PRODUCTIVITY



In an effort to become more productive, I am going to start listing my 2-week knitting goals here for my three main goals, similar to how they do it in Productive Spinners. The only reason I'm not joining up there again is that I have no spinning goals, just knitting. But I do feel I'm less productive lately and getting behind with more and more actual projects planned. And you can see how I've suffered dearly from startitis from yesterday's entry.



My 3 knitting goals are:



1. Dale of Norway Trondheim sweater - both sleeves and bottom ribbing are finished. 2 Week Goal - Knit above the bottom colorwork to the dreaded boring plain part.



2. Alice Starmore's Malin from In the Hebrides - both sleeves and up to main pattern on both front and back. 2 Week Goal - 4 more inches on front and back



3. Continue to make items for the rabbit shelter. I'd like about 6 items for them in early September and I currently have 1 1/2. 2 Week Goal - Finish 3 1/2 more items.







Here's another photo of Malin in progress. It really is going to be beautiful and it is a pretty fast knit (size 8 needles) so I hope to finish this soon.

Ginny asked about the Dale of Norway Kashmir sweater. You can purchase the pattern alone at Bea Ellis Knitwear or the entire kit at Allegro Yarns which includes a good photo. If you decide to make it in the Tiur, I recommend purchasing the pattern before getting the actual yarn because there are three colorways and all the colorways are quite similar. You really need to see the actual pattern photo to decide on your colorway. There are also optional beads used in the sweater - I haven't yet decided whether or not to use them.



I have too many projects waiting in the wings. I've put off the Paradoxical Mittens for a while after discovering a mistake I can't live with in the early stages of the mitten and ripping back. My future WIPs include:



1. Lucy Neatby's Paradoxical Mittens

2. The silk/rayon Heartstrings Fiberarts Maple Leaves lace scarf

3. Dale of Norway's Kashmir in Tiur

4. Alice Starmore's Na Craga in Nature Spun

5. Borealis Sweaterscapes' Landscape socks (see photo of patterns below)

6. Two pairs of Sanquhar gloves

7. Cast On Mitered Mittens with handspun yarn

8. Arnhild's Norwegian gloves

9. Norwegian mitten kit from NFA in Istra (I forget the pattern name)

10. Baby sweater

I have to say I still have hope for Interweave Knits. I received my issue on Friday and I still have hope.



I'm especially happy to see the article by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts on intarsia in the round, a technique I'd like to try. The actual design doesn't turn me on but I could make the socks for the learning experience and then give them away. The last IK that had a PGR sock design (the dresser scarf socks) also intrigued me. I like learning new techniques and I learned how to kitchener garter stitch together.



I like the colorwork mittens and hat. The debut of a new column on historical knits by researcher extraordinaire Deborah Pulliam is encouraging. My subscription runs out next issue and at this point I'm aiming to re-subscribe. Because Spin-Off is far and away my favorite knitting magazine, I don't see why Interweave can't do better with IK. So kudos for IK - you are on the right track even if you haven't arrived at the destination yet.









Here's where I am on Trondheim. I practically have to force myself to knit this puppy because I'm having such a bad reaction to the plastic feel of the Emu Superwash DK. But I'm too far gone to stop now and I have the Tiur to make Kashmir waiting in the wings when I finally finish. I've heard such good things about working with Tiur and can't wait to see for myself.