Sunday, January 9, 2011

The plight of the knitter...

Second week of the year and I'm already on my third project cast on. I'm definitely an "ooh, shiny!" kind of knitter, which means I go through some serious fits of cast on-itis. Deciding to be a part of the 52 in 52 in 2011 group means I have even more excuse to indulge my inner ADKD (attention deficit knitting disorder).
This weekend the plan was to indulge the desire to cast on and start a lace project. I haven't done any large lace projects in a while and it's high time I start another. My first choice wasn't really a "lace" project, but it is knit with lace yarn. It's a lovely little shawl and I knew I had the perfect yarn for it. I pulled out my yarn, patiently wound all 1400 yards of it, looked up the necessary needle size, pulled out my needle case... and discovered that I don't have the correct size circular needle in the right length. Funny thing, since I have an interchangeable needle set. The reason I don't have what I need is that my needles are currently tied up in other projects. Oh, the pain of being a multiple projects at once knitter. Theoretically, I could take the interchangeable tips off of the current project, but I know me and I know I'd NEVER finish if I do that.
Feeling a little annoyed, I worked a few rows on the offending project already in progress, remembered why it was still in progress and not finished, and put it back in the box it came from. I was a good knitter and pulled out the baby sweater for a while, and then did some other things around the house. So now I have a nicely prepped ball of yarn and pattern, but no needles. Strike 1.
Later in the day, I found an INCREDIBLE lace pattern that I have to cast on as soon as humanly possible. It's beautiful, it's amazing, it's complex and intricate, in a nutshell, everything I've been looking for in a lace pattern. I have a gorgeous cone of dark green, merino/silk blend lace yarn and I just know it will be the perfect yarn for the pattern. Look up the needle size... and... CRAP. It's the same size required as the first non-started one. Dang, dang, dang. Stuck again.
Knit a few more rows on the offending project already in progress, which is now taking up the needles I need for TWO projects I REALLY want to start. Was reminded even more forcibly why that project is a pain in the butt (even though I know it will be lovely once complete).
Today, I didn't bother with lace, didn't bother with patterns that would have anything whatsoever to do with lace or those confounded needles, and looked for a quick project that will easily be finished in a couple of days.
I'm knitting a hat with Malabrigo Chunky yarn and big honkin' needles. I feel (mostly) better.

2 comments:

Ria said...

That's why I seem to have multiples of my favorite sizes. cause in that situation I'd have bought 2 more needles!

Sunnyspirit23 said...

It's only been in the last 3 days that I've had a spate of needing US6s. Sadly, the nearest LYS is a 45 minute drive and most days I can't get over there before they close.