I say spin for the gansey while knitting the mango shell. Selfishness??? No one says someone spending hours a week, say, skateboarding is selfish and should be doing it for someone else!

That last part about not selecting based on entertainment value was a necessary addition.

If we're not talking about what would be funniest, I say shawl, mostly because I'd love to see a new design.

I love the tank - with modifications, of course. Where do I find the pattern?

Janine's right, though. You could spin for the gansey on Tuesdays, I guess. Lucky Joe!

B. Because I am all about fleeces right now. Just bought two!

As a person with blood type D:All of the above, I suggest a compromise -- Tuesday spinning (and whenever else) becomes Joe's (I worry about Joe)Corriedale. This guarantees--maybe-- that at least a sleeve's worth may get spun before the knitting begins. (It also would help build up steam for the project, rendering it at least briefly irresistible by putting it off limits.)

Meanwhile the Dublin Bay socks continue as bus knitting and you allow yourself the shawl for the joy of it. (You also carefully monitor your reactions to all suggestions to see what you actually want to do -- like flipping a coin when you think you don't care and discovering you don't like the result -- and then do THAT.)

Well, I was thinking about writing a comment about the mango yesterday. I am just on the last few inches of a baby blanket in microspun mango (which a woman in the hospital waiting room assured me was misnamed and should have been persimon -- she was from Hawaii as if that gave her such authority for yarn renaming) . Why didn't anyone warn me that baby blankets need not be 45 x45 inches -- the thing has taken forever. I find out I cound have made in at least narrower and shorter

During my father's convalescence my step mother has grown so attached to the color she has requested a tank (which I will do with about 4 " of the same lace that makes up the blanket and then stockenette stitch for modesty) So I am going to vote for the mango. Although I will warn it can be splitty (but not so much that you have to pay total attention.

jas

P.S. Since when is a 1971 hippie-vest a tank? Closed or (shudder) open, that sucker's an Age of Aquarius vest. Knit it in that Suede tape and give it fringe. And a headband. Peace.

I say, knit the tank for yourself. Close up the bottom but keep the ribbon to show off that nice rack! ;)

I vote A - the tank is nice and hey, it would KINDA be for Joe- right?

Go for Joe. I love the thought of the entire sweater made from your hands - except, of course, for the creatures who grew the wool. But I agree that perhaps you ought to devote only part of your time to Joe's Gansey and the other to a more personal project - I'd kinda like to see you in that tank top!

DEFINITELY the tank, for Beth's and Pretendingsanity's reasons. You owe it to yourself, Joe, and the waiter guy.

I vote for the gansey - how many times have you heard a married man express an interest in having something knit out of a specific wool? He deserves it (I think) because he lives with four women!
My husband is a full-time, stay-at-home dad (three little critters 6,4, and 3) and if I could knit as fast and as well as you, he would have many, many lovely knitted things to say thank you for being the most patient and tolerant person I know; the two youngest critters are devilish little boys!
I am also very curious to see a gansey knitted - sounds like quite the engineering feat with no seams, water and wind proof too.

I say E... How about entrelac socks? Ok Ok... if not entrelac socks, I vote for the shawl. I'd also like to see a new pattern, and I think after this next tank, I'd never want to see another tank again.

PS. Does vote early vote often mean we get more than one vote? I'd like to vote 10,000 infinity for a new shawl, please.

I've just finished a tank out of microspun (OK, it's crochet... I confess to being a practitioner of the lesser yarn art), and I love it. It's soft and light and feels like a hug.

Yes, my comment ultimately boils down to "give yourself a hug." Clearly, you may want to look elsewhere for coherent reasoning.

A very resounding NO to finishing already started projects. Save them for a time when you are too week and feeble or poor to start new ones.

Start spinning the yarn for the "neverending love for Joe" sweater on Tuesdays, and my vote goes to option C. Anything that gives a rosy glow is worth pursuing!

Knit on boldly, cherished Harlot!

I vote A, while spinning for B on tuesdays. The big reason not to do A was selfishness - its not selfishness, its showing proper appreciation for a gift! And, then, start working on Joe's sweater, cause you know the tank will whip up quickly.

