Every year during our 10-day Christmas shutdown, I get myself into trouble. No one is around to keep an eye on me, and I tend to start projects that (1) will take forever, (2) no one else in their right mind will ever want to make, and (3) that I will hate after I’m too far to turn back.
This year it’s this little pile of hell.
I was seduced by the yarn, a 100% silk fingering-weight by BC Garn called Tussah Tweed. It’s a bit rustic, with irregular plies and little fluffs along the strand. I swatched it last summer, and it blocks out with very little body when knit on a reasonable size needle. I didn’t pursue it but remained intrigued.
I also like this pattern:
A cute little cardigan with a texture stitch pattern just on the front, a neat finish to the sleeves, and one-piece construction. I never made it because, well, it’s knit on size 1 and 2 needles. I mean, come on.
So there I am with a lovely extended period of time off and no one to say me nay. I had yarn. I had a pattern. I cast on. Five weeks later, after stopping and starting and distracting myself now and then with other projects that are way more fun, I’m at the end of the second sleeve. I still have moments when I want to run upstairs, grab the big shears out of my sewing box, and cut it into little tiny shards and scatter them to the bitter winter wind. But now I know I’ll finish it and we’ll see if I can bear to look at it when it’s done.
I have beautiful colors of this yarn on order. It will make a lovely shawl or shrug on size 5 or 6 needles. Once this cardy is done, I’ll love the yarn once more.
I’m pretty sure.
So this is another thing that happens: the reason I started this cardigan is because there were no patterns that thrilled me enough to make me want to make them. I was at loose ends. Now that I’m so deep into it that I can’t just quit, I look at Ravelry and want to make everything I see!
Just one morning last week, looking at the first page of “Hot Right Now” patterns, I was enchanted by
the color and fuzziness of Midwinter Mist
the speed and chunky squishiness of Meri
the chic shape and general coziness of Big Love
the adorable-ness of Christmas Gift Gloves
and the cozy brioche-ity of Furrow Mitts.
Would these projects cast such a spell if I weren’t suffering a bad case of project fatigue right now? I don’t know. All I know is, I have to go finish a sleeve on size 1 needles. See ya.
