stash, knit, repeat

That darn fir cone lace cardigan simply refuses to be photographed.

Well, okay. It’s not so much the cardigan’s attitude at stake, here. Hopefully soon! Gnaaahhh!

***

I’m on the last lace repeat of shoalwater and I’m starting to get mighty nervous about the yarn shortage potential. So I brought her into my LYS to get advice from the shop ladies. They’re of the opinion that:

• I miiiiiiiiiight squeak through and be okay,
• They have some nice Misti Alpaca in a soft brown that would work if I want to bind off in a contrasting yarn,
• It’s not strictly necessary to end on the exact row Evelyn Clark specifies. (The instructions: 4 full repeats, then rows 29-50 once more. Why? I have absolutely no idea.)

So at least I have options! While I was there, I found this:

How could I resist? As homesick as I am for a New England fall? It practically leapt into my hands, I tell you.

***

As I was inwardly cursing myself late last night for falling behind on my Knitting Schedule, wondering how I’m going to get all of this holiday knitting done, plotting out exactly how much holiday knitting I can do once we go back East in 2 weeks, and who I’m not seeing until after Dec 25, and etc. etc. etc., I had a realization.

This is my hobby. And being a full-time parent of a particularly active toddler means that I only have one. If I’m not enjoying this, I’m doing something wrong. So I let myself accept the fact that I am simply not going to do even a fraction of the knitting I’d hoped to do. I don’t even want to work particularly hard at this. I’m going to finish the shoalwater shawl and the phyllo pullover, both of which are already on the needles, and then I’m going to knit precisely what and when I want.

Loved ones in my life, expect great knitted things to arrive out of the blue at random points over the next year, rather than in one fiber-crazed orgy at the holidays. Because I’m having some fun with my knitting, over here.

Living in a place without any dramatic season change has me all messed up. The sunny 65-degree weather we’ve had for the past couple of months is totally lulling me into a false sense of security. How can Thanksgiving possibly be just a couple of weeks away? How can Christmas be right around the corner? It’s beautiful outside!

Good thing I’m so crazy about knitting, because urgency is utterly lacking here.

The body of the cardigan is pinned and blocking on our table. The fir cone lace part really wants to bump up, so I’ll need to press it before the garment is finished. It’s really turning out well, though. I think my gram will be thrilled.

Why block the body now, you ask? I need a little motivation to hike across Sleeve Island, because let me tell you, the pina coladas are nowhere to be seen.

I’d be a lot further along on Sleeve #2 if I hadn’t had to restart it three times today. That whole nursing-brain thing isn’t a joke, I tell you. My head is full of mush.

Of course, I’m already fantasizing about what I’ll do after the holidays. It’s been literally years since I’ve knit myself a sweater, with the pregnancy and the associated weight gain. But hey! I’m on a diet, and it’s working well, and I’m starting to get my old body back, and one of my favorite bloggers is starting a Debbie Bliss knit-along for after the holidays. Sign me up!

Now, what to knit… what to knit… what’s that? *How* many weeks left until winter holidays? Oh, crap. :)