A. That's what I want. And it's all about me, right? bwahaha. It is the only way I will stop daydreaming about blue yarn. Which is entirely your fault, after all. You owe it to me to knit the mango tank. And although you told us not to vote based on what would cause you the most pain, I freely admit that it would amuse me to watch your progress with the microspun, having knit many, many an item with it. Sometimes the stitch contained one ply, or two, once in a while even all of them!

And anyway, although I can relate to the depth of the love you feel for your Joe, he is so much more than just a man after all, and he deserves that coccoon of wooly love, wouldn't the gansey be 2nd in excitement only to the cardi? In this respect, I am only thinking of you. You need more than that. You need thrills! Chills! Orange! Fast results!

Now really, is there any other choice?

Steph, Steph, Steph! Are you sure you really want your knitting fate to be in our hands? Don't you remember what happened last time?

The missing entrelac socks and yarn should be a testament to our inability to guide your fiber decisions! (***hoping Steph doesn't go back to those comments and find out I helped to encourage the entrelac folly.***)

That said, I vote for B, partly because I think Joe deserves it, and partly because as a non-spinner I love to see other people take a pile of dead rats and make it into a lovely gansey.

Delurking to vote for E! Let's be honest, it's your secret desire to start something completely new and different, right? Finish old projects??? Good God, not that! Starting a multimonth project like Joe's sweater....how depressing, even tho you love the guy and all...I think you really want to do something completely different, so go for it!

By the way, when I first looked at the "new" tank pattern, I thought, sheesh, she MUST have quite the rack to be able to wear that!! It was comforting to hear you'd probably sew it up. Makes me feel way better 'bout myself. :) Lisa in Oregon

I vote for all of the above with E being the kicker.

Option E: any project deemed boring or not blog-worthy is knit in public (other than the bus).

Isn't it summer? Isn't summer in the frozen north short enough (says the Southern Californian)? I say make tanks while the sun shines, and make ganseys when you want the experience of having a big hunk of heavy, hot wool in your lap. As for the shawl, I think shawls are a preparing for fall-type project (let's not count the Charlotte that I am working on--it is never cool enough to necessitate a shawl here, so the summer/winter thing doesn't count for me). So I think as a celebration of the impending summer solstice, the tank is really what should be adorning your needles.

I am voting for A. Not only will it break up the monotonous blue, but when people people try to give you a dirty look because you're knitting something for yourself again, just remind them that's why you learned to knit in the first place! Instead of knit Christmas presents, just give yarn. If the recipient wants it badly enough, they can either learn to knit, or give it back to you for knitting at a later date (just don't give blue yarn!).

HEY, GUYS!!! Steph has an article in the current Spin-Off! (It was the phrase "ovine barnyard lust" which made me look up to see who'd written it...)

Shawl. Just do it.
You can play with the shawl WHILE you *work* on his gansey. The shawl will give you creative relief and will give US another wonderful Pearl-Pattern.

rock on.
Helen

Gotta go with the Knit-the-Tank-Spin-the-Fleece crowd... The tank is gorgeous, and microspun just feels like heaven, it really needs to be a tank. Plus, you'd be practically non-gracious if you didn't knit something super yummy with a gift yarn like that. And while Joe surely deserves the sweater, you can't very well abandon all knitting while you card/spin for that, can you? No - you have too much to do! Be a multi tasker and go for it!

SPIN SPIN SPIN! You are wonderfully skilled at the wheel. I would love to see what you create with that dark, beautiful fleece.

Steph, my vote is for the tank!!! You need to have a tank in something other than blue. But please tell us a source for the pattern. I love it!

Do it ALL. Shawtch the shawl (remember how well that went?), spin the wool for Joe's sweater (which you won't start knitting until the weather cools) and get another fab tank going for yourself. It will be a nice diversion when the shawtch gets to be too much.
I'll be back and vote again later.

