Thinking Ahead (or Jumping the Gun)

One Bigass Sock Fini! It was fun to knit with this big, fat, squooshy yarn and it was very quick knitting, too!  Three sessions of SnB was all it took and now it is on to the second sock.

It won't be long before I'll need another easy sock project and, to that end, I've been trying to decide what's next.  The good thing/bad thing about a large sock yarn stash is that just choosing the next colorway can be daunting. I want to knit them everything. I'm also trying to stay away from people who sell sock yarn (like Blue Moon, I'm rather crazy for Knitty Rocks) and trying to use some of the fabulous colors that already grace my collection. I may go with the Vesper yarn that's been wound and waiting for awhile.   The colorway of STR many of you were crazy for in yesterday's picture is Love in Idleness which my picture showed a bit washed out.

After looking more closely at the squares I've been hooking, I decided it was too loose...a loose hooker is not a good thing. I went down a size on my hook and started anew with some of the new colors.  It looks much better and I'm excited for the red to arrive to add in the mix.  It's a fun project and once I settle down to hook, it should go rather quickly.

It has been difficult, but I have stayed away from Emmylou this week in an effort to get some knitting done and it seems to be working. Hopefully Lacy Waves will be finished this week (but don't hold your breath) and I can get up the motivation to decide what’s next.  I'd like to knit another summerish sweater.  Because of my love for Emmylou, knitting progress has slacked off.  I am still, and will be forever, about the process of knitting, but it is rather sad to see that my only knitting accomplishments this year have been socks and scarves.  It will feel very good to have a sweater under my belt and another should follow quickly on its heels.  So....

Here are a few of the ideas bouncing around head. Please weigh in, I love to hear what you think.

For the following projects I would need to purchase yarn:
Rowan "Joy" (This is crochet and my biggest concern is that I'm too old to wear a sweater that 'cute'.)
Rowan "Lizzi" (This is a design I would wear often.)
Rowan "Flotsam Jetsam" (This pattern speaks to me over and over.)

For this list of projects I have the needed yarn: 
Perhaps Tilia or some other sweater in Silky Wool, Shocking Pink. (However, I am just finishing a sweater in Silky Wool.)
Memories of the Ukraine (lace pullover) from The Natural Knitter in Aubergine Euroflax.  (This is a long shot, as I'm leaning towards a cardigan style.)

Usually, I don't stash much in the way of 'sweater' projects, so there is little in the way of summer yarn in the stash.  Winter wools are well represented, but I'd rather wait until closer to fall to start something wooly.  I'm looking for other patterns that are simple and classic. I will keep looking for more ideas, but in the mean time, tell me what you think.

Comments

[Kelly]

too old for joy??
I'll have you know your just as cute if not cuter than that sweater and could most definately wear it!

[Carole]

I like Lizzi and Tilia. And I don't think you're too old for Joy but it's not a look I'm crazy about either.

[Kelly]

I agree that sweater would look great on you! The finished sock looks great, such pretty colors.

[Carol]

I'd go for the one that will be worn alot. Then the other 2! Have fun, the colors are great!

[Norma]

You are one of those people who can wear anything -- tall and thin and chic. So don't shy away from "Joy." Honestly. I'm not being a suck-up; I really mean it.

[minnie]

tough choice! i t hink i'd go with #2, myself.

[Chris]

Tilia. Yum!!

[brooke]

I really think Memories of Ukraine is gorgeous, but since you're leaning towards a cardi, I would go for Lizzi, looks versatile and elegant.

[Kim]

You could definitely wear Joy.....I really like Flotsam Jetsam though. You have some beautiful sweaters picked out :-).

Loose hooker.....snicker...hahahaha

[Stacey]

Joy is nice and you are in no way too old for it. Unless you are already dead. (just because it would be a waste for that sweater) Since you are apparently not dead, you could so ROCK it!

I like flotsom. It looks like it would be just hard enough (and beautiful enough) to keep one's interest.

[trek]

That's it. I need to consider a pair of worsted weight socks. Something quick and satisfying but still socky.

[Tan]

You are certainly NOT too old for cute. I'm with you on the STR colorways (but somehow you knew that).

[Karen]

I don't think you are too old for Joy. I worry about that when I make sweaters too. I really like Tilia. So much so that I have added it to my very long list of things I have to make.

[Birdsong]

I think you could wear any of the three styles, though Lizzi does look the most "you".. and you are NOT too old for Joy, which might be perfect for an indoor summer sweater to wear to work. You sure have gotten a LOT of socks done already this year, in case you hadn't noticed.

[Laura]

You are NOT too old for Joy. But I think I like the Flotsam and Jetsam best. That said, I think I would wear Lizzi the most. How's that for a REALLY helpful comment? Lol!

[regina]

I love Lizzi.

[Cara]

You know I speak the truth and I think you would look GREAT in JOY! You should totally make it. Even if it is crochet. ;-)

[Cara]

In fact - I think I like Joy the best.

[CindyCindy]

We're about the same age. The only thing "cute" about Joy is the model. It's a pretty classic style. I think you could carry it without any problem. Don't get caught in the age trap. I do myself sometimes. You just don't want to look silly, but I can guarantee you won't with this one. I like the others, too, but the Joy is a neat summer cardi.

[Nancy]

Lizzi really screams "Margene" to me;)

I think it would look lovely on you and it's something you could wear on Summer evenings.

