Sometimes it’s really hard to keep myself from casting on for 15 different projects at once.  I have to remind myself that I really hate the feeling I get when I’m overextended, and set goals for which the reward is starting something new.  I promised myself I could swatch for the Open Waters stole as soon as I finished the body for the hex cardigan.

Mission accomplished!  It occurs to me that I’m basically knitting one and a half of these sweaters, since I got through the first front on the other one before realizing my gauge tragedy.  This one measures just what I would like.  I’ve started on the first sleeve, and what a relief stockinette is after all those hexagons!

I have a lot of sweaters I would like to make soon, but I’ve decided that first I will start a shawl, since I have fewer of those in my wardrobe.  You may remember that I was planning on using Manos wool/silk blend for the Open Waters shawl, but it didn’t work out.  Instead, I’m using another lovely wool/silk blend.

Here is my swatch.

I can’t get over how pretty this yarn is – it looks like all the colors of the rainbow reflecting on black.  I may make a few modifications to the pattern, but I’m not sure yet.   The swatch, once blocked, gets gauge perfectly on size 8 needles.  The reason I have yarn through the top is that it’s knit at a slightly looser gauge than the yarn calls for, and it distorts the measurements if I bind off, at least in such a small piece.  I will also need to cast on with larger needles.  The pattern calls for Lion & Lamb, but this is about half the price, and I like the color selection better.