It is true, there are many Charlotte out there, and they are a bit dull to read about at this point, (although I still love seeing the new colors that continue to be put together, that is never dull), but anyone that says a shawl is a shawl is a shawl is insane. Shawls are never boring, and lace is always exciting. I've seen many, many tank tops, however, and I've got to tell you, I'd like to see something different. That tank top pattern we have up for consideration doesn't do anything for me. How 'bout a cute, textured top with cap sleeves? Maybe some ribbing?

As for the gansey, I really like it! Particularly the neck. I'd love to see you do it. I plead with you though, about the half textured sleeves. Don't do it! They look weird.

And finally, being non-harloty myself, I'd love to see you finish up some stuff. I love finishing and then moving on. It clears the brain.

So, I guess I'd have to say, anything but the tank!

I think you should knit "A", as is, for Megan for her birthday.

I'm with rams on the tank, Steph darling: it's a VEST. Of course, go ahead and knit it if you bust, I mean must. But I'd also start Joe's gansey. You can spin in the heat but you can't sit with gansey on your lap in August.( but by then you'll have another project.) And yes, the entertainment factor is important. You're no longer knitting just for YOUR enjoyment. But you knew that.

Stephanie, I vote for the gansey with one modification. Why don't you send the fleece to a carding mill and have it made into roving? This will save you lots of time and then do the shawl as well (my second choice). The Fleece Artist has to know a good mill.

Do I detect a tiny note of sarcasm?

I don't think a knitted tank would be Joe's favorite.

Just knit the tank. It's for the good of the blog.

I love the shawl idea. Joe sounds like a great guy, but it's too hot to knit a gansey full time right now. Spin on Tuesdays.

I, too, doubt our worthiness to help with this decision. However, who can resist another pie chart? Spin the fleece in the summer (on Tuesdays, of course) for fall knitting; this choice rules out the mohair/merino spinning for the shawl (sorry, Ken; sorry to blogreaders desiring new shawl patterns, but inspired shawl knitting cannot be planned). Knitting a tank is perfectly acceptable, but only THAT tank if you really, really love it. Why not the tank with the criss-cross rack emphasis from the front of the summer Vogue? Counter Claudia's lime criss-cross tank with your mango version! Where did this tank refugee from the sixties come from?

Anyway, I vote for selfless spinning and self-rewarding knitting (please note that I did NOT say selfish!). You can spin and plan the gansey on Tuesdays and mango your way to summer cool on the other days.

i would love to see the tank done.its a stunner.but if it was me i would do the gansey and keep it for xmas.please dont ban me lol.i've just had xmas projects on my brain lately,so sue me!

Joe really needs to see you in that tank. Yep, that would be just the ticket.

Seems like spinning for Joe's gansey on Tuesdays while you work on something else and wait for cooler weather to come is the sensible thing to do. That way the gansey is progressing, but it isn't driving you mad as your primary project.

As for what should be your primary focus -- I like the tank. It's a quick enough project to allow for the odd Christmas pressie and unfinished project to worm its way into your queue.

I would vote for the shawl, but I have a personal bias against shawls. They are pretty, but I never wear them. So I suppose you should take my vote with a grain of salt.

I say knit the tank first, except on Tuesdays when you spin for the gansey, which you'll have plenty of time in the fall to knit, before it gets cold enough for him to wear it. And if Joe's anything like every heterosexual guy I know, he'll appreciate the tank.

I was thinking of making that tank too, leaving the front open (maybe not all the way up, though) but ditching the ribbon to get rid of the hippie connotations. Maybe you need to get a belly tattoo, then you'll have incentive to show it off!

One last thing: finishing projects is for people with not enough imagination to think of something new to start. I would never finish anything if my partner didn't nag me about it, but he only seems to nag me to finish the sexy things. . .

Well, it's a good thing you included the note about not choosing something that would just make you suffer, since I have to admit that the thought of falling off my chair laughing every day for the next 18 months for the gansey was a big draw!

However.

I vote against (A) because I too thought it looked like a costume from "Hair," and because it worries me that they arranged the model's hair to cover the straps. Why? What are they hiding? And remember that Claudia will read your archives when she gets back from vacation and will know all the awful stuff you've blogged about "her" yarn.

