Sisu is the Finnish word for tenacity (sometimes also described as stubbornness).  It is a characteristic shared by Finns — passed on via both nature and nurture, as far as I can see — and flows in our blood along with coffee and a rather dark sense of humor.  I am 100% Finnish-American.

Is it any wonder my heritage would influence my knitting?  I had never really seen it before, but it became obvious as I power through my Fall projects — all of which are long and multitudinous of row.  And all of the most simple stitch patterns.  Oh, there is some patterning and shaping in all of them, but even the lace in The Triangle Thing That Needs A Better Name is straightforward.  It has grown to more than 250 stitches per row — and will keep increasing until I run out of yarn!  

The Vertices Unite shawl is legions of knit stitches.  

The Caramel cardigan is basically (and brilliantly) a blanket with sleeves.  And speaking of blankets, Colette's Yzma Blanket is 216 stitches wide with enough twisted stitches and 1/1 cables to keep one's pace sedate.  

The Clapotis scarf is a pretty little dance — on the edge of a cliff (don't mis-step or your dropped stitches bordered by twisted stitches will become a pretty little disaster).  It is completely fabulous!

My 'Hawks Sock is merely sock-ish in stitch count — but if the Seahawks don't start playing better football, my interest may wane.  Tho I will keep rooting for the 'Hawks and knitting the socks — that's the Sisu speaking!

In fact, Sisu is running rampant through my knitting.  Bolstering me, nagging me, driving me on — and not letting me even consider dropping one or two projects– just for a bit — so I can get something finished!  No, we will all proceed together, row by row, pattern repeat by pattern repeat.  Four rows of lace, then 12 rows of Clapotis, then as many rows of Vertices as it takes to finish that third episode of Walking Dead last night.  The Yzma Blanket traveled to and from Portland with me on Wednesday and is my official World Series knitting.  I work on the Caramel when I Facetime with Sarah or when I read Game of Thrones.  The 'Hawks Sock is for football games.

I love each project — love all the yarns.  And, by all that is Finnish in me, they will all get done — or none will get done!

Looming just beyond Halloween is the Christmas knitting!  Sarah and I are already plotting…So, "none will get done" is a distinct possiblity… At least, not this Fall.  But I have hope!  And I have Sisu!  And I have a lot of coffee!