Spotted, but not Returned
Rachel found my Sock Mojo wandering the hills of Northern Arizona, gave it a piece of her mind and sent it packing for home. However, I do believe it got as far as Zion Park and decided to stay where it was warm and sunny (not that I blame it at all). Both pair of socks sit, sadly, in the corner, and no one pays them any attention. Only the Mojo can save them now. Rachel also confessed to feeling happy while sitting in a little snow storm, but snow for her is like sunshine to me, a rare occurrence, and so I don't begrudge her that moment of happiness.
Monday night I was sure Zetor would be finished. However, it has become a time sucking, yarn sucking entity that controls my life. I can't put it down, can't stay away, can't stop working on it even though it is constantly faking me out. How can the end be so near and yet, after hours of knitting, the bind off is no closer? Every time I look at the working ball of yarn it has grown so small that I know another will be needed and, sure enough, there is not enough yarn for the last four rows.
Thank goodness something suitable was hanging around the stash (new reason to stash large amounts of Koigu)...but, 4 rows are still IN PROCESS, which brings the skien count to SIX! It wouldn't surprise me if the yarn ran out on the bind off row as this shawl eats it up so quickly. At the rate it takes to knit across one row it might be Saturday or Sunday before the end arrives...(hopefully, I'm kidding!). The thing that keeps me going is how pretty it is... it looks like flowers tossed into a blender or a full flower bed of glorious spring blossoms.
Hopefully the end won't be anti-climatic and she'll be shown off in her full glory with a great photo shoot. Thanks for hanging in there with me while I go through this bit of obsessive knitting.


















Hanging in there is worth it for the photos - those colors are spring incarnate... needed today, as it's cold and rainy in Wisconsin.
Posted by: Nora | April 09, 2008 at 05:03 AM
How could that possibly be anti-climatic? It's already full of gorgeous glory!
Posted by: Carol | April 09, 2008 at 05:06 AM
The color changes in the shawl are really beautiful. It reminds me of the different shades of lilacs.
Posted by: Carole | April 09, 2008 at 05:10 AM
Margene, I want that shot of the shawl for my screensaver!
Posted by: Elizabeth D | April 09, 2008 at 05:36 AM
Here's hoping your sock mojo comes back soon and fingers crossed you won't run out of yarn on your beautiful shawl!
Posted by: Kelly | April 09, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Confession time. I'm not always fond of variegated colorations in shawls. I either love it or don't. Zetor is stunning. I can understand your obsessive love for it. As for Rachel? As with all UFO's, she'll complain bitterly, but wait.
Posted by: CindyCindy | April 09, 2008 at 05:43 AM
it looks like a hydrangea flower!
Posted by: ann | April 09, 2008 at 05:54 AM
I can't wait!!
Posted by: Ann | April 09, 2008 at 05:59 AM
I must have stolen your sock mojo (how'd THAT happen?)...I'm about to finish the redo of my little Koigu sock. I'm sure I will promptly give you back your mojo now, and acquire SSS.
Posted by: norma | April 09, 2008 at 06:15 AM
Lovely shawl; can't wait to see the finished product!
Posted by: Alison | April 09, 2008 at 06:15 AM
Zetor obviously has your sock mojo confined to an undisclosed secure location, but I have no doubt she'll release it when you release her from the needles.
Posted by: Lucia | April 09, 2008 at 06:23 AM
Margene! It is just stunning, I love it and want to haul out the koigu right now!
Posted by: Teresa C | April 09, 2008 at 06:25 AM
I think Cheryl hijacked your sock mojo. ;)
Zetor is so, so lovely...
Posted by: Chris | April 09, 2008 at 06:41 AM
Those colors look so much like you!!!
Can't wait to see it blocked.
Posted by: Sarah HB | April 09, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Sometimes I find you can find your mojo patiently waiting after you've fulfilled your little monogamous fling with another project. So go for it!
Posted by: Anne | April 09, 2008 at 06:56 AM
It will be worth the wait..and it is bringing a much needed sunshine to the gloomy, cool and damp Va. days..will trade snow for this..but..BUT...they say 70 by tomorrow..so far their average is poor!
The last rows..whether 6 or 60 tend to get me hyped for the finish line..while lying in bed this morn. I did the math for the stole/shawl I'm working on...seems only 60 more rows..then bind off, I'm hoping for weekend..so I can find someone to help me do the crochet border that I lack the skill to do~
Posted by: Dianne Nichols | April 09, 2008 at 07:03 AM
It is absolutely gorgeous even in its lumpy state and the colors are perfect for you. You are in the midst of a perfectly understandable obsession. Enjoy the process! And I completely empathize about the long final rows. I'm on row 185 of the Peacock Shawl and it is getting huge!
Posted by: Linda M | April 09, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Poor socks. They looks so neglected in that picture. They will just have to wait though, because we are all anxious to see the shawl in action. Good luck on finishing it.
