The agony and the ecstasy

I generally tend to consider myself a process versus a product knitter. I enjoy the act of knitting in and of itself, everything about it is soothing and calming to me. Maybe that's why I don't mind giving the product of countless hours of work away. By the time the finished object, be it a hat, a shawl, or a pair of socks, is off my needles, I've pretty much been there and done that. I've experienced the agony and the ecstasy, and I can let it go.

These mittens though, were supposed to be for me. I had been deeply smitten with this pattern for months, I dilly-dallied for the longest time on buying the appropriate yarn to cast them on. These were no ordinary mittens. They were going to be spectacular, I tell you. When I cast on for these babies, I knew it was the beginning of a beautiful journey, one that would earn me the recognition and respect of maybe dozens of knitters everywhere.

And they ARE fabulous, aren't they? Just look at those colours! Look at those (mostly)even stitches! Yup, this is one FINE mitten... The only trouble is that it's about the size of an oven-mitt, and I've got teeny hands to begin with.

Now.... knitting anything that comes in pairs requires enough stamina and determination as it is. But when you KNOW that there's NO WAY in heck that you'll ever wear these mittens you're slaving over? It truly is agony.

Luckily, I've got other projects to keep me out from throwing myself into the fun-fur in a fit of desperation.

The Rococo shawl, which is rapidly becoming an all-consuming passion for me. The simple yet elegant pattern, the yarn... Ah, this shawl is what knitting is all about, my friends.

And there's more where that came from. I'll be casting on for the Milkweed shawl with some lovely Casbah just as soon as I'm done with Rococo... and, you know.... the second mitten.

Happy Knitting Everyone!