Have you ever been knitting along on something that you've designed with the nagging thought, "I'm not sure about this," row after row after row?  Well, for me, that's my inner eye telling me, "Whoa, stop now.  B.I.G. mistake." Such was the case with my Crystal Palace Waikiki Shrug Not To Be.  I just wasn't feeling the love there.  The final nail in that project's coffin was when I asked myself, "Will you really wear this," and the answer was a resounding "NO!" 

After all, it was supposed to be a tank that would have been too sheer, and the colors and texture were just not working for me, so it was zipped of those needles as fast as can be, with nary a twinge of guilt showing its ugly head anywhere.  Mr. Tukats actually helped with the unraveling process.  There's your sign!  Some lucky, creative person will hopefully be the recipient of it when I post it on Good Yarn Karma.

I did make up a top-down pattern on my Sweater Wizard, though, and have begun that for the Sandnes Mandarin Soft that was in my stash.  I'm still thinking on a color-block sweater, white, red, then black, or just a border with the red and black.  I'll have to decide soon, because I've come to the divide of arms and body.  The yarn is very splitty.  I actually don't think they make it any more.  Same gauge as All Seasons Cotton.  Nuf said.

I got the new Vogue Knitting last night and I'm in love with Veronik Avery's cover jacket.  That's going on my "I think I have to make this, but let's consider it for a while" list.  And it's for the same ol' reason, living in Southern California, it will have limited wear, even as a coat, but I really do love the design.  As for the rest of the magazine I do have to tell you, a lot of the sweaters I saw, I'm not happy with where I think fashion is going, all big and bulky.  I don't think that style looks too good on anybody.  Anyway, didn't we just do that in the 80s?

Oh, what's this, you say?  Why, it's Charlotte's Web, of course.  I bought the yarn and pattern a while back from lovely and talented Julia, and it fits the bill of what I'm trying to do right now:  Stash busting and lace.  Yeah, I know, everyone's done it and it's mosied on down the popularity chart at this point, but some patterns stand the test of time, and I think this is one of them.  My toughest decision is in which order to knit the colors.  Any advice or recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Comments

[Nora]

Leslie, you are SO right about the big n bulky thing - it just adds on [unwanted] kilos (pounds) and doesn't look good on anyone that's old enough to knit them!!

I also had the same thoughts on the cover item - Sydney is very similar to Southern California in that we get approx 3 weeks of coat weather per year!

[Emily]

I totally agree, bulky doesn't do anyone any favors. Hopefully, that tend will go away soon.
Wow, those colors you chose for your shawl are gorgeous!! good luck chosing the order..I'm no help there!

[Chauntel]

Oh how right you are about knowing when a project is ready to be given up on & ripped out. It's a sad process really. We have such high hopes & then they are dashed, just like that!
The Charlotte's Web is not one I have done before, it'll be fun to watch yours progress.

[Cathy]

Ditto on the bulky!!

The colors are beautiful btw!!

[AJ]

Yes, the 80's are over. Apparently Vogue doesn't realize that. I was quite disappointed with this issue myself. But, that's another story. I feel a bit better, after taking a nap. Thanks for your advice. If I had gin I would make a martini! :) Good luck with the Charlotte's Web, once you get through the first pattern repeats, it will whiz by. Just keep track of your YO's.

[sandra]

big and bulky - wake up lots of memories!

You are very productive latelly!