The knitting bug has definitely gotten me again. Maybe it’s hanging out so much on Ravelry lately but my need to knit has come back strong. I’ve cast on for a couple of new projects but mainly I’ve been pulling things out of hibernation to get back to. 
One of the new projects I’ve started lately has been the Kiri Shawl. This will be the second time around with this pattern since I knit another one a couple of years back out of the recommended Kid Silk Haze that I loved but gave away long before the weather was cool enough to justify shawl wearing. I enjoyed the pattern enough that I wanted to knit it again – this time in black lace weight Misti alpaca. I’ve been meaning to knit a black shawl ever since I started playing around with lace. I have a store bought black pashmina type shawl that goes with me just about everywhere I go but I’d love to have one that I made myself. This picture was taken just after I completed the initial set up chart. I’ve done another repeat and a half of the main chart since then. I haven’t had too much time to devote to it since I really only knit on it in the mornings before work when it’s quiet and there aren’t too many distractions. That really only gives me time enough for a few rows – not even a full repeat. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the yarn. I bought it about six or seven months ago at my local shop and started the Wing o’ the Moth pattern with it immediately but set it down because I didn’t like the way it was handling. I’ve since gone down a couple of needle sizes for this shawl and am okay with it but I like my lace yarns with just a little more heft to them. I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those knitters that really like knitting with very very fine yarns. I’ve heard a lot of people compare this yarn to Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud but I really like that yarn – it has just that little tiny bit more substance that I’m looking for. Not a huge difference but just enough so that I feel better with it.
I’m still making progress on my On Your Toes knee socks 
although I am pretty certain now that two balls of yarn are just not quite going to make these the knee socks I envisioned. I’ll have to break down and order another ball of Nature Spun Sport. This is not an expensive yarn by any means but I hate to order just one ball. If I’m going to pay for shipping I’d like to make the order count. I’d love to find a place that would let me order one ball of that, two or three more balls of Galway Chunky and some Knit Picks Essential. I know that won’t work because of the knit picks but I may have to wait until after Christmas to order since things are a bit tight.
I also pulled out the Flyingdale’s Cardigan 
I started right after last Christmas but also put away due to lack of yarn. I had bought four or five skeins at my local shop as that was all they had and put the rest on special order but gave up after months went by and the order never came in. The other day I happened to be in there and came across three more skeins so I snapped them up and will see how far these will take me before I run out again. I like this pattern a lot and can see this will probably be a sweater that will get lots of wear if only I can manage to finish it!
I also have plans to pull out another very old sweater from the depths of the knitting chest. I was poking around in there the other day and pulled out
Stornoway from Fisherman’s Knits that I actually started in February of 2004. I’m toying with giving myself a little challenge – try to finish this sweater before the FOURTH anniversary of casting on. Do you think it’s possible? I have actually more knit than the picture shows but I’m at work so I pulled a picture from my very first or second post to insert here. I pull this sweater out every once in a while and knit a few rounds and then forget about it.
I’ve also pulled out the wheel again – that is another fiber area that I’ve been seriously neglecting. I’ve not spun for months. Months! I pulled the wheel out last night and started to ply up the singles that were taking up all my bobbins to try to clear the decks a bit. I plan to comb up and spin some wool hubby bought me last Christmas and make a plain jane sweater from it from the Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. I’m going to try to finish up the plying tonight and maybe have a picture of a finished skein in the next couple of days. We will see!
Maybe it’s the weather cooling off or maybe it’s Ravelry – I don’t know but I’m glad to back to my knitting.
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