Next Knitting Project?

I want to start something new. One of my family members will be in the hospital next month, and I'm looking for a project that is easily picked up and put down while I'm visiting.

Last month I took out the yarn (bought five years ago already!) and pattern for the Lace Ribbon Scarf. After three swatches with the substitute yarn, I finally got gauge, and started the actual pattern. You know what? Four rows in, and already know I'm not going to like it.

 

In the pattern photo, the original yarn (Classic Elite Alpaca Sox) has a fine texture to it, a more delicate look. My yarn does not. This is especially noticeable on the back, which is not reversible, and not pretty:

 

It looks a little too "homemade" to me, especially from the back side.

Nonreversible scarves didn't always bother me, but for some reason, they do now.

So, back to the queue and the stash to see what other possibilities there are. Annis and its larger version, the Buttercup Shawl, are possibilities, as is Rosewood. I keep going back and forth on the Sweet Lily shawl too. I want the project to be something I totally love to keep me motivated, and also something without any finish work, as I am still "finishing" the Vogue A-Line skirt embroidery and the little roses for the other scarf. 

I haven't ruled out a sweater, but I only have yarn for heavy winter sweaters, which I'm not ready to start just in case summer decides it is finally going to arrive. (Sixty degrees in June?! Really?!!!) And I still have the Noni purse patterns, but reading them is a little difficult even when I do have quiet to concentrate (nevermind a hospital!). So...I'll keep working on the little roses until I finally decide on something. Does this happen to you too? How do you decide what to knit, when you're not gift knitting and are making something for you? Maybe when I find just the right thing, I'll know for sure.

Last weekend, for our anniversary, Chris gave me an oriole feeder. I've never seen an oriole in real life, but, for some reason, they intrigue me, the way some people are captured by hummingbirds.

I haven't had any visitors yet, so today we're going to move the feeder to the backyard, away from the house, and see if that helps. This birdfeeding thing is pretty new to me; I've got a goldfinch feeder and have been putting out a few suet cakes too. We've seen some red-headed woodpeckers and bright red finches, along with a lot of grackles that I'd rather not feed. Do you feed the birds in your area? What visitors do you have? I'd love to hear about them!

Comments

[Sarah]

That scarf doesn't look like you--good to find that out in just the first few rows rather than after a lot of work on it! Sorry to hear your family member will be in hospital. I think we get similar birds to you here--I love all the cardinals.

[betty]

I never really have trouble deciding what to knit. I mainly knit sweaters, and there are always plenty of patterns to choose from. I sort of base it on what yarn I want to knit with.

We get plenty of birds on our feeder, but I've never really paid that much attention to what they are! I think I see thrashers and finches more than anything else. Robins also bathe in my small pond quite often. We get a lot of ravens high in the trees, but they don't feed on the feeder. Hummingbirds also hang around quite a bit. Doves sit on the phone and power lines.

[a different Julia]

When we try to feed the birds, we end up feeding the squirrels instead.

Have you knit while sitting in the hospital before? If you don't have personal experience with it, I would suggest you start with something dead simple, or at least have something simple as a backup. I've had to do it a few times, and it's as if the stress sends all my thinking skills out the window. If there is much of anything to keep up with in the pattern, I can't do it. And that makes me frustrated--I SHOULD be able to do this--and so now I stick to easy things in those situations. Other people seem to have no problem, though.

Best wishes to the patient.

[2paw]

Oh, how disappointing that your scarf is not what you expected. I hope you find a nice replacement!!
We have kookaburras at the dam and cockatoos and parakeets and doves and blackbirds and little annoying sparrows!! There are lots of native trees in our area so the small honey eater kind of birds are encourages. We have seagulls too. Flocks of them!!

[Jodi]

Ooh, I love Annis! I can see why you're not sold on the lace ribbon scarf pattern/yarn combo. Onward and upward. Hope all goes well for your family member.

[Kristen]

It's good you found out the yarn and pattern weren't the right match before you got too far along.
We've had more birds - and SQUIRRELS - in the yard now that we're down to one non-hunting cat. I hope you attract orioles. We had a pair nest every year at my parents' house.
May all go well with your relative.