Spring Forward

I hate to be overly optimistic, but….I think it’s here! That first whiff of spring is touching us here in Toronto! Forecasts indicate temperatures in the 60’s all next week. What a mood! Like wool, spring is one of those feelings that cannot be synthetically reproduced.

Today, amidst the hijinx of job hunting, I’m going to be starting the designs for my String of Pearls Cardigan. I brought Shirley Paden’s great book “Knitwear Design Workshop” home from the bookstore last night and am ready to start swatching. (This’ll be fun. Now I get to come face-to-face with my measurements 🙁

In my head, when it was damp and cold, I had fully intended to knit a simple, old-fashion-ey wool cardigan. It should be no surprise that I’d planned to use Cascade and I had mentally selected a gorgeous soft green heather. I’d even started a swatch. However, as I walked over to my LYS yesterday through the bright spring sunshine, my IKF (Inner Knit-Fairy) began to make sneaky little suggestions.

IKF:  “You know, Cheryl, you won’t be able to wear that by the time you get it finished. You’ll have to wait for fall.”

Me:  “So, I’ll wait for fall. It’s not like it’s not coming eventually.”

IKF:  “And really, don’t you want something a little smoother? You know, sorta…show off the pearl edging a little more?

Me:  “well…..”

IKF:  “Do you really want to be chugging away with wool when it’s 65 degrees out?”

Me:  “…well…..”

IKF:  “Just…do me a favor…just…shop around a little. Can’t hurt, right? C’mon, it’ll be fun.”

Me:  “&*%$##*&@$!”

So, I shopped. What began as a simple little jaunt to the yarn store turned into two hours of browsing. (She bugs me, but she means well.) I did see some really lovely yarns for spring in the most fabulous easter-eggy colors. I finally settled on this beautiful Pima Cotton, once again from Cascade, in a gorgeous shade of bluey-greeny-grey. Hit all the bases there, didn’t I?

As regards WIP’s, the first Stag Horn Snow Sock is off the needles! Carl loves it and the fit is great. I gotta say it again: this is the fastest, easiest method for making socks. Toe-up, Magic Loop. I won’t rule out the old way, though, as the traditional method allows for a more precise fit in the heel and over the arch. This self-imposed sock course has been great!