You know that feeling, when you have a big term paper looming, and even though you’re procrastinating on it, you just can’t do any other work either on the theory that if you’re working on something it should be the paper?
Well, that’s what’s been going on with my blog lately. I was so focused and fretty about publishing my Mandala round-up that I just couldn’t bring myself to blog about anything else. Now that I’ve finished and it’s up, there are so many other things to talk about!
First of all, since I can never be without a lace project, I’m trying to figure out what lace to knit next. I really enjoyed the Mandala but I think I’m now fairly convinced of my preference for shawls that are triangular or rectangular rather than round. I loved the way that my Frost Flowers & Leaves shawl turned out, and I love the way that it looks on my sister. Of course, she is amazing with wardrobe and could make a paper bag look glamorous, thus the nickname. I like the practicality of a triangular shawl, although it does concern me a bit to have a triangle-tip pointing, um . . . down one’s back. But the circle just doesn’t make much sense. I understand wearing it folded up around the neck, but then why bother with the lace if you’re just going to wrap it up tightly? Thrown around the shoulders it felt a bit awkward to me. I didn’t like how the top folded over so that the wrong-side was facing out around the shoulders, and I didn’t like the overall feeling that I was wearing a tablecloth.
Sure, I’m not exactly a maestro with draping fabric, and not exactly in the age or weather bracket for extensive shawl wearing, but still. I want a pattern that looks and feels lacy but also has a classic, elegant simplicity to it. I’ve always been drawn to Pink Lemon Twist’s Hanami Stole and it’s always on my mind. I think I’d like to knit it for myself, in the most luxurious yarn I can think of! Of course, cash and color are my two stumbling blocks in that area. With Hanami as my starting point, I’ve taken Ravelry’s new pattern recommendation experiment for a spin. It’s the little sciency-looking vial icon at the bottom right on the pattern page. You click on it and it suggests similar patterns you might like. From this experiment I found the Curved Shawl with Diamond Edging from Victorian Lace Today. It appeals to me because it’s curved rather than pointy along the bottom, and I like the repeating circle motif. Still, it is not exactly the clean, sleek look I’ve been hoping to find.
Since I don’t have another lace recipient in mind, I guess I should just go ahead and pick out some lace for myself. I do have a ton of other people to knit for at the moment. Levi’s arrival is anticipated at any moment, and his baby blanket is almost (maybe . . . I need to block and see how I feel . . .) finished. I’ve also got mittens and socks on my needles at the moment, and as soon as I’m done with knitting for Levi I need to start knitting for baby N, a lucky little kid who’ll be meeting his or her wonderful parents in July. Lots of knitting to do, which I hope will lead to lots of blogging!
