Starting over in the frog pond

I spent most of yesterday turning this, the Mirage pullover from More Big Girl Knits,

into this

and then this

and finally this

Now, it is becoming Mr. Greenjeans.

When I began the Mirage, I weighed 30 pounds more than I do today, so I knew it was no longer going to fit the way I'd originally envisioned. Not that that is a bad thing, you understand.

As the swift was spinning, and the sweater was raveling at my feet, Scott asked me if I had regrets about all those hours of work being undone.

Yes and no. I'm sorry to lose the work -- it does feel a bit as if it's time wasted. But I learned something from the process and I'm fired up with the vision for Mr. Greenjeans, so I'm looking ahead more than looking back.

I've done that a lot, I realized. With education, with work, with marriage. Once upon a time, I began each of those things with a vision for the finished product, the happy ending. Eventually, though, I looked at them and realized, "That just doesn't fit right." I pulled the loose thread and raveled. And then made something new -- I went back to school, I got a new job, I met Scott. I learned to take nothing in my new life for granted -- having experienced the worst, I am grateful every day for the best.

I had a vision for this sweater when I began. I knew what pants to pair with it, what jewelry I would wear. I could see myself wearing it. Then I couldn't.

Now I am imagining a new sweater--can't wait to try it on!

I am the worst blogger ever ...

Yesterday, I went to ThreadBear to take a class with Susanna Hansson on Rovaniemi mittens. But did I remember my camera? Of course not. Because I am the worst blogger ever. See title above.

You'll have to make do with the photos of my project in process.

We started with worsted weight yarn as a practice piece ---
And then we moved to the fine weight Finnish yarn and smaller needles. In my case, 0000s. It's like knitting with fettucine.

This technique is fascinating. It's intarsia -- see the little skeins? Eleven little skeins. It's stranded. And it's weaving -- look at the inside.

Too cool. And Susanna is a great teacher. Particularly for those of you, like me, who are former Catholic school students. She kind of reminded me of Sister Jean Albert.

On other, larger needles -- the Mirage pullover is moving along.



Slowly, but at least it's moving.


Lastly, I leave you with a photo of one of the two most beautiful things I have ever made --

Oh, ok, and here she is with her boyfriend