On the Needles (or off)

Happy Super Tuesday! If you live in the United States, I hope you have, or are planning to vote today. Regardless of who you vote for, I just hope you exercise your right to vote.

We voted two weeks ago – I love early voting!

I thought I’d share with you some of the recent yarn projects I’ve been working on. It seems the more hectic life gets, the more I have retreated in my free time into my yarn crafts. I think it is because it is simple, repetitive, tactile and relaxing. I don’t have to think. I don’t have to plan. I don’t have to react. I can just sit quietly and weave the yarn and watch something beautiful develop. And right now, for me, that is very therapeutic.

I’ve finished this little item –

But I can’t share more with you (yet) as it is a gift and I want to give it to my special someone first before doing any more of a reveal.

I also decided on Saturday that I wanted to finish my shawl – the one I had earmarked as my “church shawl” – that I would wear on Sundays in Church when they have the air conditioning on “freeze yer hiney off” and I am shivering.

I’ve been working on it off and on for a month or two. I ran out of yarn, had to order more, and then finally decided it was getting cold enough that I really needed to focus on finishing so I wouldn’t turn into a popsicle in church on Sunday.

It’s a basic shawl – a big rectangle, really. I did it in a half-double crochet and then made a ruffle on the ends by doing four double crochets in each loop. I think it turned out really pretty.

The yarn is Lion Brand Homespun in Ocean. Mom had given it to me a few years ago as part of a yarn package Christmas gift. The yarn is a pain to knit with but it wasn’t too bad to crochet with. I used a large needle (L, I think) and tried really hard to control my tension (in more ways than one!)

It was serendipitous that the colors actually match the colors on our volunteer “uniform” shirts for church. So, I look very coordinated, even though it was a total accident.

And, I used it on Sunday. It was so warm – like snuggling in a blanket!

Although, I have to say, I think my model is even more beautiful than my shawl! Don’t you?!?

Now, I’m vacillating between which project to do next. Finish the shawl that seems to be turning into a lap blanket? Start a scarf and hat project that will be quick and easy? Tackle some finer yarns that I’ve purchased because I love but am afraid to do something with for fear of messing it up?

Decisions, Decisions.

I’m sure I’ll figure something out.

I’ve got plenty of yarn to choose from. That’s for sure!