I’m slowly and only very occasionally working on my latest Lacy Batkus. I still love the pattern as always, but I’m not falling in love with this version yet. My handspun is a bit stiff and though I embrace all yarns thick and thin, it appears that the skein is getting increasingly thicker overall and thus the needle size may end up a bit small.
But my old favorite pattern may start to feel the pressure of a new pattern in town…
I’ve started a Hitchhiker by Martina Behm out of my handspun Pigeonroof Studios BFL “Mimsy.”
I wasn’t crazy about garter stitch and handspun before, but this single yarn is perfect for it.
And damn near downright ethereal with incredible lightness and drape.
I’ve had problems in the past determining what to do with fuzzy yarn and this pattern is perfect in its simplicity – it was also perfect for some recent airport knitting time. I do fear that I may run out of yarn before I make it the perfect size, but I should have just enough for an acceptable length, and I’m sure I’ll be able to block out a little more.
Other projects still in the works? The cotton blanket is currently taking its last laps and I still need to decide how to do the border. I’ve started a quilt with applique letters that is kicking my ass at the moment. And my spinning queue is bigger than ever. My goals for the Tour de Fleece are spinning my recent PRS purchases:
It’s all superwash merino in colorways from left: Jadeite, Storm, and Lettuce. Rather subdued and monochromatic for PRS, but I love them, and I love them combined. I have plans for a shawl and I was initially thinking it might be something feather and fan-ish, but I’m on a garter binge now so it might be one of the trendy stripey patterns, or one of my own if I get my act together. You may have noticed how “perfect” I’m feeling with my new handspun and Hitchhiker above, so now I wish I could make fulled/felted singles out of this, but it will have to be two-ply. I have another braid of SW merino in a brownish colorway, but I don’t want to commit to finishing it in the near future and I’m determined to perfect my chain-plying skills on it, so it will be for another time.
And I need to finish spinning the zucchini blossom I put aside earlier. I still want to turn it into socks, but I’m still on the fence about making a two or three-ply. I found some complimentary commercial sock and other superwash yarn in my stash that could be used for stronger toes and heels, and possibly soles. I thought these would be lighter summery socks, but if I make a three-ply they will be thicker… either way I’m happy I can eek out some more yardage with the commercial stuff.
Hmm, I will need to decide soon.
Decisions aren’t easy for me these days.
ASTITCHMATISM 