It’s all about clearing decks, cleaning slates and fresh starts here at the moment, in knitting and in our home.
First of all, congratulations to Bells who who has won the Om Shanti bedsocks. I ran this random number generator thingie to find a winner, and her comment came up. It’s good to know they are going to a good home!
On the home front, we have been having our bathroom renovated. It will have taken six weeks to do, but should be pretty much done by the end of the week. I’ll share some before and after pics once it’s finally done and the blinds are in. But the way it has affected the rest of our house has been truly astonishing. Dust, laundry and boxes full of tiles, bathroom furniture and towel rails have overwhelmed almost everywhere. So this weekend we will be spring cleaning, and celebrating taking ownership of our home again.
Similarly, on the knitting front, I’ve had a strong urge recently to clear the decks, and get all of my works in progress off the needles. If you look at the sidebar up a bit and on the left, you’ll see that my only remaining unfinished project is the Hemlock Ring Blanket. My Anemoi mittens are finished and just waiting for an available photographer.
It’s not that I’m burning to start anything else – let’s face it, if I wanted to, I would have, however many projects were already ongoing! No, it’s more a desire for a clean slate and a fresh start. I have been enjoying not planning ahead for once. And I have found it interesting how, through not trying to plan, several ideas have bubbled up into my imagination.
I love Jared Flood’s Alberta vest. And, to my surprise, Steve loves it too. I would love to make this for him, I think it would really suit him (and as a bonus would have no arms to knit). But I think it will have to wait until I can find some suitable yarn – I don’t think it would be quite the same without one of the yarns being variegated, and I’m not sure where I would get that from at the moment.
I’ve also been thinking about the green Grannie Smith cardigan that I almost finished last year (pictured above). It has many elements that I love: the colour, the lace pattern, the Kid Silk Haze from which it is made, its sheer girly prettiness. I made a mistake, however, in choosing this pattern, as it just does not suit my shape. Well, I have got some ideas for how I could modify it without having to start from scratch again. I need a bit of time to play with the ideas, but it would be great if they work out, it would feel like getting a ‘free’ cardigan!
I would also like to have a handknit cardigan to wear while I do yoga. This one (Ravelry link) is kind of what I’m imagining (maybe not with the matching legwarmers though…). I’m thinking of using the green yarn in the photo above, which is Rowan Summer Tweed, made from 70% silk and 30% cotton.
And then I’d like a small project for train knitting, socks would be good. And some more lace – another shawl maybe? And a beret to match my Laminaria shawl would be nice. And now I really have to stop before my head explodes!

That is a cute yoga sweater. Congratulations on your renovation, it’ll be nice to get your house “back”.
I wanted to make that yoga sweater too… and the leg warmers – I think they’re back in fashion! – but I’m guessing I won’t get around to it…
I long for a clean slate when it comes to knitting – but I can’t help myself and am always starting something new (or else my head would explode!).
Yay to Bells for winning the lovely socks!
Oh, and renovations – the dust! The dust! It gets into everything! Can’t wait to see the pics though. Love a new bathroom!
Those are really cute projects – good luck picking just one (or two!). Hope the bathroom renovations are going well…and gorgeous picture!
yay for me! Just hope they fit my sister!
I’d love a new bathroom, too. We did one in our other house though and I remember the mess. All your projects look so cute, I think you should do them all.
Dying to see your new bathroom!
I’m feeling the need for a clean knitting slate too. Too many UFOs makes me really uneasy!
Ooh yes – I’m hoping for a bit of a clean slate once this batch of deadline projects I’m working on are done – such a nice feeling to have all those wonderful projects out there to choose from
I forgot how pretty the lace pattern was on the Grannie Smith cardigan… A cardigan with matching legwarmers?! The wardrobe people from Flashdance will wonder where you found them, 25 years later. The cardigan is cute, though!
What a gorgeous spring picture. 2 of my favourite things — green yarn and flowers. Love the yoga wrap, going into my ever expanding queue!!
Happy cleaning and reclaiming you house. I’m needing to do a lot of spring cleaning too.
i love your ideas all of them! the vest is really cool, wont show it O- am busy with my own ;), the yoga cardi is gorgeous! as i was looking at it, i caught myself thinking about what colour i would want and want yarn…
looking forward to see the new bathroom and plenty of new projects