One of the little rules I have for myself is to try to finish two WIPs before I cast on another project—although I ignore the rule often, always for reasons that seem perfectly justified, like the St. Anthony Foundation call for handknit scarves this Christmas.
Now that I've finished my second design assignment for Knitting Today, which will be in the May/June issue, I took a short break and then returned to my personal knitting. My top priority has been to finish the vest for Jane's dad that has been in the works for about 15 months. The last thing I had left to do was finish the back, which felt like miles of plain stockinette (Jane's dad is tall). I finished all the pieces, and it's blocking now. So it's close, but not really finished—there are still button bands and armhole ribbing to knit, as well as seaming the sides.
The next thing I want to finish is my Tuscany shawl, which just had its third birthday... It's kind of frustrating now, because the rows are really long, but it doesn't seem deep enough. Finishing a row takes a lot of time but there's not much to show for it. I would like to wear it to Stitches West next month, though. And it would be fun to finish it before Jane and I head to the real Tuscany—the one in Italy—in mid-March. So really, I'm not even close to finishing this WIP.
But I decided I'd like to have another sweater for myself well under way by the time we get on the plane. Preferably a top-down cardigan that I could finish and wear on the trip. And I went a little nuts. I've been swatching for the Featherweight cardigan, and I just purchased a pretty pattern called Cherry Vanilla (Thea Colman's design skills and productivity kind of make me sick with envy) and I've been swatching for that with some Elann Peruvian Quechua from the stash. And I have a tailored top-down t-shirt started in Aran-weight cotton. Oh, and I've been dinking around with some covers for Ethel's harness, because the nylon straps seem to be giving her bald spots. And that prompted me to pull out Coffee's sweater in progress also.... And I really ought to keep sketching and swatching new designs, so as not to lose momentum.
So instead of following my finish two, start one rule, I have just lost my mind and allowed yarn to explode all over the house. I should be able to settle down in a week or two, I think.
