Nope, no finished objects for me this week. My monogamous knitting lately has been my Sea Swell Shawl, but it’s annoying me right now. It’s made up of left and right wedges, all done with short rows, and is designed as a fade with either three or five colors. But when you fade in a color on a left wedge (as happens once in the pattern), the new color starts on the wrong side. The other option is to start the new color in the middle of the row, but then when you get back to that part, the working yarn is a few stitches down because of the short row. Argh! This probably makes very little sense, but let me assure you, it bugs me just a little. I got the new color joined and did a few rows and now I’m bored with garter stitch short rows.
So yesterday I said to heck with monogamy and picked up my newest sock project. This is my Show Me Yarn Bootheel yarn in the Stained Glass Menagerie color, and it was so light and airy that I needed a lace pattern to go with it. I ended up picking the Mercury Socks pattern, which is free on Ravelry.
It’s a simple five-row lace pattern, so while I have to keep the pattern handy, it’s not taxing my brain too much. These will be perfect spring socks!
It’s weird, though, because the last two or three weeks, I’ve been doing things other than knitting. I did puzzles for a while, but got burned out on those I think. I’ve been reading a lot, and recently I’ve loved 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, and Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan. My last read was a stinker so hopefully the next one will get me back on track. I’m thinking Odd One Out by Nic Stone. I’ve also gotten back into LEGOs, which I never would have expected. I loved building the boy’s old Harry Potter LEGO sets a couple of months ago. Something about creating order from all the pieces, and the concentration required, was soothing and satisfying. But the sets he has left are Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, and they don’t call to me. So I ordered the Friends LEGO set, and I did one bag a day, which gave me six days of fun. And it hasn’t abated: I’ve already ordered my next set, a lunar landing module. These are crazy times, friends! Have you taken up any unexpected hobbies lately?
bonnyknits 
Well, what you did with the shawl looks great. Really. We are always our worst critics, but I think when it is wrapped around your shoulders, the areas where the new color is added won’t be so obvious. I love your color choices. That sock yarn is sooo pretty! Perfect pattern to show it off.
Thank you!
The shawl looks great, but I can see where garter stitch short rows would get tiresome. I love the pattern choice for the sock!
LEGO sets are great. I haven’t done any in years, but they were always a fun pastime when I was a kid.
I don’t remember doing a lot of legos as a kid, so maybe I’m making up for it now. 🙂
LEGO was something my sister and I could share when we were kids. Our creativity runs in different directions (mine toward the planned and scheduled, hers much more spontaneous) but we could combine them in playing with LEGO.
Ohh those socks! I’ve been rediscovering reading again, and early on I got really into a computer game I played in colllege.
Yes! It’s so nice to fall into reading again.
Your socks look stunning. I haven’t taken up any new hobbies, just rekindled my love of drinking and loathing of packing.
Oh lord. Five years ago at this time, I was in your shoes. You have my deepest sympathies.
Loving the socks! I’m not a fan of shawls in general but this
Is beautiful and gorgeous colours. I’ve wasted a lot of time with puzzles, played my ukelele more, made baskets and driftwood stuff…. and certainly didn’t expect to be sewing face masks!
Sounds like you’ve been busy with lots of fun stuff!
I don’t think I would enjoy knitting that shawl pattern. But it looks good! I’m going to start playing DND with my boys, although it’s a sci-fi gumshoe version. I’ve never played any role playing games before, so this will be new!
I haven’t either! Hope you enjoy it!
I love your shawl. I’ve never knit short rows. I’m afraid I’ll mess it up. The yarn, project bag and socks I love. I downloaded the sock pattern and hope the yarn to go with it soon.
I was scared of short rows at first, but they’re really not that difficult. I bet you’ll get there someday!
Your shawl and your socks are looking great! The shawl looks like a real project – good to have something to alternate with 🙂 I haven’t gotten into anything unexpected – just more of the same. I seem to be double extra nerding out on knitting right now. Your Friends lego set is so fun! We had legos when I was little, but it wasn’t kits, just a big assortment of different blocks.
Hehe all I ever did with lego when I was little was build rectangular houses. Maybe I should try something more complicated now.
The sock looks gorgeous, definitely a good match for the yarn.
Haha, yeah, that’s about all I can do without instructions!