Last night Sheri announced the details of Project 2 for Camp Loopy. Basically, the project has to have at lest one color from your country’s flag and it has to use at least 800 yards.
How long do you think it took me to figure out what to knit? Too long! What do you think I decided to knit? I’m still not sure! Do you think everything red or blue or white or gold (or even close to those colors) in my favorite yarns might be sold out within seconds of the details being posted? Yes! How many times do you think I said “forget it . . I’m not even doing Project 2!”? At least three times and it’s only been about 12 hours since the details were posted.
Here are some of the factors contributing to my dilemma.
- I could make a sweater but I’ve never made a sweater so I can’t convince myself to try that when I have a month to get the whole project done and a garden and produce to take care of also.
- I could make a large shawl but I made several last year and never once used any of them.
- It never gets hot here!
I searched Ravelry and I searched my knitting magazines and I read the posts about what others were making. I printed free patterns. I printed saved patterns from my computer. I bought new patterns. I was kinda leaning towards a cape type project. I do not like long sleeves . . ever! Since we hardly ever use heat, it’s sometimes a bit chilly in the house in the winter so I thought a cape might be comfortable. My arms would be free. It isn’t like a shawl that I’m feeling like I have to hang onto. I could see us sitting out on that big old front porch on the cool fall evenings, sipping a glass of wine, planning my new kitchen, talking about life and keeping snuggly warm with my cape.
With each “almost decision”, I had to choose yarn. There had to be enough yarn to make that project. I put yarn in my cart and then changed my mind about the project and took all that yarn out and added more yarn. This went on and on . . I think I filled my cart and dumped it three times. Good thing I wasn’t at a real shop or they would probably have asked me to leave.
Finally, after hours and hours, the decision was made – The Cranberry Capelet. I love everything about this except that turtleneck and I think I’ve read enough about it that I can chance it and not have the turtleneck.
This is my real cart . . I probably have the needles and I do have a set of interchangeable needles but I didn’t want to get everything here and not have the needles so I bought more. Since I’m not real sure about what I’m doing with the collar, I got one of the least expensive yarns and it’s superwash – into the washer and dryer they say. If I like it, I’ll probably wear it almost every day this winter. That’s how I am with clothes. This year I found shorts I like at Sam’s Club. I always shop at those high priced, exclusive type shops! 
I loved them and ordered more so every day, I have on the same thing. Doesn’t bother me one bit and so far, only the cows, chickens and Speck see me and they haven’t complained one bit.
With the decision made for Camp Loopy Project 2, and the morning wasted, I vacuumed and got a roast in the oven. Now it’s time for Vince to be home for lunch and when he leaves, I’ll go to the sewing room and spend the afternoon there . . I hope!
Jevne says
With all you do on a daily basis, Judy, I don’t know how you find time to knit a sweater! If you’re looking for another project in the future, you might consider a poncho, they’re easy to wear and easy to knit….no sleeves or ribbing, I can’t remember how the neck was finished except that it was a v-neck. Been a long time since my daughters were little girls and I knitted ponchos. My first knitting project, when I was in high school, was a cabled sweater for my boyfriend, pattern from book my mom had from the 40’s, knitted on size 3 needles. Yikes! I would never attempt that again!
Doreen says
Really like that capelet!!! Go for it!
Denise ~ justquiltin says
Dang – why was I thinking 600 yards even tho I know I read 800 yards?? Now I have to come up with a different project and I emailed TLE to see if they can add an extra hank to my order or if I have to place another order hoping they aren’t out of that yarn. LOL
Shirley Albertson Owens (sao) says
Oh Judy – now I don’t feel so terrible ABOUT doing the exact same thing…….printing patterns, buying new ones, filling my car and emptying it again…….I even bought needles even though I probably have the ones that I need…….just in case!
After a great deal of anguish……I finally decided on the LINE BREAK SHAWL 🙂
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/line-break
using Swans Island Coral Red merino…..have you ever used this yarn?
http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/yarn/swans-island/dyers-choice-limited-edition/yf-120-coral-red/
If you went through the same thing selecting your PROJECT 2 then I know that I am in good company!!!
sao in Midlothian, VA
Krista says
I spent hours last night doing the same thing. With only 2 colours to choose from, I had trouble getting excited about my project, but I finally found one, and a nice variegated red (pink) yarn that I think I’ll like. Your project looks great – although I don’t know how you find time to do all that knitting. When you said you were going to knit 2 skeins on your baby blanket this week, I was amazed.
MaryD in SC says
That’s too funny Judy. It didn’t take me long to decide on Stripe Study Shawl but the colors tormented me. Got up at 4:30am and add yarns to my wishlist and deleted them and added them again – then right before I headed to work I placee my order. Now I am second guessing the yarns.
Sandy in Canada says
It seems like Sheri planned a real doozer for Camp Loopy Project 2. I think I have decided not to participate. My colour choices are red and white, neither of which I wear. I did scout around TLE website for something that I liked that might pass as red, but struck out. Maybe that’s because everyone else did their shopping before me! Besides, I don’t want to make something right now that takes 800 yd of yarn! So there! Hahaha I have plenty of yarn to use up, so I will sit this one out.
Mel Meister says
I’m going with the No Fuss Shade Loving Shawl: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/no-fuss-shade-loving-shawl in
Steam Age (blue is the country color):
http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/yarn/madelinetosh/tosh-sport/steam-age/
I’m not sure I’ll be able to do this. 800 yards is a LOT to knit up!
Jenny Day says
I’m the same way with clothes. I found a pair of black yoga pants I like, I now own four pairs, plus a capri-length pair!