Thursday, August 31, 2006

Why I rejoice when Summer wanes...

Well, that may sound like a horrible thing to say, especially since I live in a land where summer days are at a premium- especially this year. However, I am ready for some nice stormy days with only 5 hours of daylight in which I can justify spending 8+ hours on my rear end knitting something especially complicated and fiddly. The type of knit where you unplug the phone and forbid any partners/roommates to address you directly. I have been doing what feels like a lot of knitting this summer... there is the almost-finished blanket for an ill loved one, and the felt clogs for my future stepdaughter, as well as many other miscellanous goodies. Don't get me wrong, I am happy with my summer knitting, but it's sort of like a novel that you read on the beach- a lot of fluff (pun intended) without a lot of substance. But, during the busy summers in this area, when one is off playing and camping and fishing and frolicking, slightly no-brainer knitting is required if any is to be done at all. I know that there are many other people out there with more discipline, those who can knit a lace shawl while practically climbing mountains. I am not one of those people. I am OK with this.

But, now that I am planning for autumn/winter knitting, the only question is what to make? There is some nice cobweb alpaca in the stash that is begging to be made into a stole, some Kureyon that methinks would make a neat vest, loads of sportweight Halcyon 2-ply for a nice stranded colorwork sweater, enough natural worsted weight to handpaint and make some sort of kimono/wrap thing... the possibilities are endless... and that is just how I like it. In fact, I guarantee that I will change my mind at least 17.4 times before actually biting down on a good project. But hey, I am definetly more of a process knitter anyway, so it is really a win-win if I cast on several projects and end up with only a couple completed pieces. To paraphrase Ursula K. LeGuin, it is the journey that matters in the end...

5 comments:

Artis-Anne said...

I like the way you think :) I so agree re summer / winter knits and even though we here in Wales do have more hours of daylight we do get long wet winters and I so look forward to log fires and clicking needles. I too have many projects to think about and am still buying more yarn ready for the months ahead

Stacey said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves Autumn/Winter. I get really excited at the change of seasons and look forward to cooching up by the fire with a cat and some knitting. That and being able to put tights over my hideously hairy legs! Who could ask for more? lol I've promised I'm going to save evenings for family knittingrojects/gifts etc and keep the commerfcial felting and stuff purely to the daytine.

Love the new blog BTW - nice colour.

Pyewacket said...

It all sounds fabulous.

I've been meaning to comment and say that the picture of the buffalo thundering across the river is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

Have I ever mentioned that Kodiak bears reside 50 miles south of me at Silver Springs park? I always think of you when I see them.

Bezzie said...

This is why I miss AK. There's so much sun--all the freaking time down here. Give me weeks of overcast weather!

Anonymous said...

thankyou for making your dads trip so perfect. love, mom