Not Forlorn

I'll admit I'm not known for my grasp of the English language. I scored about 200 points lower on the verbal verse the math SATs. At some point, I just assumed I would never be good at writing and stopped trying because I was a "math/science" person.  I accept I made this choice and now try to be more conscious of expanding my knowledge of grammar. But stereotypes do cause a mental block in people.  I'm not the only one that gets it in their head that because they are "x" type of person they won't be good at "y" and set up walls to keep themselves from getting hurt by being bad.  It stops them from really trying to be their best.  I think it's a big reason that there aren't more women in STEM fields. In middle/high school girls are told they won't be good at math or science because they are girls so they just stop trying. But I sidetrack myself, back to the point.

I was about to start this post with the word "forlorn" to describe a hibernating project that I picked back up over the weekend,  I thought I should probably look it up first

From Google Define:

Adjective Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely: "forlorn figures at bus stops". (of an aim or endeavor) Unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless: "a forlorn attempt to escape".

Well that is a pretty depressing word. "Unlikely to succeed" is especially sad and probably not a word I should use for a project that I've had trouble with but would like to finish at some point. Thank you blog writing for giving me the chance to solidify my understanding of words a bit more.

I started the Strobilus Pullover last spring but never really got into it. I only knit a few inches before ripping it out and putting it away. Something just didn't click and I kept screwing up the lace or I'd try to swatch and it wouldn't work.  It's a great design,. A tee made from a spiraling lace pattern, using a heavier weight yarn to make a lighter weight garment.  When a big sale at In the Loop rolled around, I thought perfect! I found some Misti Alpaca for 30% off in beautiful colors, it was fate, right? I decided over the weekend to give it another shot and see if I could check it off my WIP/hibernating list.

Well.... I'm a little worried, for the same reasons I put it away last year. The pattern called for a bulky 10% cashmere, 90% merino. It's supposed to grow when blocked. I chose a worsted 50% merino, 50% alpaca blend which is known to grow a lot..... My bust is around 43" depending on the bra I'm wearing, plus 2" of positive ease puts me closer to the 45" size but because of growing issues I'm going to knit the 42" size on smaller needles and we'll see what happens. I'm taking a leap of knitting faith and thinking that if it grows, it grows and it will be a baggier sweater, o well.  Mind you I haven't really swatched because it's knit in a spiral lace in the round and my gauge swatches never looked right compared to when I knit a full few rounds. Wish me luck on this.  And, I need  to find a better word for this project, it's not forlorn, because I will finish it! But it's...... a challenge?

Also, aren't those new addi lace tips pretty?