I know we all have experienced this: the moment when idle hands ache for knitting and the craving is so strong that there really is no time to think much, neither to make any swatch nor consider carefully the pattern and in 9 cases out of 10 those projects run into dead end quite soon. I have few skeins or rather few hastily wound mutilated ratty looking balls of unraveled yarns that have resulted from the above mentioned knitting stroke.
Sometimes the haste to cast on has been so strong that I have blindly and stupidly picked a treasure from the stash and plunged into a project. I just have taken the yarn, needles that are close enough to the ball band recommendation and some project; any project from the book or from the head. Sometimes these treasures don't get ripped immediately after the madness but linger in the knitting basket with needles forever reminding of the impulsive behavior because at times I find it very difficult to admit that I was really that stupid and avoid facing the truth and pretend that they will be finished later. Well, this finishing never happens and when the UFO basket is overflowing, they will be quietly ripped with a promise never again to take any precious ones without careful consideration. I feel so sad when I look at once so lovely skeins of Noros.Sure enough, the idle hands syndrome happened Boxing Day morning. It was early, everyone was asleep; the house nice and quiet and I had to find something to knit right that early morning moment. I did not dare to make any noise and rummage through all the stash and picked up (lucky this time!) something that had already at least once before been in the similar circumstance. This is a good workhorse yarn (Janne) and can easily take couple of rippings (is this a word?) without being hurt. I still don't know what was the size of needles I used. I just grabbed the yarn, needles and one book of knitting patterns by Barbara Walker and cast on.
So I started a sock with 64 stitches and very quickly it became clear that the sock was going to be too big. No worries, just make the sock long enough to fit somewhere between ankle and knee. I kept decreasing until I felt that it was small enough to start the heel. I carried on until one sock was finished, second one cast on and got about 3" of it done when the love faded. Just like that, all gone.
And there I was thinking what am I doing, do I even like what I am doing. Okay, so I needed to shop around for opinions. One of the girls said: "It is different from what you usually make", the other said:"It is your sock, if you like it, it is all that matters", (can you read between the lines here?) and the third politely claimed that "It looks just fine."
I am still in denial, I am not going to rip it. I am going to finish it later.Happy New Wool to You all!
Lene
PS. The picture of the reindeer was taken close by, on the way to collect the mail. The dogs try to keep the reindeer away from the yard, yet at times it is difficult, they are stubborn beasts and keep returning. Deni, you are welcome to use the picture.
