First, I want to thank all of you kind people who complimented my Lotus Blossom Shawl. It’s turned the prettiest shade of pink in the last 24 hours . . . very odd!

Of course, I know you’re dying to know what I’m working on now. (Because, well, it’s exciting, huh?) So, this is it.

The “Marilyn’s Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan” designed by Wendy of Knit and Tonic. Except, instead of using the called-for yarn, I’m using my handspun instead, and am just tickled to be knitting up yarn I spun myself. The two, different-colored plies give a lovely tweedy look to the knit fabric, and also help hide the less-than-perfect spinning. The occasional wide or narrow spot doesn’t really matter, because the varying color tricks the eye, anyway . . . not that I care. I knew going in the yarn wasn’t perfect, but that wasn’t the point. The point was to use the yarn I’d made myself.

I’ve had an almost superstitious feeling about knitting with my handspun–like I needed to find a project “worthy” of it, of the time I’d put into making the yarn. And I’ve only been spinning for a little over a year, now, so my yarn’s not perfect. I’ve given some away, and I did make a pair of gloves with some, but otherwise, my handspun has just hung around looking pretty (to me, anyway). But, if I’m willing to spend hours making a sweater, and willing to spend $$$ on commercial yarn to make it with . . . why should I be reluctant to invest the hours I spent making yarn in the first place? Silly, no? So I’m proud of myself for making this, and can’t remember the last time I felt such a glow over basic stockinette stitch (grin).

Of course, this is also an inadvertent nod to Project Spectrum, which just started this week. Like Cate, I didn’t join, but seem to be following along anyway, since this project is half-red.

My other, current project is a pair of socks in Dani’s Sunshine Yarns, “Slytherin” green. It’s a pretty poor photo (clearly, my camera was more in the mood for warm colors tonight), but it does, at least, show evidence of a WIP. Both socks, toe-up, magic-loop method, turkish cast-on. The yarn is a delight to work with, very soft and smooth wool, and the colors are not nearly as washed-out as they appear in this somewhat blurry photo. They’re a lovely blend of whites and greens.

I DO have a next lace project in mind, but am not going to tell you about it quite yet. It’s going to be in blue Zephyr (already waiting in the stash), and will be a modification of a pattern I already have, but I’m going to wait a few days before starting it–I want my cardi to be a little further along, so that my projects are “staggered” a little–not all at the same, beginning point.

Tags: Knitting/Spinning // 9 Comments »