. But I gamely knit at least five rows a week, because I want to see it finished. I try not to look ahead to the interminable edging, lest I suffer mental collapse before the border is actually started. Harry furtively backs away towards the vegetable keeper, because he knows he promised to knit rows 53-63...

Genuine Finished Objects
There are few things in a knitter's life more precious than a friend who is always cold, and thus actually needs warm hats, mitts, and other small, fuzzy, and quickly finished objects. The Queen Susan Shawl of Avoidance has driven me into a relative frenzy of knitting winter gear, for example...

A lovely pair of Whitewater mitts out of Mini Mochi....



And a little Bainbridge neckwarmer out of handspun merino/angora/silk.



And lastly, because, next to a chilly friend, those with babies are also useful, as I can knit silly stuff like this:


The mitts, scarf, and elephant patterns are free on Ravelry and take little yarn, not much time, and, most importantly, have no edging whatsoever.

Those who have asked after Harry can draw comfort (or not) from the fact that he did not fall into a volcano, get eaten by an aardvark, or retire from the knitting world. He has, however, traded in his karaoke machine for a set of ten-pins. He thoughtfully set up a practice lane on the headboard of our bed, so we will always be aware of when he gets a strike and can wake up to give him a reward.

He generally bowls with his millipede buddy, Clarence, and Harry is currently knitting him a set of socks. He claims this project is preventing him from fulfilling the promises made to help out with the Puddles, but I think he's even more bored by edging than I am.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm curious about your knitting needles. What kind of needles have those long needles?

Your work is always beautiful!! I can't wait to see the 2 shawls complete.
Evelyn

Laritza said...

Can't wait to see those two blocked!

Lacefreak said...

Your massive lace projects really are epic. I'm impressed by your stamina and perseverance and look forward to seeing them blocked and in all their glory.

LittleBerry said...

love the post! We don't often realize to create something thats simply stunning and breathtaking theres alot of boring knitting in there ;o) I do like the line about alphabetizing your sock drawer....

The non lace knits are great but that elephant is so cute am off to favourite it now!

Soo said...

I love the elephant!!!!

Puddle knitting does take discipline -- I find it's the only way to keep making progress. I look forward to seeing the finished shawls!

Reluctant Penguin said...

Ah, yes, edging... The very word now makes me shudder. My long-standing shawl with endless edging is buried way down in the UFO mine, hopefully out of earshot. These shawls are lovely, so keep at it -- we are all anxious to see them finished.

KPiep said...

I think my WIP puddles are very similar to yours right now. I'm having a very hard time this summer mustering up the energy to work on either Winter Solstice or the Princess!

yarnlot said...

Harry really seems to love your King Bat Shawl, it looks like he is embracing it. Looking more innocent than ever he is probably planning further mischief...

Walden said...

Love the Whitewater Mitts. The colors work so well!

gayle said...

Can't imagine why I'm suddenly thinking about Rainbow Brite...
I've run into the same wall with Maplewing. Love the shawl, but I seem to be in a time warp where I knit the same 8 rows over and over and over and the shawl never gets any bigger.

knitterPat said...

They are beautiful projects! Love the colours of the fingerless mittens :)

knittingdragonflies said...

Wow, I'll say it again, wow! Love it all, even Harry!
Vicki

Laughingrat said...

Look at Harry, posing all proudly with those FOs like he's the one who finished them. Anything to avoid repetitive lace motifs!

Experimental Knitter said...

Love the mitts, warmer, elephant- and Harry!
And I agree with Laritza, can't wait to see them in their full glory.

Kathy Kathy Kathy said...

Wonderful F.O.'s. I think Harry is a shrinky dink. Edging has been the defeat of many a knitter, but not you. I believe in you. Keep on keeping on.

Steve said...

@Zphotgal - the needles in the pink puddle are knipick harmonies (in europe, known as knitpro symfonies)

The ones in the second puddle, I'm not sure - possibly addi lace?