I’ve decided to start on a new project. Just saying that makes my brain do summersaults in my head. How could I start one more thing in my life when I already have a few things in the works. I know what happens to me when there are too many things wanting, and deserving of, my time. It gets to a point where my brain wants to shut down and go dark. It’s happened before. You know you have to pick something up and finish it or do more, but the brain doesn’t allow you to move. You sit there, possibly watch something on the TV or the phone or, quite possibly, simply sit there and stare into the distance.
As I’ve written about before, I love to crochet. I think it’s one of the most calming things we can do with our hands and minds. People would argue with me and tell me that it takes too much thought and there’s too many numbers to repeat in silence. What about the carpel tunnel? It’s true, people can develop issues with their wrists. My friend Viki had issues with it after crocheting and quilting. Everything has its drawbacks. If it’s fun, there’s going to be a negative. Isn’t that part of being human?
I have decided to crochet a cardigan. Every time I say “cardigan”, my mind turns into a jukebox and I hear, “Dear I fear we’re facing a problem” which are the first words to Lovefool by The Cardigans. I downloaded the pattern from Hobbi a while back and have been meaning to start. It is crocheted in the half-double stitch (American lingo). The feel of the pattern is turning out to be so wonderful. Very tactile! It begins with chaining 161 for S/M (172 for L/XL) and then chaining one at the beginning of every new row. Working in the back loops going back and forth for 96 (106) rows creates a cording like pattern that feels so nice. I am currently on row 21 and I feel like I have forever left. With that wide of a work, you can imagine that it takes a while to go back and forth to form a row.
I’ll update more later when the cardigan starts taking shape.