I'm knitting something

Hourglass Sweater (sleeve)
Yarn: Tilli Tomas Pure and Simple Silk, Moss
Needles: US 6 circular 6" and 32", Tapestry needle
Pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, Joelle Hoverson
Raveled here

Yeah, it's been a while.

I mean, I have gone to the bucket in the closet with the intent of finding some yarn and a pattern with which to knit something recently, but I've closed the door and backed away quietly every time I've tried this is over, oh, the last six months or so.

I haven't had it in me.

I think it's because I finally came to the realization that my skin hates wool.

Which sucks because I have a lot of it and it wasn't free and I have really *known* for a while now that my skin hates wool but I've been in an impressive state of denial where I think that I only don't like wool because I try to wear it when it's too warm out or something and if I wore it under the right conditions (what would those be? I don't know.) things might be OK.

It's a lot like bikini shopping where I think that I'm wicked skinny and will look good in a Brazilian bottom but then I put it on and have to rethink things. Things like how it's possible to lose an entire swimsuit bottom in my ass without blinking an eye.

Anyhoo...I have come to terms with the wool thing. I can't wear it. I mean, I can barely knit with the stuff much less put it on my bare skin and cavort around all cozy and happy like those fuckers on the catalog covers who look so cheerful in their obviously scritch-scratchy sweaters that don't have any effect on them because their skin isn't so sensitive.

Oh to have macho skin.

I suppose I could stop knitting altogether, but then I'd have to rename the blog and explain the tower of yarn in the closet - two things I'm not prepared to do - so instead I decided to consult with experts. Specifically, the first seemingly knowledgeable people I came across working in a yarn shop. And those were the ladies working at Knit/Purl in Portland.

I went to them with a very specific request. Please find me some yarn that is NOT WOOL but can still be made into the Hourglass Sweater in Last Minute Knitted Gifts which I've been coveting for a really long time. Like maybe years.

I was so desperate that when they produced some very lovely and NOT WOOL yarn I immediately shrieked EUREKA! (in my head only) and set them to the task of winding it and wrapping it up without even looking at the price tag which turned out to be impressively large.

And that is all I'm going to say about that because I've also decided that once this sweater is finished I am going to wear it forever until the day I die to justify the cost, OK. Thankfully Kelli was there to remind me that, "Oh Finny, you'll wear this sweater forever! It's OK.", because I almost started swallowing my tongue when I caught sight of the price tag whoa.

The good news in all this is that I have actually been knitting again woo!

It's warm out and I'm knitting and it's all contradictory but who cares because I'm making something I might actually wear someday. Well, that is if I stop fucking up the pattern by DOUBLING the cast-on stitches and then knitting merrily all Sunday only to realize that, hey, isn't this sweater looking awfully large and OH YEAH of course it's large, it's TWICE the size you're supposed to be knitting, stupid ass.

*Sigh*

I'm now almost through the first skein (I'm wondering if I really needed all 7 skeins or whatever) which is good because I've reknit it at least three times already and I don't think it can take much more of my manhandling.

Surprisingly, I'm even ahead of the photo in this post. I've finished that sleeve and have started on the body which is out of order because I like to shun pattern directions like an idiot so that I can retrace my steps later.

Adventure!

I'll keep you posted on this, my first non-wool thingee that I plan to wear. A lot and for the rest of my life. Hopefully.

Sometimes it's just easier to shop for bikinis.