I have started the Schaefer Anne in another pattern. I didn't rip the Argosy, because I wasn't entirely sure it was wrong and I wanted to keep the option of going back to it; I cut the yarn. It took me about 24 hours to work up the resolve to do that, and then I started on Evelyn Clark's Trellis Scarf from Interweave Knits, Spring 2006, which I've loved since I saw it here.I'm enjoying it, not hating it, but I have to confess that the effort it costs me in concentration and unpicking doesn't really seem balanced by the result. It has taken me days to get this far. The bit where you knit into seven stitches three times, plus yarnovers, isn't bad at all, probably thanks to the Addi lace needles (5mm), but I am still having to check every stitch of the pattern. Yet again, I am faced with the fact that I am not one of nature's lace knitters.
I love how it looks, and at last I'm sure I've found a stitch pattern that works with the yarn, but am I going to struggle through all the other agonizing rows that are required to complete it? Maybe once I do another couple of repeats, I will begin to be able to read the pattern and I will speed up a bit.
Actually, in between struggling with this and progressing diligently with Chrissy, a small but persistent voice is suggesting that I start another Forest Canopy. That pattern seems to strike some deep chord with me and I catch sight of skeins that are calling to me. Will I get through the weekend without casting on? I doubt it. Spinning Fishwife is attempting to corrupt me further by drawing my attention to this, which is lovely too. It wouldn't suit the Anne, but I have some Jaggerspun Zephyr which is on my conscience.
Presumably not enough on my conscience, as I bought a skein of Malabrigo Lace this morning. The Grumpy Ewe is selling it from the UK, on eBay, and since Malabrigo can be so hard to get here I felt I had a moral obligation to support her. I do, don't I? She has the regular Merino and some Silky Merino too.
And yes, Mary Lou, I love Beauty and the Beast too. And Testament d'Orphée. Did anybody ever look so killingly chic as Maria Casares and Jean Marais?
Natalie asked me whether I've tried the Kool Aid yet. I'm waiting for some blue and green to arrive from the U.S. I've also found myself doing late night searches, combing eBay for a single pack of Arctic Apple Green or Ice Blue Raspberry, but it dawned on me belatedly that I can mix and dilute the colours so I'm not worrying about that any more.
