Fibermania

Last Minute-itus

The Heartbeat Sweater

After packing, the most important thing to do before a trip is to decide on my travel project. I have a long couple of flights to California tomorrow and mostly everything is packed, except my clothes. So the thing I am focusing on, is not "What will I wear in California 60 degree weather?" but what will I knit?

This little pattern is great, with it's central mitered design, and it can be made in any size yarn, with needles of my choice. This is so appealing to me, the optional-ness of it all.

I need a lightweight yarn if I want to pack a lot of it, like 1300 yards, so I went for stash items like this Koigu. I have a lot of different colors, which will probably make the sweater look pretty darn busy, since none of them will be the same. So?

The same goes for this heavier yarn, Noro Kureyon, which I have enough for the whole project, stashwise, but it is much bigger in the suitcase. I have actually begun this sweater four times, but ripped out the entire back (four hours of knitting) when I decided that I didn't like the way another yarn was pooling. (Knitting jargon for large globs of one color in the wrong place).

In my enthusiasm for getting this pattern under my belt before I leave, I have been knitting my arm into injury and must lay off ALL DAY TODAY if I am to forestall boredom at the airport tomorrow.

If the pain is still bad by tomorrow, I will have to read The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain, one of my fave authors. His food oriented show on the Travel Channel is one I watch when Studio 60 isn't on.

Before I leave I feel I must provide sustenance for Dave, so Sunday I made four batches of our fave bread which I baked up yesterday. I love this bread as it requires no kneading, hence the name, No Knead Bread. I will put the recipe in the sidebar.

We had to have some of the whole wheat loaf before the camera could be whipped out.