How many is that?

As we did our usual " what's on your needles?" circle around the room at Knittervention last night. When it was my turn, I proudly held up Celtic Sage: a lace shawl. 

"How many do you have now?"  Lace shawls? Um, four. I didn't bother asking if they meant finished or unfinished, because the answer is ironically the same. 

Is that excessive?  Have I become a one trick knitter? I have other techniques In progress. Color work. Shaping. Socks. Afghans. Sweaters. Yet I keep coming back to the lace. I am sure there is a symbolic message in there, but I am too tired to identify it. (Long story. Mother in law. Middle of the night phone call. Emergency visit to treat a fever. Not fun.). 

Tonight, it is all about the single focus. 

Last possible minute

The Christmas knitting was timely this year. Mostly. I finished both sets of fingerless mitts with time to spare. That triumph made me cocky. 

I started the coffee mug cozy and nearly finished it, weeks ahead of schedule. Plenty of time before Christmas Eve, so I let myself get distracted by other projects. Working ahead of schedule is usually when the wheels come off the wagon. 

So fast forward to Christmas Eve. There I was, knitting on the drive up. And knitting before the meal. And after the meal. I did finish just before the bingo started. Good thing, since this was intended to be one of the bingo gifts. I think that was the closest I have ever cut to a knitting deadline, and still made the deadline. (The Christmas present that was finished the following July doesn't count.)

So now we get to my distraction.  

Celtic Sage. Six inches long, and already breathtaking. I have only completed the border, and started the stockinette center section. Eventually, there will be an intricate center motif. Something tells me I am long way from that point. 

From past experience, I am starting to worry about whether or not I will have enough yarn. So far, I still have a ball of yarn that is five inches in diameter. (Diameter, not circumference.) and I still have two more hanks.  I will worry about screwing up the center motif. Plenty of time to worry about yarn later. 

Today, it is all about choosing the worries. 

A Revolt

I have been very good about focusing Christmas knitting and 2 for 1 vow.  Four fingerless mitts completed (except for the weaving ends) and one coffee mug cozy nearly completed. So it was only predictable that such focus and monogamy would result in a rebellion.  

This isn't Christmas knitting, and it is not nearly finished, so isn't rushing to be a finished object for the 2 for 1 vow. It is actually the least completed of all of the works in progress. And yet, this is what I have been working on for the past week. 

Today, it is all about being a rebel. 

Unworthy knits

Two project nearing completion.  So close . . .

Seafoam Stripes is down to the last half skein.  The last few inches.  Which has me thinking more and more what to do with it, when I am finished.   I started this shawl years ago, before I learned how to knit lace.  The design is very simple, but not in a classic sense.  Just boring.  And I am not even all that wild about the color anymore.

I may keep it for a while, to decide for certain, but I am leaning towards donating it.

I want me knitting to be something that warms my heart, as well as my body.  When I wear something I have made, I want it to make me walk a little taller, and feel like a compliment of it is honest, not just polite.  A couple weeks ago, I wore Aurora Borealis to the theatre.  A woman in the parking garage complimented me, and asked where I had bought it, or if someone had made it for me.  You can imagine my pride when I said that I had knitted it myself.  And I believe her.

I don't think Seafoam Strips will make me feel the same.  I don't think I love it, so I don't think I will wear it like it deserves to be worn.  But someone out there may fall in love with it, and I feel like the best thing would be to release the shawl, for someone else to find.   

Btw, I almost wore Fuchsia Wave to the theatre, but it was too scratchy on my bare arms.  How did I not notice that with the knitting?  Are my fingers less sensitive than my arms?

Today, it is all about the release. 

Thanks, mom.

Just when I thought I was progressing nicely on Christmas knitting, my mother stepped in. 

 She sent a mug home with my darling Doodlebug, to remind me that I had promised to knit several mug cozies for exchange gifts. That was months ago! How could she possibly remember that in April she and I saw a cute sweater-type cozy for a mug, and I volunteered to make a few? We will leave the question of why I would volunteer to go this for another day. 

Today, it is all about the volunteer's remorse.  

Schedules

The Christmas presents are professing nicely. The first week, and the first mitt is over halfway finished. 

I estimate I have ten to twelve weeks in total to complete four mitts. So. . . That is three weeks each. 

Plenty of time to allow for screw up, digressions and my general knitting ADD.

Today, it is all about the deadlines.  

Priorities

I decide that the gift vow had a firm deadline: the last day of School before Christmas. No one will know or care  if  the 2 for. 1 vow is a bit delayed.

So I have started the first of two sets of fingerless mitts. Two boys. Two teachers. Four fingerless mitts. 

Today, it is all about the early planning.