Yup, that’s a good word for what I am right now. I haven’t been particularly motivated by any projects lately (and I’m also none-too-motivated to do anything here at work…). I still have Bayerische and Pomatomus in progress, but haven’t felt like picking them up lately. I spent the weekend swatching. I’ve never really done that before… but I made actual, proper swatches for the next few sweaters I’m considering. Like, 5-inch squares of stockinette, with garter stitch edging, and pattern swatches, and everything. I even washed and blocked them (well, two of them)! Aren’t you proud of me?
I was considering three projects from the Winter Interweave Knits: Cardigan for Arwen, Nantucket Jacket, and Pewter Coat. I had two balls of Knit Picks Andean Silk which I used to swatch. I decided I didn’t really like the way the Nantucket Jacket came out in that yarn, although I might still make it if I find another yarn that looks good for it. I do want an Arwen, though – it’d be perfect for this summer for my overly air-conditioned office. And I also loved the Pewter Coat pattern, although I didn’t think to check the IK website for corrections before starting it, and even though I knew the chart looked wrong I followed it… I’ll put up a picture of the swatch later – you can clearly see where the cables are crossed wrong.
So I’m going to make Arwen in a deep purple (Hyacinth), which should go well with most of my work outfits (which consist mainly of black and green, red, blue, or purple jewel tones), and with jeans. And I think the Pewter Coat really does need to be in a slate gray – and KP has the perfect color in Andean Silk. I ordered the yarn for Arwen this morning, but I’m going to wait for that tax refund to get deposited before I order for the Pewter – even Knit Picks yarn gets expensive when you need 21 balls for a coat! And yes, I do need to have both projects going at once – Arwen is mostly stockinette, which will be good mindless travel/conference call knitting, and Pewter is all full of cables and fun stuff that will be mindful weekend knitting.
I’m kind of burnt-out on socks at the moment, I think. I mean, of course I still love socks, and I love knitting them – but knowing that Round 2 of Sock Madness is going to start on Thursday and I’m going to be sock-devoted and insane for a few days just… makes me want to take a break from socks right now. Just until that happens. I think that’s why I haven’t been motivated on Pomatomus or Bayerische. I will finish them eventually, I swear! I’m also going to be especially crazy on Sock Madness this round because I’m going to get a late start. The pattern will be released “between 4 and 10 p.m.” on Thursday. I have a thesis-is-finished party for a friend to go to right after work, and then we’re all going dancing… and then out for food/drinks afterwards, most likely. So I’ll probably be home around 1 or 2 a.m., and ready to pass out. Part of me wants the pattern to be released before I leave work so that I can print it and have an actual hard copy this time, but part of me wants it to be released as late as possible so that when I start it Friday morning I’m not way behind. Skipping the end-of-thesis party or dancing is, of course, not an option.
The one thing really pulling me out of my lethargy is that the next two weekends are my Girlyman weekends. Very exciting – I’m seeing them three times in two weeks – Saturday night at Club Passim, Sunday night at the Stone Church, and the following Saturday at the Iron Horse. And of course, I’ve been listening to the new CD (sound clips! check it out!) on repeat nonstop since I got it last Monday. Everyone should be as obsessed with Girlyman as I am. They just… cause happiness. Lots of it.
