Unreasonable Knit Expectations

I don’t know what it is about Rhinebeck (or any big fiber event) that makes me want to set even more unrealistic knitting goals than I already do.

I know one of the reasons is that when you attend a big fiber event it’s like you’re walking through a fashion show of glorious hand knit and crochet gems. I want to wear something I’m really excited about because I’m sharing it with this whole community of fiber lovers.

Many people are sporting their Ravelry ID buttons. Whether you’re walking around, on line for food, or shopping for fiber goodies, people will comment on what you’re wearing. It’s like Ravelry comes alive. Instead of clicking the like button, you tap someone on the shoulder (or reach out and touch the knitted item) and tell them you like it. I had someone last year comment on a shawl I was wearing that was in her queue and seeing it helped her and she was excited to start it.

That’s clicking the help button.

When you see something you like, you can most likely find it at the festival.

That’s clicking the favorites button.

Last year I went with a plan. I don’t remember what it was because I was so distracted by my new favorites that I immediately had new quests.

This brings me the long way back to unreasonable knit expectations. Somewhere around the beginning of September I start to think about my acquisitions at Rhinebeck the year before. Did I knit with (any) of what I bought? Most of us have stash that lies around for months or years. Somehow I feel the need to knit at least one thing from Rhinebeck. It’s almost like it’s my pre-admission ticket.

I’m doing reasonably well with this.

I knit Just Enough Ruffles with Creatively Dyed Yarns, Carnival in the Dress colorway.

I incorporated a brilliant skein of Great Adirondack yarn into sev[en] circle. I’m also halfway through Ishbel, a shawl I admired over and over again.

Now with 10 days till Rhinebeck I have this very unrealistic desire to finish the sweater I fell in love with last year. It’s Ysolda Teague’s Vine Yoke Cardigan from the 2009 Twist Collective webzine.I started it last year and stopped after the right front.

Time will tell. If you don’t see me wearing it, please be kind and don’t ask!