The Noro Striped Scarf is coming along pleasantly. Despite the initial vile color combos, the evolution of the skeins has been lovely. I'm really enjoying it now. The pattern is so simple, but excellent. I like that I cannot see the yarn carry between stripes. I like that it is reversible and flat without troubled edges. I really like the color changing Noro. However, there is no escaping the fact that I do not like the texture of Noro (though I see no way around this). It reminds me of everything people think they hate about wool: this yarn is definitely not comfortable, and it is itchy, "Silk Garden" in name only.
My usual scarf aversion hasn't kicked in much, which has been a pleasant surprise. It was an even bigger surprise when I didn't lose my knitting mojo while unknitting and re-knitting several rows. The texture held together what was a dropped stitch, making the rows on top of it off-pattern (moss stitch instead of rib). It was a bit of a pain to fix, but somehow I didn't really mind. I also miraculously didn't mind ripping it all out (you heard me right!) when I could not reconcile myself to the width (I perceived it to be perfect for a man's scarf, but too wide for a woman's scarf). So, today was my restart date, casting on 35 stitches this time instead of 39. And yes, those 4 stitches made the difference I wanted. Happily trucking along again. (The picture was taken before I pulled it out.)
Recently, I've been enjoying and learning from the book Buddism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali. It's not pedantic or high-brow. It's very accessible, very realistic, and very applicable to my life. The lessons and messages are deeply resonating with me at the moment. Combined with my (finally resumed!) yoga courses, I'm really taking in the message of mindfulness and being present in the moment. Please don't think I'm crazy when I tell you that this Noro scarf has been almost like a meditation for me. I've noticed that I make mistakes or feel impatient with it only when I allow my thoughts to stray. Straying to stressful or negative subjects makes my stitch tension too tight and mistakes more frequent (and annoying to un-knit); even straying to future thoughts of different projects causes problems and makes me impatient with the task at hand. When I focus on this project as it is, stitch by stitch, I enjoy it in full. Even when I have to rip it out and start over, something I have never before had patience to endure (that was always a sign to change projects), I am still enjoying the process. Marvelous.
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