Skip to main content

WIP Wednesday: Too Many WIPs!

It seems like I've worked through the worst of the arm issues. I'm not 100%, but I am much improved and able to knit a little more than before, thanks mostly to a very stylish compression sleeve I've been wearing on my forearm. It's insane to think that just one little piece of fabric could make such a difference, but ever since I gave it a try, I haven't had to ice my arm AT ALL. I'm still stretching and taking frequent breaks, but I can honestly credit the compression sleeve with the most meaningful contribution. Go figure!

So now I find myself with a LOT of WIPs on the needles - way more than I am usually comfortable with! If I include the cozy memories blanket, the grand total is 8...and I usually like to limit myself to 3 or 4 max as a general rule. Any more than that and I start to feel weirdly stressed about how many WIPs I have languishing, so I am trying to stay focused and get at least a few projects off the needles before I head to TNNA in a few weeks. I've made the most noticeable progress on the Merope Mitts - I'm about halfway through the second one!
I've also been working on the Astrid Hat that I started with some new-to-me yarn last week. It's been a little slower going because the gauge is a little tighter than the mitts project (both are worked on US 6 needles, but the mitts are DK and the hat is worsted weight).
Since tight gauge and small yarn seems to things off, I've been avoiding the three sock project WIPs, and it's honestly driving me a little crazy. If I can't ever knit socks again for realsies I will be incredibly sad. I still haven't had the courage to pick up a sock project again, even with the Magical Compression Sleeve - silly, I know! Anyway, in the interim I decided I should start another new project with some DK yarn and US 6 needles and 3 skeins of probably-not-cashmere yarn I got at TNNA about four years ago in the Lotus Yarns booth (if you're wondering, they recently had a flap about mink yarn that contained 0% mink, and I'm not terribly convinced that this 100% cashmere is for real, either). I decided to modify Joji Locatelli's 3 Color Cashmere Cowl into a DK weight project after cruising all of the finished projects on Ravelry to see how people were modifying the pattern for heavier weights of yarn. As you can see, I am not very far along, but I am hoping it will make for a good travel project next month.
That's it for this week, I hope you had a safe and happy holiday weekend. See you back here for FO Friday!




Labels:

Comments

  1. AliciaJune 2, 2016 at 10:39 AM

    I don't have arm issues and I still need a break from socks once in a while. They're really tough on joints / hands / etc. I'm sure you'll be able to get back to them eventually but I wouldn't rush it while you're healing.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my  taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends,  so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with  this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks).  The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a...
1 comment
Read more

Australian Superfine Merino Yarn Review & Giveaway

After more than ten years of knitting, I can still have new experiences - even with well-covered territory such as merino yarn! This recent merino experience actually took me by surprise: I've spun with it, I've dyed it, I've knit with it, and I've even crocheted with it...I was pretty sure I knew all there was to know about merino! Turns out, there are four different classifications of merino fiber, sorted by micron count range . At the bottom of the spectrum is Strong Merino , which ranges from 26-22.9 microns; above that is Fine Merino , which ranges from 20.1-23 microns; next up is Extra Fine Merino, which ranges from 20-15.6 microns; and at the very top of the heap is Superfine Merino Wool , with a micron range of 18.5-15.6. If you're into numbers and wondering how these four classes stack up against other fibers you may be familiar with, here are a few for comparison's sake: BFL (Blue-Faced Leicester) has a micron range of 24-28, Cashmere goat down ...
68 comments
Read more