Because sometimes I simply cannot help myself, this week I cast on for some shawls. Not one, not two, but THREE new projects. Ack.
First up: CEY’s popular Abstract with some gorgeous cashmere yarn I picked up at such a discount that I am ashamed to admit it in public. I have 136 grams of Wicked, and I am making the softest most beautiful-est shawl/scarf ever. It is completely spoiling me for all other yarns forever, because knitting with cashmere is like … well, like nothing else I’ve ever knit with. Yum. The work is humming right along — should be a quick project to finish.
Later in the week, I got really impatient waiting for the next clue on a mystery lace KAL to come out, so (logically) I cast on for a Echo Flower shawl using some Shadow Tonal in Deep Waters. I’d originally meant the yarn to be something else, but then changed my mind. So this doesn’t really count as a new project, right?
This did not cure my KAL waiting blues however, and after seeing so many gorgeous lace-weight projects go up on the KAL thread, I caved in and bought some Malabrigo Lace at the shop, and cast on last night, and finished the first clue. You can see where this is headed … I finished Clue 3 on the original mystery today, and I’m halfway through clue 2 on the lace-weight one. Help? Also: we will not discuss the four skeins of Tosh Light that are already destined for three different lace projects. Will not!
Remily Knits 
Oooh, I really like that Archangel colourway!
It’s funny … it looked really yellow and garish in the shop, but once I got it re-wound and in natural light, it’s a lot prettier than I expected.
This is off the subject, but I want to know when to block a sweater? Is it before the sweater is assembled or after.
I usually block before making up a sweater. It’s easier to block smaller, flat pieces of knit fabric, and it’s easier to seam blocked fabric. Also, if blocking is going to reveal problems with the sweater, I’d rather find out before I’ve put in the time and effort to seam it up.