Inspiration! (long)

I've been bad about updating, but that's due to a fulltime job and attending graduate school in the evenings. But I turned in my final project and I've started my next semester, so I can once again pick up my needles and fit in some knitting time between work and school. I can't tell you how badly I wanted to knit during my finals- it shocked me that I've grown so attached to knitting in such a short time.

Panta update: My panta is done except for the last bit of sewing, so I'll try to do that this weekend and take a picture. Luckily, there's still snow scheduled next week so I can wear it at least once (I hope) before spring arrives. In the meantime, I started and finished a basketweave dishcloth out of some Olympic Sugar n Cream leftovers. It's more of a rectangle, but it's pretty and will be useful.

I went to my LYS three times now- actively wanting to buy. I wandered through, touching everything, mulling over one type then another, imagining what I could make. And I left each time with nothing! I can't figure it out! Unless it has something to do with the bin full of yarn I've accumulated since January. Add that to the fact that I'm a new (and therefore slow) knitter who does not have enough knitting time... well, I can see how my stash pile is rapidly outpacing my knitting rate.

So I went home, and carefully inspected my stash. My latest additions were three large one pound cones of Henry's Attic Monty 3/9 merino wool, on which I plan to practice my handpainting when I find a spare weekend. Each pound will give me four pairs of socks. Add that to my 3 skeins of Koigu, and I'll be set for making socks for a long, long time. Even longer when you consider I can't do them yet!

After looking over my stash... I just couldn't decide what to do next. I'm itching to do something but nothing really jumped out at me. All that yarn I have and nothing! So I got out my list of projects that I'd like to do (that are at my skill level).

I'm very much into some of the charity projects, simply for the fact that I can only wear so many scarves and hats, but greatly enjoy the actual knitting of the projects. This way, I can be assured that my end results are going to a good home, and still enjoy the experience of working with a new pattern and learning new techniques, and just enjoying the few minutes of my day where I'm not thinking about work, school, and other stress.

Mother Bear Project
Ships Project
The Dulaan Project
Triangular Shawl Along

And then I came across my inspiration. Project Spectrum.

From the website, the description reads: "The idea of Project Spectrum is simply a celebration of the colors around us, and taking the time to notice them. Each month over a six month span will be devoted to a color group - participants can knit, dye, crochet, weave, spin, stitch, paint, scrapbook, sew, quilt, cook, grow, photograph, bake, or bead items in that color group (of course all arts and crafts not mentioned here also count!).

It is really about expressing yourself creatively - making something beautiful, and creating something unique with your hands. It is also about thinking outside of the box - perhaps taking up a new hobby, or a long neglected one, or finally dabbling in design."

I like it! I love the option of photographs or beads (stitch markers perhaps?) or something else.

The first month is Red/Pink... and I have my lovely cherry red alpaca which is a deeper red than the linked picture would have you believe. It would be perfect for the Triangular Shawl Along that I wanted to do. I also like the fact it is low pressure, so if it takes me a bit longer than the rest of March to knit this shawl, I don't have to do the next month (Yellow/Orange) one. Although that color scheme would be a great excuse... errrr. reason to do my coveted Jayne Hat.

And so... after several (fussy) days of craving to knit but not having any inspiration, I discovered mine.