I’ve got a small case of the knitting doldrums. I don’t know what I want to work on. It’s not that I don’t have projects to work on because I do. I could finish Butterfly. I could work on one of a number of unfinished fair isles (looks askance at Marina’s enviable stack of finished ones). I could start my new Bohus. I could finish my Damask Kauni. My Niebling. My Eris. Or my own Snowflake shawl.
I am just not sure what I want to work on, although I do have some Christmas knitting to start. While I wait for inspiration or interest to hit, I’ve finished two small projects. The first is the cabled fingerless mitts that I posted about a little while ago. Here they are being modeled by my husband, who now expects royalties — or perhaps a pair of gloves with actual fingers.
Next I decided to tackle one of my long lost sock orphans. I’m notorious for knitting one sock or one glove and then moving on. Indeed, here is a photo from one of our earliest blogs showing some of my abandoned socks and gloves.
The light blue sock is the one who now has a mate. They are the Embossed Leaves socks from Interweave, designed by Mona Schmidt. I knit them out of light blue Koigu. Here’s a photo of both of them, modeled by “Anonymous.” They haven’t even been blocked or dressed. They went immediately from the needles to my Anonymous’s feet.
So, now what? I think I’ll go sit in a corner and wait for inspiration to hit.
The gloves look very cute on Mattie — I think they make him look cool and youthful! And the socks are great!
Comment by lv2knit — November 11, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
I really hate to see single socks so I guess I would suggest you pick your favorite and complete the set or send your odd socks to a veteran who needs only one! It is Veteran’s Day isn’t it?
Comment by Becky — November 11, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
Finish those socks!
But before you do, see if you can get me to finish the myriad sweaters that remain hidden here and there in my house!
Love the mitts!
Comment by kay-from the back yard — November 11, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Four words: Ravelry pattern surfing time!
Comment by Rachel — November 11, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
I won’t try to inspire you to make 2nd socks; my own SS pile is out of control. Rather than tackle that (currently) uninspiring pile, I decided to search my library on ravelry for cardigans and fingering weight, dk, worsted, etc. I was happy to see that I still like most of the patterns I already own! The searching was more fun than casting on for a project just for the sake of starting something new.
Comment by Susan — November 11, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
That worked for me, but there are a couple of computers and a few credit cards in my corner 😉
Comment by Marina — November 11, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
I would love specs on the cabled fingerless mitts please. I cannot find the previous post.
Comment by Tiny Tyrant — November 11, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
oh yes- I agree… The small projects work are perfect for when you can’t decide what big project to knit next or if you need some quick gratification. Wow.. you do have a collection of lonely but pretty socks. I confess to being quilty of single sock abandonment but not as much as you(:
Comment by kathleen — November 11, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
The mitts are very handsome. But royalties? He is lucky just to wear them!
Comment by twinsetellen — November 11, 2008 @ 8:54 pm
I’ve not fallen into SSS yet. My problem lately is trying to get started on the “next” project. I seem to have a case of finish-itis. And, sometimes, you just need to have more than 2 projects going. One for waiting lines, one that’s too big or involved to carry with you, and one to knit while watching TV on a chilly night.
Comment by Pam/2muchfun — November 11, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
Aaah! I never expected to see Dad on your blog! Has he worn those cycling yet? 😉
Comment by Nora aka Surly's daughter — November 11, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
What’s the pattern for those wonderful cabled mitts? I must make some!
Comment by elizabeth — November 12, 2008 @ 2:14 am
I made embossed leaves with that very same colorway of Koigu…you have such good taste:)
Comment by Barb — November 12, 2008 @ 6:13 am
Hi,If you can push yourself to finish those socks, which are a lovely collection. You will feel much better and I am sure the ideas will come flooding through as your knitting away.
Now why can’t I do that myself, I have more unfinished items than you. It’s so easy to tell someone else. Julie.C
Comment by Julie Cartwright — November 12, 2008 @ 6:18 am
Sally- Only a non-knitter would ask for fingers in gloves.
I think the Embossed Leaves pattern is the quintessential sock- it is fun, goes quickly, is impressive
and beautiful.
Comment by Lorraine — November 12, 2008 @ 9:19 am
What happened to ode to joy? I really want to see that finished and whether or not you figured out a way to lengthen it.
Comment by Ruth Spears — November 12, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Recall the post with the beautiful fingerless gloves in the female red version and meant to ask for pattern source. Thanks for the reminder to do so with the male version post. Inspiration won’t be far from you. Ann
Comment by Ann — November 12, 2008 @ 11:39 am
I heard somewhere that mismatched socks are an “in” thing. Just pair them up and you are all set.
Comment by CAP — November 19, 2008 @ 4:14 pm
I say you just pretend that the dryer ate the other sock and move on. Who’s going to doubt you? Jerry and I will be thinking of you on Thanksgiving. Don’t forget the melange of unpopular winter vegetables!
Comment by Maura — November 25, 2008 @ 10:51 pm
I am catching up on reading your post and just saw the cabled mitts. They are great! I tried to find the original post about them but couldn’t. What’s the pattern you used?
Comment by Donna — December 26, 2008 @ 1:28 pm