The last few months I have struggled with my knitting mojo. I had a list of things I needed to knit and somehow my love of the craft just withered as I soldiered on with my long list. Fortunately I came to my senses and my long list of need-to-knit projects has been put aside. I still have things I need to knit, but I have realised the best way will be to mix my need projects with want projects. Funnily enough it was one of my need projects which got me back on track. I was knitting a hot water bottle cosy out of Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK - and the combination of soothing garterstitch and beautiful, soft rustic yarn reminded me just why I love knitting so much. I finished the project quickly (so quickly I did not manage any photos or even a Ravelry entry) and saw my knitting mojo return. Phew.

So I have cast on for a new project. So far it does not look like much but it is the type of project which I seriously love. I am knitting the Dew Drops Shawl (rav link) in Navia Uno, a Faroese 2-ply yarn.

The yarn is a mix of Faroese wool, Shetland wool and Australian lambswool and I'm really enjoying working with it. I got it for Christmas last year and I think I'll put it on my wish list again. The yarn has a wonderful complexity to it: it is stringy and rustic but makes an amazingly soft and light fabric. I still prefer the Snældan 1-ply, mainly because it is less blended (and I'm looking forward to trying Sirri which I know that I can find in Copenhagen) but knitting with Navia Uno is such a pleasure.

Speaking of knitting pleasure, I wonder how I will ever go back to other alpaca yarns after using RYC Baby Alpaca. It makes me sigh with pleasure every time I use it and my knitting is often interrupted by me needing to touch the knitted fabric.

Yes, I am still knitting my Lumley.

It is working up beautifully and as I have noted earlier, I'm full of admiration for Kim Hargreaves. She understands shaping, knows how to manipulate knitted fabric, and adds tiny, immaculate flourishes. It has just been a bumpy ride for me and I have had to set up a spreadsheet in order to navigate her ..and at the same time .. instructions. The back was straightforward, but the fronts have been a lesson in keeping notes, setting up a five-page spreadsheet and knowing your place in the pattern. There is a reason for the madness and I have grown as a knitter. The end result is a delicately sloped front with a slightly biased fabric and pretty picots.

One back and one front down - but at least now I have a spreadsheet so I can quickly knit the other front. Then I face the sleeves, but I think they are so straightforward I might be able to knit them both at the same time. Huzzah!

Idle thoughts on future projects: + I am now seriously considering a knitted dress following a conversation with Lilith. I am still trying to decide if I have gone mad or not. + I am itching to start Inga, a crocheted cardigan, but I'm waiting for three of the colours to get back into stock at my local yarn pusher. I had considered doing Inga in a grey-white colour scheme, but I've now decided to stick with the original colours. I hardly ever use the original yarn or colours for a project, so that will be interesting. + Finally, I need gloves to match my Idunn hat. I have 75% percent of one ball left in the colourway used, so I think I'll need to poke about my stash in order to see if I can come up with a suitable colour combination.

Yay! Knitting mojo is back.