Craft What You Love

I started something new last night. That's sort of (OK, definitely) cheating on my UFO-completion plan. Except that I did finish something today. Behold ... the Granny Square baby blanket!

I mean ... Behold the Granny Square Scarf! Upon picking up these squares again, I started to feel that the gauge was just too loose for a baby blanket. I envisioned tiny fingers getting all tangled in those holes. I just started to feel very meh about the whole thing. But I could not bear to frog all those squares -- too much work. And they were pretty. Might there be enough of them for a scarf? Yes, there were! For the curious, the yarn is a melange of Plymouth Encore and Lion Brand Wool-Ease and the pattern is Traditional Granny from Jan Eaton's 200 Crochet Blocks.

Here's where the love part comes in. Nine times out of ten, I start a new project because I want to play with different yarn. This new project is no exception.

Colorways of the big square, from the center out: Pandora Rose, Mardi Gras, June Carter

No surprise here, it was Cider Moon Glacier calling me. The pattern is the famous Babette Blanket. Now here's a blanket project to get excited about! This is a seriously long-term endeavor, both because of its size and because it will require a lot of yarn. I couldn't possibly afford to buy it all at once. (No smart remarks about the size of my Glacier stash ... it's not that big!)

I love the big square I made with changing colorways, but I'm thinking about making most of the squares in one colorway only. What do you all think?

Discipline and My Taskmistress

Don't get me wrong, I love Ravelry. I love it to bits. But one thing about Ravelry that PCR and I were discussing yesterday -- it has the slight tendency to make one do more reading about knitting, looking at knitting, and thinking about knitting than actual knitting. Plus, it's a veritable breeding ground for the startitis virus.

Discipline is hard in the face of such beauty.

The result of all this is that I've got a shamefully long list of works-in-progress. Here goes, I'm coming clean.

1. Fifi
2. Retro Redux Shrug
3. Lacy Skirt with Bows (too new for pictures, even!)
4. Rib and Cable Socks
5. Beaded Rib Socks
6. Giotto Cuff Socks
7. Socks for Nieces

This does not include the currently hibernating projects.

1. Lady Eleanor Stole
2. Must Have Cardigan
3. Granny Square Baby Blanket
4. Two (!) pairs of mittens from Folk Knitting in Estonia

This is sad, people. It's time to start finishing things. But I have assistance. Preeti gave me a plan. I can work on one big project and one sock project at a time, until they are finished. But she didn't stop there; she made me a prioritized list of my WIPs. First up on the big project list is the Retro Redux Shrug. Preeti started and finished hers since I cast mine on.

The Retro Redux Shrug, now with progress!

Socks for Nieces is my current sock project. I think we agreed that we could work on blanket squares in addition to the big and sock projects, so I see some granny squares in my near future. Preeti's not my only inspiration. Heather has been on a UFO-completion roll as well...go take a look at her cute EZ baby sweater.

I'm turning over a new leaf, knitsibs. Prepare for FO posts!