tentenknits: Bella

Nothing like a FO to bring you back to good spirits!

Pattern: Retro Redux Shrug from Lace Style
Yarn: Blue Sky Dyed Cotton, color 626 - two balls
Needles: Size 8, 9, 10 and 10.5!! I used all circulars

I spent the majority of last Sunday and Monday knitting it up and finally got it finished today. The pattern was uber-simple as the main body really is just a large rectangle. The different needles are used for the shaping which took a lot of thought out of it. Thoughtless knits is what has been my Savior this week!

With my fantastic trip head of me things at the school office seem to be picking up rather than slowing down for the summer. I won't get into too much detail as not to bring this happy FO post to a Debbie Downer but sheesh I think I'm more stressed now that I was in the height of my admission season!

Anyway this shrug was such a great easy therapeutic knit for me. I plan on sporting her to every church, museum and chapel we visit in Rome. Perhaps I'll even do a little pseudo modeling in front of the Spanish Steps... yes yes these thoughts are making me feel better! The only teeny concern I have is how much the cotton will shed. It's already left a good amount of fluff on the dress I was wearing...

I'm back to working on Cherry which will be joining me on my planes, trains and boats in Italy. I want to bring another project with me as well to keep things interesting but haven't decided what. Time to go Ravel in what to make...

It's a wonder why I make any decisions regarding my knitting. It always happens that I will become inspired at the last minute and thus impulsively purchase yarn and feverishly cast on. It happened with Fifi and even my CPH. Now it's the shrug for Italy I am naming, Bella. The pattern is the Retro Redux Shrug from Lace Style. I had originally planned on making the Little Silk Shrug but I had trouble picking the yarn to use. I'm most likely going to be wearing this in Italy where the weather will be warm and I just didn't want wool in any shape or form be in the yarn. I just needed a little push to make the decision.

All this and my time was growing short (can it really be next week already!) All this anxiety and a seemingly quiet time in a yarn shop will cause one to think that the yarn itself is speaking to you.

Yarn: "Pssst. Over here!"

Me: "uh, what the..."

Yarn: "Yeah you, girl with the blank look on her face. I'm talking to you."

I turn to see that a skein of Blue Sky Cotton is just glaring at me...

Me, thinking: Seriously, next time lay off the $1 drafts at karaoke night. Water down beer causes delusions and bad hangovers.

Yarn: "Oh hi, do you need your hearing checked or something? Anyway let me get to the point, why oh why are you troubling yourself with that dinky Little Silk Shrug when you can do a bigger one, and in my humble cottontany opinion, a nicer one with moi!"

Me: "Oh... well, I just thought that it would knit up quicker..."

Yarn: "Quicker smicker, look at yourself! You and I both know that you will not be able to put me down and this will be done by the weekend let alone when you need to leave for your precious little trip."

Me: "Well, yeah, uh I guess you're right."
I so cannot believe I am having a conversation with yarn.

Yarn: "You realize I can read your thoughts and believe it sista... "

Me: "Oh really.. Wel... then, what am I thinking right now."
Hmm, this is random enough: double scoop vanilla ice cream cone.

Yarn: "Stop wasting our precious time Ms.Double scoop vanilla ice cream cone eater. So are you gonna get me or what. Listen I'm 100% cotton here and I gotta a nice shine to me, I also happen to be a nice neutral color oh and there are 3 of me here - come on! What is the big hold up!? You got the pattern. Just a little ball winding and you can be well on your way..."

Me, with ultimate shock on my face: "Yea. So, perhaps you gotta a point there."