[Laura]

Tool old to wear a sweater that's CUTE?? No. It's not the age, it's the person and you can totally wear that sweater. Have a great day - LOVE the photo of Bleeding Hearts in your photo corner today Margene. :)

[elizabeth]

I don't think you're too old for Joy, but if you're concerned about it already, would you wear it? And if you're not going to wear it, why make it? I like Flotsam Jetsam, it looks like it would be interesting throughout. Have you looked at "Cherry" by Anna at autoscopia.com? That's a cute summery top.

[Margaret]

All the Rowan sweaters are nice. The Joy looks sort of tailored and if you lose the little flowers at the neck it's a little less "precious". We had a sample of Tilia done in Hempathy in the shop last year and it looks even better in person. The hempathy blooms and softens quite a bit to be end up at about the same gauge as silky wool.

[Marcia Cooke]

Oh, for heaven's sake....you are tall and thin enough to look good in anything! It's the crochet part of Joy that would turn me off. Go with one of the others. I think I like the second choice the best.

[Cayli]

I like Flotsam Jetsam but Lizzi is a close second but really any of them would be great on you.

[Chris]

This is my next sweater project (although I WILL be adding length to it): http://blueskyalpacas.com/pattern_detail.php?patterns_ID=87

[Roxie]

Lizzi would offer lots of mindless stockinette, so you could take it to SnB. And I this personal grudge against short-sleeved sweaters. (I look like a flying squirrel in drag.)

[Kit]

completely off-topic but I was looking at the kanji on the sidebar (I love it and wish I could have one, too) and saw that it gave the kanji for 'ai' or 'love'. That's some of the most complicated kanji I have ever seen.

How typical of love. (Also, 'ai' is the very serious sort of love that you get married over. If you just have a crush on someone and you love him or her in a casual sense, it's 'daisuki' or 'big like'. The Japanese are very precise people.)

[Katherine]

Here's a vote for Flotsam and Jetsam. I like it best of the summery type patterns in your list. I just don't really like Joy a lot, but you could certainly wear it successfully if you made it. I love love love Tilia, but it doesn't seem very summery to me, if that's what you're after.

[Romi]

I *love* Tilia. It's one of my favorites. :)

[Vicki]

You know, I have these fashionista daughters and an incredibly stylish mother and I'm almost always feeling a bit frumpy at the in-between. I have been influenced by one, am an influence to the others -- I don't always understand why my mom can get away with wearing stuff that *I* can't, even stuff that my kids wear, but it's mostly about your body, making it work with your style, and what you're comfortable wearing. There are definitely things that are "too old" or "too young," but I can definitely see you in Joy.

[Melissa G]

I hadn't read all your list but was browsing Rowan and when I saw Flotsam and Jetsam I thought of you. Another thought would be the Beachcomber Tunic from IC instead of Joy if you're still into hooking.

[Vicki]

Oh! I just saw your beautiful bleeding heart picture!! ; )

[Anne]

I like the Flotsam Jetsam. I like em all, but I think that's the one I'd get the most wear out of all summer long.

[Beth S.]

None of those Rowan patterns turns my crank, probably because I don't generally knit warm-weather tops. But Tilia is lovely (ahem).

[Jennifer]

I like Lizzi. Plus the fact that you'd wear it often would make it a really good knit.

[knitnana]

Lizzie! It's darling...and I think would look great on you!
LOVE STR myself!
(((hugs)))

[Heather Joins The Round]

I like Tilia.

[Anne B.]

The key is probably the accessories. If you wear Joy over a modest t-shirt (not plunging neckline), and nice slacks it won't make you feel out of place or self-conscious. I think you will look lovely in it, very summery!

[kathleen]

Darlin' you are the epitome of cute! Love the crocheted color combo.

[Becky]

I would choose Joy -- and I'm over 50! Love that sweater. All of them are nice patterns, so you have a hard choice in front of you.

[Lucia]

"A loose hooker is not a good thing" -- LOL!

I've only knit socks and scarves this year too. Oh, not true, I knit the fun fur chemo caps, I had just blocked them out.

[Sharon]

I seriously can't be of any help - I've just decided to liberate the yarn from sweaters stacked on top of my closet, knitted back in the days when sweatshirt-sized sweaters were hip. They've been up there so long that they need dusting. I'm 2/3 of the way through my first liberation. I'm not recommending this~

[Laurie]

FlotsamJetsam. Or the Lavold. In another yarn. GORGEOUS.

[Ruth]

I like Lizzie a lot, but could be biased because of my abiding affection for All Seasons Cotton.

[Asa]

I like Joy. Go for that one.

[Hillary]

Joy isn't too young but it's not something that does it for me. On the other hand, Flostam and Jetsam looks like a wonderful design. That is definitely what I would choose.

I know just what you mean about the productivity. Since Charlotte arrived I'm not finishing much at all. I feel like a slug.

[Teyani]

Love the rowan Lizzi - gorgeous and timeless.
And I'm still laughing out loud over the comment you made that a loose hooker is no good. (maybe it's a generational thing, but I think that was hysterical!)

[Cheryl]

You know I love Tilia, and I think she'd be great on you, but I can definitely see you in Lizzi.

[Scoutj]

Think? Too tired to think. But wanted you to know I was/am here reading.
xo