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Three For Thursday

Traditional Gansey Socks
Unbelievably, I only have two projects on the needles right now!  In preparation for some knit-a-longs next month, I'm trying to keep my WIPs lean.  Currently, the only projects I'm working on are a pair of toe-up socks (yes, you read correctly!) and a sweater for myself.  Don't worry, I hold no illusions that I'll finish either project before May starts next week.  I am completely ready to slide down that slippery slope of breaking my self-imposed "three-at-a-time" rule.

Inspired by the Cookie A workshop, I cast on for a pair of toe-up socks by Wendy D. Johnson - the Traditional Gansey Socks.  I'm using some yarn that was hand-dyed by my tattoo artist, Kit; it's a luxurious MCN blend in a bright carrot-y color with subtle greenish undertones.  I brought out the size 0 needles for this project, as I figured such a soft yarn would need to be tightly knit if it were going to withstand many months in winter boots.
Deadly Stimulant

It's been a while since I've knit myself a sweater, and I've been fantasizing about making the Beulah Cardigan by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark, which appeared in the Spring issue of Knitscene.  Having sworn off skinny-yarn sweaters indefinitely, I thought a cropped cardi would be a great way to dip my toe back into the water.  I cast on mid-month with my Deadly Stimulant in Tightrope (dyed by Sam of The Wool Dispensary and sold exclusively though Doodlebug Yarn) and it is flying off my needles!  Ok, maybe not by normal-person standards, as I am a very slow sweater knitter - but by my own reckoning, this is a fast-knitting sweater, and I should be done with the back and ready to cast on for the front pieces by the end of this weekend.

Zuzu's Petals in Finito
Finally, I thought I'd share an FO project that has thus far escaped blogger-ly mention (yes, that is a phrase now) - I whipped up this version of Zuzu's Petals with a single skein of Malabrigo Finito in a matter of days.  I went down a needle size to produce a nice, snug cowl (not to mention, ensure that I didn't run out of yarn).  I'll be knitting another version of this pattern next month for MadTosh May, so I consider this project to be my warm-up!
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