Happy!

I woke up this morning and thought, "There's so much I want to do!" So many knitting projects, some sewing projects, tidying my apartment (not so much a want-to as a should, but still), sorting yarn, snuggling kitties, reading books...

This made me really happy. I can tell that I'm very depressed when I don't want to knit. Since I've got about 6 or 8 knitting projects right now that I'm having a hard time deciding between, I figure this means I'm in a really good place. The sewing projects have been more and more tempting recently as well, so I may actually sit down at my machine soon-ish. I do so love textiles!

Recently, I was doing some research for our booklet on Tokyo for the most recent Knitting Tour booklet. It made me remember how much I enjoy researching! (And this research culminated in a short, conversational style essay, which is so much more my writing style than the dry prose favored in college, so that helped, I'm sure.) I think I may start reading non-fiction sometimes, and perhaps pick a research topic.

Back to knitting now. Later today, I'll take some photos and publish this.

(While caking a skein earlier, I was admiring a bookshelf full of knitting books, and realized I've never read No Idle Hands all the way through. So that's where I'll start.)

I Want to Knit All of the Things!

I am in the lucky situation of having many interesting projects right now! But it is also hard, because I want to be knitting everything at once...

I'm working on my lovely Cherry Me shawl in Alpacacita, which is just gorgeous to knit with. It's a simple lace pattern, which is always nice.

Then there's Annie's Graduation Shawl, in Yasmin (one of my favorite yarns!) This is in the boring, Estonian flower stitch stage right now, but I'm getting closer and closer to the lace bit. The desire to knit on this one is mostly so I can finish the boring bit and get to the fun.

I've started a new Starmore, Zauberflote, because there's a KAL in the Starmore Junkies group, and I'm a sucker for Jade. This one is super-addicting, and so lovely and graceful!

The other stranded sweater I'm working on is the Sheeps! sweater. Not as much fun to knit, but I love the look of it!

Marie's Robot mittens are now in a boring bit, but this is my first time knitting in a lining, so that's a bit interesting. Good reading knitting, except for the catching.

And I want to cast on two more projects:
The Followill Shawl (as a scarf) for Missy, in some yarn Babs kindly dyed for me.

A Simple Cardigan in Chinese Rhubarb Yummy 3-ply. This one has been hanging around for ages, and I think it will be excellent reading knitting, plus it is my favorite base, and a beautiful color! I want the sweater!! This one will be partially a Product Knitting project, I think.

Then there are the sewing projects floating around in my mind. How will I spend the afternoon?

Luckily, my faithful helpers will keep me on track.

I Guess I'll Be Sitting In the Middle

NB: Annie, this only applies to this situation on the couch. I'll hunt out some Barbies before I'm in Arlington next, so that we'll have a proper bribe for you.

(Knitting on the table: Laptop case is a knitpicks kit from a while ago. The pink in the lower left corner is Cherry Me, the newest kit for the Miss Babs Knitting Tour! There is knitting in a basket, a bag, and a bunch of project bags near the couch as well.)