Just Call Me Crazy

With two shawls just recently off the needles, I had to get something started. Right? It's not like I have nothing else to work on, but, for some reason I just have to have some lace going. I did say that I'd be starting Icarus again... and I did.

Even though I woke up with a blinding headache on Saturday, I cast on and got Icarus off to a great start. For those of you who may not remember, I knitted Icarus once before, about two years ago now, I think. Once it was off the needles, I discovered two small holes in the center of the shawl. I was able to repair one of the holes, but the second one was beyond me, so I frogged the entire shawl. Fortunately, when I had purchased the yarn (Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk blend), I'd bought two balls. That means I have more than enough to remake the shawl.

As of last night, here's how it's looking...

This part of the shawl is pretty close to being mindless, which makes it perfect for Stanley Cup playoff watching (great first game, wasn't it??). I'm loving the rhythm of this shawl, at this point. I know once I get to the edging, it will demand more concentration, but by that time the playoffs will be over and I'll be able to give it the time it needs. And, having knitted this shawl before, I know what to expect. Piece of cake.

Then, again, because I finished TWO shawls in the last two weeks, I cast on for another one. See? Crazy!

I read about this one in Ravelry and found a knitalong for it as well, so I decided it would be the perfect shawl for my mom (if any of my sisters, or family, are reading this DON'T TELL MOM!!). She knows I was planning on knitting a shawl for her; she promised she'd wear it while watching tv in the evenings, when she gets chilly. That's good enough for me. (I'm actually knitting two shawls for her... this one and a very plain, cushy one out of a boucle yarn from Michael's... no, I won't post pictures of that one.. it's very plain, trust me.)

Anyway, it's Evelyn A. Clark's Heartland Lace Shawl, a free download on Evelyn's website. I'm using the leftover Jarbogarn Gastrike 1 ply lace weight yarn, leftover from the Evolution Pi Shawl. So far, I've completed one repeat and I really like it (it will be difficult to part with it, I'm thinking). This one does demand concentration, but it will be worth it; it certainly isn't a difficult pattern to follow and Evelyn writes her patterns well. It has both charts and written instructions, including directions for making the shawl larger.

Here's the Heartland Lace shawl after one completed repeat...

Told you I'm crazy, but I do love laceknitting. It gives so much satisfaction.... and there's no sewing anything together!

Back to my knitting. I was going to go to work today, but, while waiting for the bus, my neck went ping and gave me an instant migraine. I'm on muscle relaxants right now (so, if there are typos, blame them on the meds) so, hopefully, I'll be okay to work tomorrow. For today, I'm just taking it very easy... knitting.