As the school year ends, I am feeling a bit nostalgic, noticing how much my children have grown this year, both physically and mentally - how their world grows larger with each year. Every bit of independance means a bit more freedom for me, but the fact that they need me less and less takes some getting used to. I am realizing how fast time is going, how I need to do the things I really want to do, instead of putting things off for another day.
I have a list of knits, not a written list, but a little mental list of things I have always wanted to try. Sometimes it's a yarn I want to work with, sometimes a pattern just intrigues me. When I saw this soft celadon green manos hanging in the shop, I got in touch with my inner list and up came the the classic "Baby Surprise" by Elizabeth Zimmerman. I thought "now is the time." I am hoping the rustic manos and ingenious baby surprise will make a charming combination. Once again, no baby in mind...
I would love to hear what others have on their inner list. I am still waiting for the day to start an authentic guernsey for my husband, in guernsey wool. The short version of Inishmore. Something lacey from Fiddlesticks. Work with more koigu. How about you?
The Manos is very fetching. Inishmore has been on my "list" for a while and I love the shorter one. Some things fall off my list as soon as a new temptation occurs, but that just keeps my list from being completely unachievable. Most of the things on my list are for me. Living in Texas, it's hard to find people who love wool as much as I do.
Posted by: Julia | June 23, 2005 at 11:35 AM
There is a shawl in an old IK (I don't even remember which one now) that I want to do sometime. It will take me forever to knit because it is very complicated. Forest Path Stole I think it might have been called. And you know what? I don't even wear shawls. ;) But I think it is the challenge of it that makes me want to do it.
Posted by: Natalie | June 23, 2005 at 11:59 AM
I love that color. It will be such a sweet, scrunchy baby sweater.
Posted by: Melanie | June 23, 2005 at 12:00 PM
Hey, I love that manos colour and I'm having one.......... a baby that is. :-))) (just teasing you)
Posted by: Uli | June 23, 2005 at 03:13 PM
Inner list says "Paisley Cardigan" from that pattern I have carried around 15 years now. I only learned to knit almost 5 years ago. Lopi colors in an Intarsia pattern, I have the link to photo on my blog gutter. And St Brigid which almost got going this year, but other things got in the way, and a hard time deciding which yarn to buy. Still no yarn for it.
Posted by: Chris | June 23, 2005 at 03:17 PM
I love Manos; it is addictive! "Baby Surprise" is a very fun knit. I think it shall make an interesting combo - can't wait to see it finished. I wish my list was as simple as yours. I wrote mine down, and I really do not know where to start or would that be finish?
Posted by: Rebecca | June 23, 2005 at 05:51 PM
I love that green! The Apricot Jacket from Rebecca is on my list and also a lacey pullover that I can not remember the name of to save my life at the moment.
Posted by: Stacie | June 23, 2005 at 06:10 PM
Cobweb lace yarn, the really thin stuff, Orenburg lace, design my own version of Inishmore that will fit me, to actually finish a fair isle, wedding shawls for my girls (I know that is a while off, but if I get started now....), and that is the short list!
Posted by: Teresa C | June 23, 2005 at 06:28 PM
I so love that Garden Shawl!
Posted by: Tracy | June 24, 2005 at 02:55 AM
I've had Rowan Denim in my stash for ages, waiting to become Filey and Mystic from AS' "Fishermen's Sweaters". I actually started Filey once, and got most of the way through the back before deciding that it wasn't "good enough", and stealing the needle for some other project. One of these days I'll start over, and it will be glorious. :-)
Posted by: Beth S. | June 24, 2005 at 07:04 AM
I'm so glad you called it a Guernsey! coming from that very island it warms my heart. Did you know that each parish had it's own pattern for it's fishermen so that if one was lost at sea it would help with the identification if the body? Gruesome but true. (sorry)
Posted by: Janine | June 24, 2005 at 01:38 PM
Well let's see I too am waiting to start INishmore, that's set for this fall, the pattern on the cover of the Winter Interweave 2004, a shawl of my own design (yet to be actually designed), Ragna by Lavold, an afghan for my parents, oh and Balmoral tablecloth for my sister.
Posted by: Rebekah | June 24, 2005 at 02:05 PM
they sure grow up fast ---- my oldest is graduating on Sunday. egads.
Posted by: ann | June 24, 2005 at 09:23 PM
It seems that you and I have a similar inner-list. I am fulfilling my wish to knit Inishmore right now and am more than halfway finished. I also knit the baby surprise jacket a few months back after having had it on my list for a few years (It looked adorable!). I, too, have been wanting to make a traditional guernsey and possibly even design one of my own using the Knitting Ganseys book as a guide. I have had the Folk Shawls book on my night stand for a couple of years and really want to make one. Lastly, I would like to make a traditional Fair Isle sweater.
I have been noticing how quickly my kids are growing lately, too, and have been feeling a little nostaligic about it. They just got back from a week-long visit to Grandma and Papa's house. It broke my heart to hear from my seven-year old daughter say that she didn't want to come home. I am glad she loves her grandparents, but it seems like just yesterday that she clung to my leg and cried when anyone wanted to take her from me, even for a second.
Posted by: Suzanne | June 26, 2005 at 03:13 PM