Every once in awhile a yarn or pattern renders me completely incapable of making a decision. I am so overcome with a desire to knit the pattern or play with the yarn, that I can't chose which yarn might be right for this incredible pattern, or what color would make me the most happy.
When those two issues collide - such as a great pattern, and equally great yarn, I might as well give up and just collapse on the floor. It certainly would be much easier and healthier than the torment I subject myself to in trying to select the right combination. I think Pam and Becka suspected I was having some sort of fit on Saturday as I paced the store trying to decide whether I should FINALLY knit the Phyllo Yoked Pullover sweater from Knitting Nature (which I have been talking about for at least a year) with Elsebeth Lavold's Silk Wool (which I have been drooling over for 3 years now, but resisting knitting with it until I found JUST the right pattern.)
New colors in Silky Wool arrived in the shop last week.
See the periwinkle on the right? How perfect is that? It would make a great Phyllo Yoke. But, my knitterly brain asked, would it make a better something else? And what about the red? Or the sage?
The voice of reason (Becka) broke through and pointed out that I had the pattern I wanted and the yarn I wanted, so what exactly was the problem?
There wasn't a problem, it was just that I had been thinking about the yarn and the pattern for so long, I wanted it to be perfect. But knitting isn't perfect. That is what I love about it. There is no mistake that can't be fixed. No sweater that can't be reknit. No yarn that you can't use again in every color. It is that process of trying and retrying the endless combinations that always makes me feel like a little kid opening a present. I needed to let go and jump.
I closed my eyes, grabbed the yarn, and I couldn't be happier.
The swatch was a success and I've cast on for the body.
The pattern was written with a separate front and back until you join for the yoke. To simplify things, I just joined it in the round now.
I'm also changing the hem a bit. It is designed with a roll hem, but I'm looking for a slightly dressier finish. I have worked 8 rows in stst, done a turning row of purl, will knit 7 more in stst, then pick up the cast on to make a seamed hem.
My only problem is that I am having a hard time putting it down to do anything else. I even figured out a way to knit while playing catch with the dog. If you kick the ball with your feet, you can keep knitting the whole time!
Now if I can just figure out how to knit and make dinner.