The Red Sweater

I have been so busy, not that you would know it from this blog (or perhaps you would - where’d she go?). First things first, thanks so much for the input on my horse blanket, I mean, felted sweater below. I’ve decided to attach the collar - I think it adds balance. And really, it’s so warm that I will only be able to wear it anyway skiing in a snow storm, and then I would want the collar.

I’ve been working from home since Monday and you would think that this would enhance secret breaks for my knitting, but I actually ended up working many more hours than normal without the daily luncheon with my needles. So today, I am happy to be back at work and looking at taking lunch in half an hour. My projects are very scattered right now. I have a baby cardie to sew up, but I need to steam the edges flat first. I just finished my first design (!) to be submitted to Knitty if I can get a decent picture taken in this constant rain and the pattern typed up - I think I’ll do that tonight. I started a pair of felted clogs for Bob but I’ve left those in the basket next to the couch at home. In fact, I’ve just realized, as I’m typing this, that I’m so out of practice, I’ve completely forgotten altogether my knitting basket full of my scattered projects, sitting next to the couch at home. I think in the back of my mind I thought I would get started on the two balls of red alpaca I have waiting for my own Bucket-o-chic hat, but alas.

So, now I’m at a loss. Which brings up another point, if you don’t mind my rambling on for a moment. I’ve been wondering lately, as I see that my obsession with knitting is not slowing, if what I’ve done in quitting smoking was to trade one addiction for another. I do feel withdrawals when I haven’t knit for a day (or, really, let’s admit it, a few hours). When I get a break at work, instead of heading outside for a smoke, I jump online and check out my favorite design sites or yarn stores or eBay. As I’m falling asleep at night, I find myself thinking of projects I have going or ones I want to start. Do I have a problem? Is this common? Normal? (Do I care?) Not really, but it’s just another knitting-related topic to overanalyze…