As many of you know, I set “rules” for myself when it comes to crafting … no more than 3 knitted WIPs at a time and if it doesn’t fit in my stash basket, I don’t need it … just to name two. It may seem a little strange, or even restrictive to do so, but believe me, it saves me from crafting induced insanity and losing all my good circulars in a mountain of WIPs. These “rules” also help me to prioritize. If I start a project that I don’t love, I frog it and save the yarn for something I feel it is more suited towards. I also seem to have a sub-conscious rule that I absolutely MUST have a shawl in-progress at all times.
Enter Lichen Mists by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud.
I was gifted this beautiful pattern from my dear friend Tina (thank you so much!) and I knew immediately what yarn this shawl would be knit in … Nevermore. I have had this special skein of handspun sitting in my stash like a treasured jewel since 2011. I would take it out, admire it, contemplate using it for a project and then put it back because it just didn’t feel right yet. When I wound it into a ball and started knitting my Lichen Mists with it, the feeling was YES! This skein of yarn was WAITING for this project.
Lichen Mists is a beautifully written pattern for an elegant lace shawl/shawlette that can be worked up in either lace or fingering weight yarns. It is perfect for any yarn that has nice drape and a bit of silkiness to it, as this handspun does. The pattern is also slightly addictive. I’ve knit half my shawl already and am eager to knit some more!
So do you save “special” balls of yarn like I do? Do you make crafting “rules” for yourself? I’d love to hear!
