Sweater Lust

I should empose a moratorium on new knitting pattern books.  Of course this will never happen, but at least I realize that I should do this.

I have been trying to make sense of the piles of knitting magazines that have come in the past few weeks, and the piles of projects on my floor, and a few other odds and ends, trying to determine what I will knit next (Kingfisher is almost done and would be done if I was not spending so much time dreaming over sweater magazines). And what yarns  I will order, if I am going to order yarns. 

Of course I do realize that I could order nothing and still find plenty to knit, but that does take the fun out of everything doesn't it?  Besides I love the knitting magazines just as much for the new sweaters I will knit as well as for those I will only dream of knitting.  Each sweater book is kind of like a wish book I can curl up with and dream about the sweaters, the knitting of them, the wearing of them, the lives I might have if I could knit and wear all those sweaters.  Kind of reminds me of being a kid and poring over the Sears and JC Penney catalogs, dreaming of what my life might be when I grew up, if I could wear anything in the catalog and marry the handsome male models and live happily ever after.

What is life without fantasy anyway?

I am trying to think about any speciality yarns that may not be available if I don't grab them now and, probably for the first time ever, I am actually looking at the list of things that are missing in my closet and trying to incorporate these items into my knitting plans.

Originally I thought I would post a list or review of the things I liked in each magazine as they came in and this might help clarify my thinking, but they came too fast and I was busy getting ready for my trip.  Now I am all backed up.  I also have trouble limiting my choices to the reasonable and manageable.    There are probably about 35 sweaters I would like to knit from the spring books that have arrived and this is not really including the Harris Yarns book (which had problems as you wil recall) or the spring Adrienne Vittadini or Phildar books, neither of which I have ordered yet.  I will not knit 35 sweaters this year, much less this season.  I hope to narrow the list down to things that I hope to finish in this lifetime though.

CURRENT  OR PENDING PROJECTS:

Kingfisher Sweater has about 16 more rows on last sleeve (knit sideways, sleeve head to cuff).  Then blocking and finishing.

Pink Cashmere Aiko Sweater remains stalled with only the back completed, but I will pick it up next week.

Summer Blendy Sweater set in sand and toast colors was knit two years ago and blocked.  Then I decided to rip out and shorten the shell.  Since then it has been waiting for ripping (too many yarns, too many ends, what a headache)  I will finish this and wear it this season.

Olive Mohair cardigan:  This was the first sweater I finished.  It needs to have a border crocheted around the edges for stability (the pattern did not call for this and I was to ignorant to know better) I have the yarn and I have some matching stretch silk charmeuse with which I will line the sweater.  AHA!!  This is a sewing project and not a knitting project, it can be moved to another list!

Purple cardigan from Anny Blatt summer 2003:  Still missing half the yarn.  Will look for others to replace and finish as I really like the color and the cardigan.

Angora cardigan with ribbon borders:  I gathered together the ribbon and glitter yarns for a border on a sweater but don't have the angora yet.  I have an idea and color in my mind but haven't found the yarn.  Actually I originally had a yarn in mind but could not get enough before it was discontinued,  one of those situtations where the yarn store kept telling me it would be in next week for six months.  Did I believe them?  At first yes.  Was I stupid?  probably.  Will I do it again?  not at that store.  This might be easier to put off until fall when a wider selection of angora (or fine mohair) will be available.

3 skeins of pink/red Rowan Biggy Print which could be a scarf if I find one more skein. 

Bag of mixed turquoise, green and blue novelty yarns.  These are waiting for me to find a solid cotton to tie them together and make them into a summer cardigan. The yarns are various leftovers, things I was entranced by at shows, and samples sent by mailorder companies that I loved too much to send back even though I had no idea what I would do with them.

Did I say I had a problem or what? And I still haven't made any decisions.

Comments

[may]

Mardel, wonderful blog site you've built! Congratulations! I like your sewing site as well.
About angora yarns, check out
http://www.yarn-shop.co.uk/yarn/angora.php
They have 4-ply (fingering/sports) and DK angora 100% yarns in numerous colors. You may find what you are looking for there.

[Liana]

Mardel, I love reading about your knitting projects, and also your "wishknits." Those are what I have. Your thinking-it-out process is just like mine, and it's nice to knit vicariously through you!