confiscated knitting needles
a strange uneasy feeling
It’s been a good kind of busy here, “choiced busy.” It has been fun to take some quick trips this last month (one to Playa del Carmen, Mexico and one to Santa Cruz, California). Lots of knitting and crocheting happened on the trips, although my knitting needles were confiscated on the way home from Mexico. (Luckily one pair wasn’t found in my suitcase, so I could still knit.) I’ll be truthful, I felt a small twinge of panic as I thought of all the hours of flying and “layovering” I’d be doing without knitting. I wish I had read the really helpful post about flying with knitting needles here on Substack, BEFORE flying. I highly recommend it. I thought it was an Everyday Knitter post, but I cannot find it - anyone know which one I’m referring to?
I finished the above Stripes! sweater for Andrea Mowry’s March to May Knit-a-Long. I’ve been wanting to make this for quite awhile. I’ve worn it 8 out of the 10 days I’ve had it finished. It is a permanent, but not quite subtle, wardrobe fixture now. I love the colors I picked out - the yarn is Jamieson’s of Shetland - Shetland Spindrift 100% wool and I’m very drawn to this wool. It feels rustic and yet drenched in color. I want to use it for all projects. (Starting a hat for an autumnal birthday gift tonight with this wool.)
I made this MiniBirdsong sweater
by Maschenwunder on Instagram for my small niece Willow! I was trying to finish it before arriving in Santa Cruz, but only finished a bit before midnight on Monday night before leaving. All those buckles came out in the blocking, thank goodness. My tension in the colorwork was tighter than I had anticipated. I don’t have the photos of my niece wearing it yet, but soon I will! I’m kind of in love with it and want to make so many more patterns from this designer. (She has a fish sweater and a cat one that are both magical!)
I kind of made myself finish a pair of socks that I had lying around for probably over a year. I find socks super hard to finish. I hate starting the second one, but I really love wearing them. Feel accomplished finishing this pair. Photo later on Insta, I think. Maybe in the stories, but probably not grid-worthy!
Now I’m kind of struggling trying to figure out what is next. I’m doing some planning of knits for gifts for the fall and winter holidays. Browsing patterns, ordering yarn and that sort of thing. But I don’t know yet which sweater I’ll be making for myself. I think I’ll always have one on the needles, I find sweaters deeply satisfying, and really practical. Northern New Mexico is cold most of the year, and even in the summers, the evenings and nights are chilly. I don’t really like the feeling of not knowing what’s next. A bit uneasy. I’m not sure what that is or why. How do you decide what’s next? Do you know or decide after finishing what is on your needles? I’m really curious how others do it.
I am thinking of joining the Everyday Knitter’s Mitre blanket knit-a-long. I’ve been wanting to make one of these blankets, and she has a perfect little e-book and a community to join. I’m curious about it. Hoping I like it, could be a perfect stashbuster - might use all sorts of different weight yarns, also different fiber.
I’d love to hear what your favorite summer knits are - any tees on your needles? Need some ideas!
If you take commissions, I would like an Andrea Mowry’s Stripes! sweater for me :D
I agree with your feelings about sweater knitting. Lovely projects!