Yeah, it figures. In the previous post I’m musing about not being a knitblogger anymore, and in the very next post I’m talking about knitting again. Par for the course around here, you know. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, I have great trust in your ability to roll with it.
See…something weird has been going on in my office in the two weeks that the current novel has been with my agent. You may recall (or may not, because, really…why would you?) that my desk looked like this as I was gearing up for revisions. Neat and tidy and all about writing. No yarn to be seen.
Well, now my desk looks like this.
(Not pictured, the desk in the midst of the revisions process. Imagine the first picture, but with a bulletin board full of index cards; a coffee-stained, marked-up manuscript; and a fat greasy cloud of angst and doubt hanging over it all.)
While I was deep in the novel, I lost all interest in knitting. Didn’t need it, didn’t want it, barely thought about it. Certainly didn’t have the time for it. Now that I’m in that awful limbo of waiting to hear what Gail thinks about the book, though, it’s all I want to do. I should be throwing myself into the next writing project, because that’s the only thing that actually helps me get through these waits, but instead I’m somewhat fixated on the knitting: specifically, I’ve become irrationally intent on finishing up all my WIPs (works-in-progress, for you nonknitters) or frogging those I’ve admitted I never have any intention of finishing. I may actually end up with a finished Central Park Hoodie, Lenore socks, and Anemoi mittens that way, if I’m not careful.
Meanwhile, as the WIPs march toward FO (finished object. Aren’t knitters clever with the acronyms?), other yarn seems to be accumulating on my desk as well. Specifically, laceweight yarn from the stash that wants to be made into cowls. It rains a lot in Portland. (You may have heard rumors about this.) Last winter I layered a hoodie under my coat most days, and always wore this wool hat. This year, I’ll still sometimes wear that hat (I still love it) and will from time to time certainly be seen wearing a hoodie, but I’m also thinking a cowl would be a good solution. Wear it around my neck when it’s not raining, pull it up as a hood when it is raining. See…the rain comes off and on all day in the winter, most days. You need a flexible option. (And yeah, a cowl is enough. The rain rarely gets heavy.)
Fascinating, yeah? The upshot is that my desk is covered in yarn and I plan to make a few cowls to wear this winter. Now I’m remembering why I started blogging about knitting less.
My friend Laurel keeps talking about knitting herself a cowl. Now I understand why.
My friend Laurel keeps talking about knitting herself a cowl. Now I understand why.
I am musing on the movement of the chicken…..
I am musing on the movement of the chicken…..
The mess on your desk is great.
When I see all these cowls on blogs I always think they’re cute but probably not for me. I totally forget that they can be hoods like you mentioned! Thank you. 🙂 They would be good for all the rainy or drizzily (hee) days that we get. Now I’ll have to revisit some of the patterns I’ve seen.
The mess on your desk is great.
When I see all these cowls on blogs I always think they’re cute but probably not for me. I totally forget that they can be hoods like you mentioned! Thank you. 🙂 They would be good for all the rainy or drizzily (hee) days that we get. Now I’ll have to revisit some of the patterns I’ve seen.
I can’t wait to see the cowls. I have made a couple of neckwarmerish ones but have yet to venture into the biggies, and you’ve just made them sound very appealing.
Also, I am obscurely pleased to see a somewhat messier desk pic, because I do remember seeing that first pic the first time around and thinking, “Oy, how tidy. Why doesn’t my desk ever look that?:
I can’t wait to see the cowls. I have made a couple of neckwarmerish ones but have yet to venture into the biggies, and you’ve just made them sound very appealing.
Also, I am obscurely pleased to see a somewhat messier desk pic, because I do remember seeing that first pic the first time around and thinking, “Oy, how tidy. Why doesn’t my desk ever look that?:
Is that Kidsilk Haze I spy in front of the drawers? It even looks like one of the colours I am working with at the moment, pink 583.
And is that fat white book Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel?
Is that Kidsilk Haze I spy in front of the drawers? It even looks like one of the colours I am working with at the moment, pink 583.
And is that fat white book Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel?
Cari, I’ve been so out of the loop regarding your life and blog. I see now that your novel is finished and in the hands of your agent. A belated congratulations!!!! I know that you are in that waiting stage — not very gratifying yet, but it’s still huge and I’m excited for you. I miss our coffee/play dates and think of you often. LOVED the care package! Can’t thank you enough.
Cari, I’ve been so out of the loop regarding your life and blog. I see now that your novel is finished and in the hands of your agent. A belated congratulations!!!! I know that you are in that waiting stage — not very gratifying yet, but it’s still huge and I’m excited for you. I miss our coffee/play dates and think of you often. LOVED the care package! Can’t thank you enough.
the only potential problem with that cowl/hat theory is that your neck will then get very cold (when you pull it up to act as a hat). I have several cowls and have worn one as a hat when hiking (was the perfect head covering since the hole let out heat I was building). But once my neck is warm, I will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way. 🙂
As for not starting your next writing project, it’s okay to allow yourself some down time my friend!
the only potential problem with that cowl/hat theory is that your neck will then get very cold (when you pull it up to act as a hat). I have several cowls and have worn one as a hat when hiking (was the perfect head covering since the hole let out heat I was building). But once my neck is warm, I will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way. 🙂
As for not starting your next writing project, it’s okay to allow yourself some down time my friend!
Oh boy I can relate. The knitting is tempting in that way – lookee! I’m creating! It’s colorful! I’m sublimating a need in some way! hehe
And, well, I’m off to knit right now. But I did, ahem, write today. Slowly getting some momentum in book #2. (Rejected by a few more houses, btw, but a few more have the book. It’s AWESOME to have a book out during the next Great Depression. Awesome, I tell you.)
Oh boy I can relate. The knitting is tempting in that way – lookee! I’m creating! It’s colorful! I’m sublimating a need in some way! hehe
And, well, I’m off to knit right now. But I did, ahem, write today. Slowly getting some momentum in book #2. (Rejected by a few more houses, btw, but a few more have the book. It’s AWESOME to have a book out during the next Great Depression. Awesome, I tell you.)
Definitely finish the Lenores. I am madly in love with mine.
Definitely finish the Lenores. I am madly in love with mine.
The yarn all looks yummy! I have never been able to figure cowls out, but I really like the way they look on other people.
You’re making me a knitblogger copycat, over here. Now that I live somewhere cold again, I really need both anemoi mittens and a cph.
The yarn all looks yummy! I have never been able to figure cowls out, but I really like the way they look on other people.
You’re making me a knitblogger copycat, over here. Now that I live somewhere cold again, I really need both anemoi mittens and a cph.
I understand the yarn, but was wondering about the chickens, too.
I understand the yarn, but was wondering about the chickens, too.
I love how yarn can just sneak up on a knitter like that. Happens to me all the time.
I love how yarn can just sneak up on a knitter like that. Happens to me all the time.