I am home briefly between family-related road trips (3 trips in 2 weeks!) and am posting another “swatch” from earlier in the year when I was considering starting my blog. (Note: I am still reading Lord Peter and am still working on the socks).

This winter, when I am not staying up too late knitting (or, I confess, after I have stayed up too late knitting), I have been staying up too late reading Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries (thank you, Dorothy Sayers!). Pattern-seeker that I am (as in one who tends to see patterns in life, not as one who continually searches for knitting patterns – I am that, too, of course, but back to Lord Peter), I have noticed that good knitting stories are much like good murder mysteries (okay, you knew we would get around to knitting!).
For example, The Mystery of the Uncooperative Heel Flap is a fairly good story. There are conflicts and missteps and a good villain and resolution (by the way, I have turned the heel, picked up the heel stitches, and am cruising along on the gusset decreases). I majored in English Writing in college and so am familiar with these things.
On the flip side, The Good Cable Sweater does not make good blog fodder. It is sheer bliss to knit. The pattern is striking. The fit of the tunic is loose and so not-to-worry. The merino is doing what it has been bred for generations to do. No story here.
I can imagine a sonnet or an ode, sort of an adoring love tribute toThe Fair Cable Sweater Who Has Captured My Heart (anthropomorphism seems appropriate here, tho I generally find it over-used). I will not write one, however, as that would seem to tempt the Knitting Sprites and I would find myself twisting my cables left instead of right or something of that nature.
I find I like having both murder mysteries and sonnets in my knitting (as well as my literary) life. There is nothing quite like solving a puzzle or out-witting a charming but difficult yarn. And while it is distressing to discover that occasionally I, myself, am the murderer, it is reassuring to know that the victim can usually be resurrected.