Tuesday 4 March 2008

Decisions, Decisions....

I'm facing a few yarn-y type decisions at the moment. I could pretend that I was about to embark on some sort of democratic process where I'd ask for your votes and then go with the majority. But anyone who knows me knows I'm a control freak with an ornery nature and so that's not going happen. (But suggestions are always welcome --eventually I'll come back to them and realise you were right all along.)

First decision is what to do with this amazing handspun (handspun!) (eeeee) merino yarn, spun by LittleBerry and happily rehomed with me. I love it. LittleBerry has no idea how excited I was when this arrived. I've never had handspun yarn before. And for the past year every time I've seen someone's handspun yarn with the multiple mult-coloured plies twisted together I've felt a pang of envy.

And now I've got some! Yipppppeeeee!!!

This deserves a special project - and until I find the right pattern I'll just admire it.

My second decision is what my next big knitting project should be. I've been amazed and inspired and impressed (as always) by things appearing in blogland lately. Two projects in particular have made me want to tackle something meaty. Tinker has this amazing shawl from a Niebling curtain pattern. Fleegle has this amazing afghan from a German (I think) magazine.

To further inspire myself I've got some new books in, and there are some beautiful projects in them.

However, for the last couple of days for no reason that I can really make sense of I've been thinking of knitting a .... Christening gown. To be clear, neither I or anyone I know is pregnant or expecting to be pregnant any time soon. My nieces and nephew ARE FAR TOO YOUNG TO BE STARTING FAMILIES AND SHOULD BE ENJOYING HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY SO DON'T THINK THIS IS SOME SORT OF WEIRD HINT. (Apologies for the lecture to all of you who aren't one of my nieces or newphew or a teenager.)

Anyway - a Christening gown seems to have made its way on to my 'to do' list and may be the next thing I cast on.

Or it may not.

My last decision is what to do with this Noro Silk Garden. I ordered this yarn over a month ago with a specific pattern in mind -- but since then I've been dithering. (Really? Me? Dither?) I have occasional lapses of creativity and think I should design something myself. And then I change my mind and decide I should be making the pattern that inspired me to order the yarn. If you check this blog in a year I expect I'll still be dithering.

Babette Watch
For those of you wondering about my crochet progress (and to annoy teenage boys hoping to find something a little more interesting than a knitting blog when googling 'Babette Watch') I finish with this small update.

The squares presented here my bloggy friends are not just any Babetter squares. No, not at all. These squares are the LAST SQUARES of the Babette Blanket.

WooHoo!

I'll block them and over the weekend I'll stitch together the final panel and begin the mega border. The end is in sight.

WooHoo!

17 comments:

Gale Bulkley said...

I am not help with your project angst, but what yarn are you using for Babette?

fleegle said...

Well then, by all means, knit a christening gown. Put it away for later. I have stuff like that in my FO stash.

Yes, Tischdecke is in a German mag--Andrea 801, I think. but I've seen it in Russian mags too.

No Princess? That seems to be the Really Meaty Project of the moment. Bored me stiff.

Linda said...

Isn't that handspun yarn lovely. I would just look at it, no need to knit it!

LittleBerry said...

You've no idea how grateful I was for your help!!! you saved my sanity that Sunday....

You could always knit and Alpine Scarf from VLT ;o) Like Feegle says knit the christening gown and put it away for future use....

I'm looking forward to seeing Babette

florencemary said...

I think dithering is probably necessary with the Noro, because you just want to get it right, considering how hideously expensive it is... and yes, I've been in the same boat!

Can't wait to see the finished Babette!

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

If you have 5 skeins of the silk garden you might consider the Sursa Shawl. The yarn is used double and it moves really quickly and is a pretty design. This will allow you to devote more time to that christening gown. Good luck chosing and I feel a pang of envy over your handspun yarn!

Opal said...

I dither as well. I go back and forth between what project to start then what yarn to use. I'm also a control freak so while I welcome suggestions I usually just go my own way in the end.

Go for the Christening Gown. Follow your heart is my suggestion. :)

z's momma said...

I concur about the chistening gown. It'll be lovely.

cinnamongirl93 said...

The handspun is very pretty! As a matter of fact all of the yarns you shared are stunning. I'll be on the watch out for the blanket. I can't wait to see it all together!

Batty said...

Your handspun is stunning. You should do something that really it off.

Vivian said...

How much Noro do you have? I saw this pattern on the cover of Noro Book 20 and it's quite lovely:
http://www.woolneedlework.com/Pattern/Noro_Yarn_Books/Noro_Volume_20.shtml

Anonymous said...

That is really gorgeous handspun. I want to learn to spin, but I'm scared it would cut in to knitting and crocheting time.

Looking forward to seeing babette finished.

Anonymous said...

That handspun is gooooorgeous. *paws at it*

Fiona Reynolds said...

Beautiful homespun and Babette looks like she's making great progress.

lv2knit said...

Soo -- I am beside myself: I am casting off Lyra! It is horribly slow and stressful because I do not crochet, BUT I am 1/4 done and will finish by this weekend. Thank you for bringing this stunning pattern to my attention. I so hope it blocks out half as nicely as yours.

Viknits said...

Cheers! She's incredibly cute isn't she! :D

I'm love love loving littleberry's yarn! *drool*

Have you finished the babette yet?

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

You could make a clapotis with the noro silk garden:)