Malabrigo March, reloaded

You didn't think I was going to let Malabrigo March pass by? Unlike last year, though, I am not casting on for any old thing (I mean, how many Calorimetries and neckwarmers does one need? Don't answer that.). I've picked three rather substantial projects using three different weights of Malabrigo yarns (so substantial, in fact, that I'm longing for a hat project).


Shalom Cardigan in Malabrigo Chunky in Applewood.



Ingenue, from Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits, in Merino Worsted. This was originally supposed to be my American Idol Selfish Knitting Sweater in Steadfast Wonderful Wool, but it just wasn't working out for me.

And finally, Ishbel in Malabrigo Sock, in the. most. perfect. red I've ever seen. Inspired by Franklin, I am going to make a lace shawl, at last.

Color on a rainy day

I am not sure what March showers bring except a bored toddler and trouble for the folks living along the Red River, but in the midst of all this, I think we all desperately need a flash or two of color. And this is big coming from the knitter who loves all things gray.

Baby Moderne Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting. This is for a dear friend who is having a baby next month. You know she's dear because I am making this in sock yarn, but honestly, this has been a pleasure to knit so far. I think a blanket made from Dream in Color Smooshy is perfect for a little Kentucky baby girl, don't you?



Basic vanilla Yarn Harlot socks in Regia, Kaffe Fassett's Easter colorway. I actually cast on for these on my birthday, a particularly gray day, because Colleen was making some at work and I wanted pinky stripes tooooo.

Being Selfish

This whole Year of Selfish Knitting plus my American Idol knitting has yielded an entire sweater! Just in time for spring! This is the Garter Yoke Cardigan from Vogue's Knit.1 magazine, knit from Berroco Peruvia (ie, my poor abandoned Tilted Duster).



And this is Wrenna, from French Girl Knits, knit in Brown Sheep Burly Spun. This bulky knit was a particularly good project for my magpie (OOH! SHINY!) brain, as I cast on and finished in under a week. I added length to the sleeves and knit at a tighter gauge than the pattern recommended. However, I had my first ever "Oh, you really do mean that I am to wash the swatch?!" moment as the Burly Spun bloomed when I soaked and blocked the sweater. I'm hoping a good reblocking can at least fix the sagging neckline.

Balance

As the Spring Equinox approaches, I find myself thinking more and more about balance. Balance between the Selfish Knitting and knitting for others. Balance between finishing what I started and casting on bright! new! shiny! projects. Balance between working on the two wooly sweaters I have in progress for myself and starting something fresh for spring. Balance between my usual beloved gray yarn and bright spring pastels.

Here's a shot of spring: these lovely cakes of Smooshy are going to become a Baby Moderne Blanket for a dear friend's baby arriving in April.

This selfish knitting thing

...doesn't seem to be working out very well for me. At the store, we incorporated community service into Franklin's visit and collected items for the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh. I made

Baby Boy 5-Hour Sweater from some Schulana SuperCotton I'd had in my stash forever (so, so much fun to knit with, very sproingy)


and

My variation of yet another Super-Natural Stripes, using up the last of my Berroco Comfort.

Franklin and Me

Not my best picture by a long shot, but I had such an amazing time with Franklin this past weekend.