Posted by: Wool Winder | April 09, 2008 at 08:02 AM
She is lovely!
Posted by: Heather Joins The Round | April 09, 2008 at 08:03 AM
What do you get when you throw flowers in a blender? Flower vomit! But oh so pretty! Just kidding!
Anne in Calgary
Posted by: Anne B. | April 09, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Oh, you know what will happen: it will go right to summer and you won't need those socks, anyway! But, mercy, that's a lot of yarn for a shawl! Beautiful, though, and worthy of another skein or four!
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | April 09, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Nice... it looks like hydrangeas. I think Cheryl has your mojo now. Do I need to start a Free Mojo campaign?
Posted by: Stacey | April 09, 2008 at 08:46 AM
On my monitor it looks like hydrangea!!! Just lovely!
Posted by: Mom2Schnauzers | April 09, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Oh, yes - hydrangea! Perfect description!
Posted by: Cheryl S. | April 09, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Too bad about the sock mojo. Maybe mine has taken it on a date and they are both shacked up in a seedy motel somewhere. And holy crap that is one gorgeous shawl!!!!!!!!! I bet it just feel luscious as well with all the koigu. YUM!
Posted by: Stephanie | April 09, 2008 at 09:02 AM
If I spy your mojo I'll be sure to point it in the right direction. Let's hope that it returns from it's travels fully rejuvenated like mine did! That might justify it's absence.
Posted by: Hillary | April 09, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Flowers tossed into a blender! Fabulous description, and rather accurate too. Zetor is lovely (even though it sounds like one of Tom Cruise's gods...)
Posted by: sil | April 09, 2008 at 09:28 AM
Zetor seems to have joined the throng of yarn eating monsters. (sometimes they just be like that)... all knit, and no increase in size.
hang in there.
Posted by: Teyani | April 09, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Definitely the colors of hydrangea's, but it also reminds me of a spectacular sunset.
I lost my sock mojo around December and January. It's back in full force now (which is good because my sock yarn stash is quite large).
Posted by: Toby | April 09, 2008 at 10:18 AM
That is gorgeous. It may be my favorite shawl that you've knit!
Posted by: elizabeth | April 09, 2008 at 10:48 AM
It sounds like you are in the black hole of knitting that the Yarn Harlot describes- knitting and knitting, yet there is no discernable progress! I'm loving the colors as much as you are- so bright in the middle of grey winter! Hopefully the shawl will straighten up and fly right soon.
Posted by: kelly | April 09, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Zetor really Does look like a Hydrangea! What a completely gorgeous thing to be working on. Just feeling it must be Heavenly!
Posted by: Laura | April 09, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Aha! Stashes DO have a purpose.
Sock mojo will come limping home when it wants to.
Posted by: Laurie | April 09, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Zetor really Does look like a Hydrangea! What a completely gorgeous thing to be working on. Just feeling it must be Heavenly!
Posted by: Laura | April 09, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I heard a rumor that your mojo is just waiting for you to finish Zetor. Your mojo knew you wouldn't break away for him anyway. That shawl is too pretty for words,which some people who think I talk too much would find it amazing for me to say!
Posted by: Doris | April 09, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Aieee! You need a lesson from Susan in how to finish up with six inches of yarn to spare. She is the expert in cutting it close and living to tell the tale! ;-) But thank goodness for that Koigu stash in Margene-colors. In the last photo it looks perfectly organic.
Posted by: Beth S. | April 09, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Ha! I see I'm not the only one who is reminded of hydrangeas. Lovely!
Posted by: sprite | April 09, 2008 at 01:27 PM
very pretty. can't wait to see it blocked.
Posted by: kathleen | April 09, 2008 at 02:36 PM
pretty little lump of wet noodle fiber goodness. enjoy this last few rows my friend
Posted by: marie in florida | April 09, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Just a minute before coming here today I noticed I had a LOT of traffic on my blog and told Joe: it must be a mistake,,,, thank you:)
I adore your shawl but please don't give me any more reasons to enhance my Koigu stash, pretty please!
Posted by: Rachel | April 09, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Zetor is gorgeous!
Posted by: Jennifer | April 09, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Don't worry. We'll be here when you finish. And Spring will come at some point.
Posted by: KarenJoSeattle | April 09, 2008 at 05:51 PM
OMG...I almost bought that colorway today!!!
(I think)
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana | April 09, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Oh, I love that darker color at the edge. It really gives it depth. Perfect.
Posted by: Cathy in Va. | April 09, 2008 at 08:10 PM
It is so beautiful. I enjoy seeing each progress shot and look forward to the completed shawl.
Posted by: Sarah | April 09, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Hopefully your sock mojo comes back soon. But meanwhile, I suppose, enjoy the lace knitting!
Posted by: Wanda | April 10, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Omigosh, I LOVE those Koigu colors!
Posted by: Andrea | April 13, 2008 at 11:13 AM