Knitting For Sanity

I really had forgotten how satisfying baby knits are! I finished my Blueberry Pie Helena yesterday, blocked it last night, and sewed the buttons on today! I decided to omit the ties in the pattern and instead use buttonholes. It's just too much fun to pick out buttons for a finished knitted garment, and I prefer the look of them over the ties in the pattern. I dashed out to Joann's this morning to pick out the buttons and was thrilled to find the perfect ones. I think they look like little candies. I almost chose the same buttons in a blue-purple color but decided to go with the more matchy-matchy buttons. I like that these let the yarn really shine on its own. Normally I'm not thrilled with the look of variegated yarn with a lace pattern, but this lace pattern is simple enough to support the slight variations in color. This is an adorable baby pattern, and it knit up super fast - even in the sock yarn I used!

While all signs pointed to me casting on for a Textured Shawl, I've become completely won over by the Baby Sophisticate. I've got more than enough yarn leftover from the Cable-Sleeved Cardigan, and the idea of a "matching" baby sweater is just irresistible. I picked up some more of the buttons I used on that sweater to use on the baby version. A baby sweater in worsted weight should take no time to knit up. There's just nothing like a baby dressed up like a little grown-up. Adorable! I'll probably cast on for this sweater tonight.

I've been taking some time to watch the Elizabeth Zimmermann DVDs I purchased in Atlanta, and there isn't a better adjective than charming to describe them. I've spent the majority of my watching time on the Knitting Around DVD. It's just amazing how the DVDs can make the projects come to life, causing my own personal interest to rise exponentially in projects I'd previously dismissed. I love the raw home movie feel about the way they are shot - Meg talks intermittently to her husband who is running the video camera, Meg and Elizabeth make jokes and tease each other, and they both engage in unscripted dialog that makes you feel as though you are sitting with them in a yarn shop chatting. They are just delightful! If you have the opportunity to check them out from your local library, run - don't walk. They are marvelous for giving today's knitter a glimpse into the amazing mind of EZ.

I'm off to cast on for my next project. Last week was a rough one, and I'm not looking forward to the next starting so soon. Thank God for my knitting!