(B) is intriguing, and I know Joe wants the sweater. However, does he want to put up with all those months (maybe years) of delirious ranting? I think not. (But speaking for your loyal readers I can tell you that *we* would get a huge kick out of it, knowing how funny said ranting would actually be!) OTOH, as a back-up project I think it's perfect.

I love the idea of (C), because I love shawls, I love *your* shawls, and I'd love to have another pattern (so I can get started on one!). But I'm worried about that "induces a rosy glow that lasts for hours" part. I mean, really, how much fun is a blog that's all about the rosy glow? It's hard to picture rosy glow comments making me laugh so hard I have to wipe tea off my monitor (which I *frequently* do when reading your blog!).

(D) doesn't make sense to me. I mean, since you already own the materials for (A), (B) and (C), doing any one of those *is* "finishing something." Once you own the materials...or most of ... or some of ... or have 'invested' time thinking about ... a project it's already in the stash! So no matter what you pick, it's a (D).

(Because I said so, that's why.)

But my favorite option is (E), and I know just the sweater I want. I need it in about a 36 chest, and ... Uh, what? That's not what you meant? Well, then...I don't vote for (E) after all...

In the spirit of all the other blogreaders trying to find a "middle ground" I vote for the shawl (C)(or at least a really large swatch!), concurrently with the gansey (B) for Joe. And of course they are both a (D), so I get a three-fer! (If my motives are entirely selfish, does my vote still count? 'Cause of course they are!)

WHATEVER you pick is going to be gorgeous, and WHATEVER you pick is going to be entertaining beyond measure to follow along with. We can't wait!

Tank and gansey, though the grasshopper mind is also hoping that you'll do everything! (Just not all at once.) The tank would be a nice thing for you, and I'd love to see the process of wool-to-gansey. I made one once, and I'm s.l.o.w.l.y working my way through a spinning project of my own, so I'm selfishly hoping for inspiration. ;)

Of course, I am the person currently pinging between four? five? "active" projects, so what do I know?

Knit the tank - it won't take long and summer is short here in the north. I agree that you should start to spin and swatch for Joe's gansey, but it is definitely a long term project, and you'll need some completion satisfaction before getting deep into the knitting stage of the sweater. Furthermore, you can probably justify multiple tank tops more than multiple shawls, based on wearing the product not just enjoying the process. Modifying the tank/vest will add interest to the project, and you know we want to see you in the finished product.

I say spin and knit for a gansey. Why? Because I'm knitting a sweater out of handspun, too, and I want my misery to have some company.

Snif.

mango-ness tank is my vote

Hmm, well, I'm a finisher. I hate having any projects undone and mocking me, but I also have an insane urge daily to start about 30 other projects. So, I would work on spinning the wool for Joe's sweater (he deserves it, if for no other reason than because he "liked your rack"-hee) on Tuesday, making slow but steady progress, while finishing up a pair of socks. Then, when the socks are done, you could start the shawl, working that on Thursdays (???), and also do another pair of socks. Then, when that pair is done, you could still be spinning, working on the shawl, and could finish the "boring" cardi. Repeat as necessary.

Hmm, maybe I should take my own advice...

Ok
Here's my opinion - for what it's worth.
You are the master of multi-tasking --- so do them all. Spinning for the shawl, washing & carding with the fleece, knitting the tank, and keep the socks for bus knitting. After all, we can't be expected to have only one kind of knitting to fit all of our moods and abilities.
And as a thank you to Joe for waiting for his gansey, leave the tank neckline the way it is and he can enjoy the view of the "knockers" he so admires.

Hi Stephanie:

Love your blog. Makes me laugh all the time.

But that aside I vote for the mango tank. Maybe because I really want to knit it too but am on a huge yarn budget.

Vicarious knitting rocks!

I vote A & B! I love both and couldn't decide.

Karen

Stephanie, it is all good but I must vote for knitting A while you spin B. I can't wait to see the mango in progress and think of Claudia returning home to find you modeling the mango tank.

