Watercolor Ponies by Melissa Schaschwary

I’ve always been a fairly monogamous knitter. I pick a project, I start it, I finish it, like with the test knit I recently completed of Watercolor Ponies, shirt/poncho hybrid that I absolutely love. And I definitely don’t let any others turn my head. There is just too much temptation if I let myself look at all the other choices available. Too many amazing patterns. Too much beautiful yarn. If you want to stay committed to one project, one of the worst things that you can do is click on the patterns tab on Ravelry’s  homepage. Or pick up the latest copy of KnitScene (released July 10th, and the preview is filled with patterns I want to cast-on).

I just took a look at my project page. Apparently monogamy and I have had a falling out. I’ve been just a little too free and easy with my needles. Everywhere I look I find another project trying to seduce my attention; tarting itself up, all so pretty and

Scallop Lace Hat by Leah Coccari-Swift

squishy, so that I put down one set of needles and start paying playing with yet another ball of yarn and another set of needles. Some of them do wind up finished, like the Scallop Lace Hat (though too late for a teacher’s gift as intended) and the Newborn Baby Blanket I whipped up for my neighbors’ first little bundle of joy.

Newborn Baby Blanket by Altadena Green

While I am actually getting some projects completed,, there seem to be at least a couple languishing on the needles. Most notably is $5 is Paris.  I love the sweater. The pattern is definitely chic and fashionable, and pretty much just what I look for in a sweater. In an effort to do some stash busting, I did something I rarely do, I used the yarn called for in the pattern, Caron Simply Soft. I’ve had this yarn since I first decided to learn how to knit. I didn’t know about local yarn stores yet so I went to my local craft store, probably Joanne Fabrics, and picked up 3 hanks of this yarn. It has sat in my stash ever since. I didn’t learn how to knit until I started using nice yarns. Is it Caron’s fault? Maybe, but I know that I didn’t like this yarn then, and I don’t like it now. It’s not just Simply Soft though. It’s pretty much all acrylics. So this project is going to be on the needles for a long time. After only a few rows I have to put it down because I just can’t stand the plasticky feeling of this yarn. But on the bright side, I hear it’s quite nice once it’s been washed. So hopefully when it’s all done, I’ll love it.

On the other hand, I have another sweater that I am flying through, and this one is for the latest luvinthemommyhood KAL, the Summer Sweater KAL. I opted to start with The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife, by the same designer as the poncho/shirt that I pictured above. It’s a cute hoodie open hoodie with handkerchief/waterfall hem. And it’s a good thing I am flying through this one so quickly. First, because I’m making short-sleeved version, ideal for over air-conditioned buildings in the summer and the chill of mornings in early

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife by Melissa Schaschwary

fall, so I want to be able to wear it now. But, I also have another sweater planned for this KAL, Papillon, a beauty with 3/4 length sleeves and lacy front panel. I’m really itching to cast that one on, but I will resist my urges and finish at least this one sweater first. And I haven’t even mentioned the sweater I need to knit for Maks before he starts Kindergarten in the fall. He has requested Fratello in Big Sky, a bright sky blue in Knit Picks Swish DK. Have I mentioned before what good taste my boy has? He made all those decisions himself. Or Shift of Focus, which I plan on knitting for the Ravelympics Ravellenic Games. Do I have time for four sweaters before Sept 1st? I don’t know, but I’ll try. And it will definitely keep me distracted from the dreadful heat and humidity that accompanies summer in Pittsburgh.