Usually, I love bobbles. I love sweaters with bobbles, not that I own any at the moment; I even love knitting bobbles. That said a long row of forty-some odd bobbles did get a little tedious. I didn't mind knitting them per se, but I can also admit that I prefer my bobbles scattered out across the body of a sweater rather than marching like soldiers along a solitary row. At least I prefer not to knit the long row.
But the final result, that happy row of bobbles, makes me smile.
The west knits shawl continues slowly, and I am in no particular rush. I have seen some of the finished pictures; I feel no need to be surprised, am in fact content to know what is coming. Life seems filled with more than enough surprises without deliberately adding more. I also find that, despite my initial misgivings, I like my colors and they way they are playing out, even where the contrast is less obvious. I think I will enjoy not only the knitting, but the wearing of the final shawl.
Other than this, there is not a lot of knitting progress. I knit every day. But my energy is also returning and many things pull my attention away from knitting. There were a few days where that knitting might consist of three bobbles. But at the moment I find that it is good not to define myself as a person who accomplishes things, a woman of projects, rather instead, just to occupy my own space and do what I will, be what I will. How long that will last, I have no idea. It is the antithesis to a lifetime of training.
I did spend about a week winding the yarn for a blanket project that is in the works. That too was slow work as turning the ball winder was difficult on my hands as well. Intermittent stiffness, tingling, even occasional pain, is just the backdrop to life however. There are days I can do more, and days I can do less. The point seems not to be bemoan what is not, but to celebrate the work of creation itself, to find new ways to work.
The blanket is still more or less in the planning stage. It will be modular. I am knitting the first square, which is more or less a gauge swatch. I have learned that very large swatches, knit over a period of days, are the only way I can adequately compensate for the variations in gauge due to the varying stiffness of my fingers. I like the fabric that is being produced, and these larger, size US 10 1/2 needles, are easier when my fingers are more recalcitrant, but am not yet ready to tackle the math and finalize the design.
Winter is just around the corner. A new shawl, and a new blanket for that matter, may be appreciated.