I sit here, in my spare bedroom, working on the computer to create a post I’ve had lodged in my head for over a week. In the background there’s the gentle swoosh swoosh of the dishwasher, cleaning the evening’s dirties (along with a few from the past several days) while soft jazz plays in the living room. Tuesday–my “weekend” (because it is my only day off each week).
It’s been an odd day, starting out by being awakened around 3:30 in the morning to the sound of my (much-hated) upstairs neighbors, moving out (their door is just outside my bedroom windows, which I have open at night for the fresh air). I think, with the last few carloads this afternoon, that they’re gone for good. Or at least I hope so. I finally got up for good around 7 a.m., and then lounged in the living room for hours upon hours, working on the back of a sweater a little bit and also just sitting there. I spent too much time “navel gazing”, tried to do some simple meditation (to calm down my brain, which was in hyperdrive mode most of the day) to no avail, and finally ran through the shower and got cleaned up and presentable. Off to the gym for a little bit (a shortened, but good workout), and some serious time in the whirlpool (hot tub) and then some swimming in the pool. I spoke with my Dad in-between destinations (he’s been in the hospital for over a week now–LONG story…see my Facebook page for details), and he’s doing much better today. Then it was errand time–groceries to be gotten (mostly fresh produce, but somehow I ended up with over $70 in stuff in my cart)–and a quick pop by the store (it was closed, but I wanted to drop off a couple things I had picked up) before driving home. I made an amazing dinner (a fun chicken thing I do that doctors up a simple boxed rice thing, some amazing haricots verts, and a tall glass of freshly-brewed sweet tea), relaxed a little bit, and here I am now. About the time I got to the gym, my day started to “feel” better…and I was able to do some calming/relaxing in the wet area at the gym, and tonight, I’m jovial and content as can be. Seriously!
So, I’ve been AWOL over a month again, but it’s not for lack of WANTING to be here. It’s for lack of TIME (or me dedicating time) to be here. The gym continues to be an important part of my week, and each visit takes about two full hours out of my day (but adds countless hours to my life, I’m sure). I’ve also been posting to the ThreadBear Facebook page every single morning (join it by finding it and clicking on the LIKE button). But I admit to neglecting you, dear knitting blog–and I’m sorry! Let’s see if I can make up for it with a picture-laden post!
On to the projects! First, there was major progress leading into May with the V-Neck Shell being made with Maggi’s Linen

as it (and two other variations–scoop neck and boat neck) were the Project of the Month at ThreadBear. Confession time? It sits, about 85% completed, in a zipper bag beside my couch, hiding under the end table. It was put aside in favor of a couple other project that I felt came before it…..and it NEEDS to be finished ASAP.
One of those projects was a top-down cardigan that would serve a dual purpose–it would be a fresh model using K1CToo Ty-Dy (one of my favorite cotton yarns) as well as be a model for an upcoming class taught by Sue Hall on summer cardigans. It started out humbly

but grew rapidly

until in under a week the entire body was completed

and just a few days later it was completed, blocked, and on display at the shop

workin’ hard for Sue’s class and for pattern/yarn sales. It’s a great project and looks fab in the yarn I used, but any worsted-weight you choose will turn out great (and it’s an easy one, cuz there’s no seaming when you’re done with the knitting).
Then I turned my attention to some new sock yarn that came in–Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Ysolda Red

that begged to go home with me and be turned into a sock

that’s coming along nicely, but is on ice for the moment. So many distractions!
The first was this

which I first released as that close-up photo last week, while working on it. Enter the Three-Way Rib Wrap

a multi-stranded project worked on big needles that is serving as our June 2010 Project Of The Month at the shop. It debuted today (June 1st) and I think it’s a great project that should garner some attention.
So now that it is completed and on display, I had a little bit of un-dedicated knitting time over the past two days. I cleaned out my knitting bag over the weekend (tragic, I say–it was JAMMED full and had some silly stuff in it) and resurrected a project that’s been rumbling around in the bottom of my bag for WELL OVER a year now. Re-enter Cassidy

a beautiful cabled hoodie sweater based on a pattern from ChicKnits (we carry her line at the shop, of course), being worked up in Cascade 220 in a beautiful heathered shade that’s almost blue and almost white. I’m telling you, there’s nothing better in my knitting world than a simple wool yarn (Cascade 220 fits the bill) and a great cabled pattern (Cassidy fits that bill). Check it out, in close up

I love how the cables POP, how the yarn is heathered, and how the overall fabric looks. It’s been a BLAST working on this again over the past 48 hours, and it’s more than DOUBLED in length in that time (well over 8″ of new fabric since Sunday evening) and I’m up past the armhole cut-in. The cable design is easily memorized and they work up quickly (the little three-stitch wonders I’m doing with out a cable needle).
But I have been distracted……..

by some BEAUTIFUL sock yarn that was left for me by a yarn rep (I’ve ordered this stuff, to be delivered later this summer). I have to have a model sock made up before it arrives, right? I did that knitting last night, when I didn’t want to have to think at all while going around and around and around. But I’m also hearing the siren song of some beautiful tweed yarn

that comes from MaggiKnits. I want to make something with this yarn, but the right design hasn’t presented itself just yet. So I will swatch with these two balls and see if that helps me decide.
Midnight approaches, and I have some swatching to do for YET ANOTHER project that I want to get started in the next couple days. I’m sure I’ll share it here, as it progresses. In the mean time, be well, be happy, and be knitting (or crocheting, or spinning, or weaving…..JUST BE CREATIVE!)