I vote for the gansey for Joe as the major longterm project, that's a once-in-a-lifetime gift it seems. Obviously many other projects will be started and completed over that same timeframe. The modified tank top could be cute. If you've got it, flaunt it - your knittng skills, I mean.

Holy hell, you guys really don't want to know what came up on Google when I typed in "ovine barnyard lust" for Steph's article.

I'm still voting for the mango of love vest...

I've got to say I want to see that fleece become a gansey -- both because I think spinning is a great big magic trick with lots of entertainment value and because my husband generally loves traditional sweaters and we've been discussing the virtues of a gansey for a while, so if you make it I can show him what a thing of beauty it would be. None of that rules out any of the other projects, of course, since no one in her right mind would work exclusively on such a long-term project! (So my secondary vote is for the tank).

Coming out of lurking mode to make my vote heard. I love Gretchen's idea of sending the gray rats to a mill to have them made into roving and saving yourself that step. Unless you really like washing and carding, why not get to the real fun of the project, the spinning?

Start the Tuesday's spinning when you get the roving back and in the meantime pick out two other projects to go full guns on. My vote is for the shawl for your peace and wellbeing and the one unfinished project that you would most like to give as a Christmas gift. Switch between the two projects until both are done and you have two wonderful items to show for yourself. Choose something like knitting on each project every other day or knitting one skein's worth before switching to the other project. They both get done faster and it keeps the interest up if one is rather boring.

I'm with the (A)knit the mango tank now & the
(B) Tuesday preparing the wool so you can knit Joe a gansey in the winter crowd.

Knit the gansey, Steph. It would be so very satisfying to see a good knitter knit something that requires patience and skill for a change.
The fleece looks beautiful, and I'm thinking you'd enjoy it.
But, when's Megan's birthday?

I vote for Tuesday spinning for Joe and then the tank. You could knock that out quickly and THEN do the shawl.

Incidentally, I ordered the shawl knit with Mexican Wave. I love the yarn. My LYS has some in stock and I am going to buy yarn for some more shawls AND IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT.

Hope you're happy, you've turned me into a lemming! ;-)

ps. dont suppose you could post a pic of the red Mexican Wave shawl? Pretty Please?

I haven't ready any of the other 56 votes, except the first. Originally, I was going to say that I liked the tank, but go for the gansey. Now, though, my vote is to knit the tank and spin for the gansey (and then knit the gansey)! Yes!!!

Delurking to vote for the shawl. Definitely.

Me, I tend to go through finishing blitzes and starting blitzes; you sound ready for a starting blitz. Go for it. That kid mohair is insistent it wants to be worked on, isn't it? Or is it just the conversation it's having over my shoulder with the kid mohair fleece I bought at a recent handweavers' conference? Shawl us, shawl us! If it were me, it would be the shawl, while sending the gray off to a mill. (I did that once, with two fleeces, and got to watch the UPS man coming up my front walk later with a big black trash bag with a label slapped on it, tufts of wool poking out, awkward as all get-out, and the guy going, "You got the whole sheep in here, lady?") By the time it gets back from the mill, you'd have the shawl all done!

K1 tank and AT THE SAME TIME spin for Joe's sweater

10,001 infinity for the mango tank (plus you're doing Joe a favor--Canadian spelling FAVOUR--by showcasing your nice rack with the tank tops, so where's the selfishness there?) and alternately spin on Tuesdays for the shawl and the gansey. Because clearly we all love Joe.

Am I the only one who is going to comment on Joe's 50" chest? NICE RACK! For the sake of my desire to see Joe's chest -- now that we've already seen his arse -- you must spin and then knit the sweater for Joe.

A major lurker here....but regular reader. Go for the orange tank vest from Vogue. It's summer. I seriously thought of knitting it for myself but as a mother of a 15-yr-old (and oh yeah that 13-yr-old from another planet living in our house) I was thinking of closing the front as well. You go first. And I'd look lousy in orange, so mine would have to be blue or khaki -- closed in the front.

