“Obsession Is Normal”

Recognize the title quote? After finishing Jenn’s Swallowtail Shawl, I had to work on at least one WIP. In my case, that means any projects I am in the middle of, or had balled/frogged yarn. Whenever I start thinking of the project-in-hand, the obsession begins, and the tidal wave engulfs me. The best thing to do is just stay below the crest and not purl (surfing term for not nose-diving).

I decided to re-visit my chosen Mystery Socks KAL pattern, Lacey Socks in Worsted Weight from the Woolworks site. Last time, I used the recommend 2 strands of grey fingering weight with the recommend US2 needles. The sock leg was denser than mercury and the lacey pattern “okay” looking. This time, I changed yarn and needles altogether. The Schaeffer’s Helene that I have separated into two balls would be used. The needles are SR Kertzer bamboo US4 circulars. How does the sock leg look now? Floppy! I do love how the colors came out, so I will attempt one more time using the smaller needles with the Helene yarn. We shall see if this try will be a homerun or a strike-out. Obsession? I just want to use this fabulous yarn in a working (as in “it will be used”) garment. I tried it as wrist-warmers, but it seemed so bulky. I could turn it into a Clapotis scarf with the one repeat, but I want to do more. (Sigh) I am only “slightly” obsessed with this yarn. 😉

Another obsession is knitting up Dorothy’s birthday shawl. My plan was to knit her Swallowtail, Icarus, Frosted Leaves, DFS, or Highland Triangle, but I am stumped on which yarn in my stash to use. Here are the choices I am pondering:

• Do another DFS in the bright cheery purple sock merino that Veronica sent me for Zarah’s Project Spectrum Dyed-Sockyarn-Exchange.
• Go for the delicate look and knit the true size of Swallowtail in my dark purple Misti Alpaca Lace skein.
• Combine the same yarn above with the skein used in the original pattern to double the thickness, but then I will have either to cut out some repeats or use a third yarn for the edging since I will be using a larger needle.
• Use my variegated Wool in the Woods’ Miss Mohair which has blue, purple, and some teal as the main part of the shawl, then use the combined Misti Alpaca Lace skeins for the edging.
• See if the sportweight Frog Tree I have in lilac would work color-wise for Dorothy.
• Attempt to knit a triangular shawl with aran weighted Feelings by Mark & Kattens in the dark purple with hints of blues and greens.
• Check to see if the purple Horstia I used for Cathy’s wrist-warmers would be too burgundy for Dorothy.

Decisions, decisions! Maybe I should just give up the shawl for now and get my second Dutchican’s bath poncho done?

Now the drumroll on which person made the 500th comment? Please give a hand to Rain who left warm wishes hoping for Jessica Bunny to get better! =:8