Happy knitting and thanks for blogging.
debbie

Why choose one if you can just stagger all of them? I vote for spending the hot months spinning for the gansey, but don't knit anything larger than a sleeve until it gets cooler. Then knit the tank first (because Claudia gave you the yarn and it'd be churlish not to immediately knit something of it - I'm just enabling you here, I know you want to and if you're worried about being selfish, you know my size. I look good in orange). Follow that by the shawl (what happened to the shawl from yesterday, by the way? I think that sets a record for fickleness, even for you).

Lastly, intersperse Xmas gifts. Not for your sake - for mine. That stress downloads, y'know? ;)

P.S. I vote against sending the fleece to a mill. It would go against the idea and significance of the present - to create this entirely from "Step 1". Well, as close to Step 1 as you can get without having a sheep in the backyard...

Besides, the entertainment value of watching you do it from fleece up is simply irresistable. Sometimes, it doesn't matter if stress downloads.

I agree on the spinning for Joe on Tues. and the mango tank. The microfiber yarn is so pretty and soft. Besides, a tank wouldn't take very long and then you could do the shawl. It's the time for tanks now and then by the time you finish the shawl it might be a little cooler (though you knit so fast that probably won't happen yet!)
It would be great to see how you handle the fleece. I've had a wheel for years and never got to use it (put it together from a kit that turn out to have been missing a small but vital and easily replaceable part). I'm just waiting for some books on spinning to come and I'm going to dive right in, frustration rampant as I compare my lumpy yarn with your gurnsey perfection.
Wow, that's a long comment.

Joe's sweater sounds like the thing to do in my opinion. I love spinning corriedale, and that is such a gorgeous color. Is it really manly enough for him? ;-)

Okay, I meant gansey, not gurnsey. Argh.

My vote is A with a bit of sox finishing thrown in every now and then.

I am STUNNED at 70 comments. Does this tell you what an amazing blog you have????

PS
Does it matter that no one mentioned the boring cardi?

Hey Steph!
What a hard time youre going through. Here are the votes from the Danish jury...

Why not knit the gansey using the microfiber yarn???? :o)
Or you could knit a tank for Joe??

There are several other way´s to combine your choices, and that might make interresting knitting project´s...... :o)
Looking forward to see what you decide on...

I vote B. I see no reason why I should suffer alone while knitting family sweaters...seriously, that's a whole heap of love involved in a project that big....go for it! However, since spinning is not yet among my skills, I will understand if you throw out my vote on the grounds of pure ignorance of the task to which I am committing you.

I vote for Joe's gansey-i'd be really interested to see the whole sheep to sweater process.

Good Lord! It took forever to get to the bottome of the comments to add my own. Wow!

Ahem. Sorry. I'm with the A/B group. Begin the spinning while you work on Mango (maybe that should be MangoS?) Besides, I would love to see how "the intricately patterned Gansey is knitted in one piece on five steel needles." Five steel needles? Huh? I'm imagining five foot-long dpns as you knit the body. Gotta see this!

I'm voting for B because I have an even bigger sweater ahead of me (54inch extra long) and I want to share the misery.

Of course right now I'm working on a tank and pncho for myself instead so maybe my vote should be for A.

But shawls are nice no matter what blogland is doing, and really WIP's should be finished up. You probably shouldn't even count my vote or count me as 1 for each. This is the exact reason I just did a poll on my blog because I couldn't decide, er, wanted to entertain too.

Who says you have to pick only 1?? My vote spin the wool for the gansey for Joe. And start the tank for yourself. Mango is a color that practically demands to be summer knitting. Then when the weather is cooler you will be ready with the spun yarn for Joe. As my spouse is 6'4" I know what a long task that will be.

[soft chanting in the back ground] mango, mango , mango

Do it all, baby!! and roar while you do! That said, the tank sure would show off your, uhm, amazing rack (she says, having nursed three babies and said rack is hanging to the knees).

Belated Happy Birthday, too. Wish I could have been closer, I could have made you an amazing birthday dessert ;-) Someday, oh Harlot, someday!

Do you give your patterns on the web? I am looking for a poncho pattern to knit. Thanks. Jackie

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