Lace Hates Me

Notice I didn't say that I Hate Lace. I love lace. I wanted to make my mom a lovely, delicate, airy lace scarf out of my one precious ball of Filatura di Crosa Superior (70% cashmere/30% silk!!!). Was that so much to ask? The lace gods have smote me. Not just once but 3 or maybe 4 times. It must just be my brain this week. I first got this lovely pattern:

(Jade Sapphire's Plum Lotus Scarf)

It just wasn't working and I wanted to cry and since knitting's supposed to be "fun", I decided to look for a different pattern.

I thought this one would fit the bill nicely. But for some reason I messed that one up real good too...3 times.

(To Knit is Divine's Travelling Roses Scarf)

Okay, I think I've finally gotten it now. I'm going to [try to] stick with Knitty's Juno Regina, albeit a smaller version with less diamond pattern repeats.



I can get my lace fix plus have a good deal of mindlessness in the middle so that I don't shoot myself trying to finish all these Christmas presents.

FO: Aamu

For the few people who actually read this blog, I want to say that I've become obsessed with Ravelry and therefore do not blog very often anymore. Maybe that will change when I get a new camera since these webcam photos are just not cutting it.

Anyhoo, I just finished up my Aamu sweater. This one's from the irresistible Norah Gaugan vol. 1 put out by Berroco. It was sort of by chance that this was the first project I made from the book. My Ultra Alpaca Light was on order at A Tangled Skein and I had a serious case of startitis. Then as I was digging through my stash, I found some forgotten Araucania Magallanes and thought that this would be the perfect project for it. A couple weeks and 2.5 skeins later, here she is.




Pattern: Aamu by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Araucania Magallanes (100% Wool), color 316, 2.5 skeins
Needles: Addi Turbo 24" #6, #8
Recipient: Me
Mods: shortened the cowl neck an inch or so

I liked this pattern. It was easy but interesting and I think it's really different.

All of my other projects are chugging along. The other garment that I'm working on is a crocheted cropped cardigan that I found on Ravelry. I did the upper portion as per the pattern but I've decided to try a different and more lacy pattern for the bottom portion. We'll see how it goes. I'm using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Berry which is beautiful although, again, shitty webcam doesn't do the color justice.

I like FOs

This week I made the Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet that I found on Ravelry. It took me only 2 days to knit and I can tell this is going to be a wardrobe staple. I used up every inch of my Knit Picks Panache which, sadly, is now discontinued. I really am peeved that they discontinued this stuff: lusciously soft alpaca, cashmere, and silk for $4??? Why, Knit Picks, why? But at least I get to wear this little shrug close to my skin whenever I want. This pattern was GREAT. I will definitely be making more of these. So clear and had great instructions for making it fit perfectly.



Pattern: Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet by Julia Allen
Yarn: Knit Picks Panache, color Cloud, 3 balls
Needles: 9 (5.5mm) for body, 8 (5mm) DPNs for sleeve ribbing
Mods: Changed stitch number to fit my gauge, knit sleeves in the round, added ribbon tie

Also wear it without the ribbon...



And ANOTHER FO in record time. Literally took me half an hour from start to finish.



Pattern: Flying Gloves from Twinkle's Big City Knits
Yarns: Lion Brand Landscapes, color Spring Desert, fraction of 1 ball
Knit Picks Palette, color Red, fraction of 1 ball
Knit Picks Palette, color Blush, fraction of 1 ball
Needles: Susan Bates circ #19

Wore them today, one of our first truly chilly days. A splash of color in the midst of all the gray.

Facing Facts

A few weeks ago I read an inspiring post by Jared (b r o o k l y n t w e e d) on his blog. In it he talked about being realistic about your knitting, taking stock of your current UFOs, and frogging where necessary. I don't really have any UFOs that I don't want to finish someday but there are some things I finished that, I've decided, I could use the lovely yarn for something else since I hardly ever wear them.

1. My Tea Rose Halter Top: 4 skeins of my favorite color of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk.


I loved this pattern the moment I saw it, and I loved this yarn the moment I touched it, but, alas, the two were not meant for each other. What, oh pray tell what, was I thinking making a HALTER TOP out of ALPACA? Plus, I never got around to fixing the abysmal fit in the upper portion so it's currently cinched by safety pins. This yarn could be put to much better use! (My Ravelry queue already contains some ideas).

2. My "Fun in the Sun Hat": 2 balls of my favorite color of Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton.


I put quotes around the name of the pattern because it turned out nothing like it and I don't like the way it did turn out. I do want this hat, however, so I might be frogging it and re-crocheting it. But there are 5 more balls of this yarn on the shelf, so there might just be enough for something truly fun.

3. My Chelsea Sweater (A UFO).


The sleeves are just NOT GOING TO WORK and it's time to devote my energies to other things. So this lovely garment is going to become a VEST! I've pondered these set in sleeves a million times and it just isn't working. And when Pat, the GURU at A Tangled Skein, confirmed my frustrations, I knew the sleeves were going bye-bye.

I also frogged a hat that I never even finished and I knew I would never wear made out of the lovely-but-now-discontinued Knit Picks Panache. Now I have enough to make a little bolero.


Happy Frogging!

Chunkalicious

I bought the yarn and cast on for my Twinkle Groovy Sweater Dress! I'm finished with the first sleeve and it only took me about 30 minutes. I'm very excited although it's going to be a very warm sweater and it doesn't get that cold around here. I'll keep y'all updated, hopefully with some pictures once we get a new camera!

Oh and I decided to rip out my Memories of Ukraine Sweater...I had made a mistake somewhere and couldn't figure out where so I'll just start over soon.

An FO and Other Goings On

Let me begin by saying that Ravelry is incredibly addictive. I've already wasted an obscene amount of time on it and I haven't even figured out all the features yet.

Second order of business, someone *coughAdamcough* broke the camera so until we get a new one, my blogging will either be sans-pictures or with shitty webcam pictures.

With many of my projects either (1) boring me at the moment or (2) annoying me at the moment, I needed an FO to boost my self esteem. So I knit up Cyn's Bamboozled headband last weekend and, as promised, it was quick and fun. I had first started this weeks ago with a different yarn trying to, you know, work from the stash, but it just wasn't cutting in. So I got the Royal Bamboo (drool) that Cyn had used. I wore it today and got many compliments on it (Yay, Cyn!) Oh and I loved the twisted cord ties. What a great new technique!




Pattern: Bamboozled by Cyn
Yarn: Royal Bamboo, color 60 Olive , 1 ball
Needles: Size 7 (4.5 mm)
Recipient: moi
Time to knit: about a day

Let's see...I'm well into my Memories of Ukraine sweater (oh yeah, by the way, I started it even though I "promised not to cast on for anything new").


It took me a few tries to establish the pattern...it's more difficult working with this yarn than I anticipated. And now, almost finished with my yoke increases, I'm afraid I screwed up somewhere but it's (1) really hard to tell if I screwed up with this yarn which is both a good and bad thing and (2) really hard to correct my mistake if I indeed made one. I break into a cold sweat when I think about having to rip out a few rows and then figure out what the hell to do next. So, needless to say, I've put that project down for a few days.

Instead, I cast on for my brother's Entrelac Scarf.


I'm using Noro Silk Garden which looks and feels nice except for the occasional weird abnormality that I encounter in the skein. For the pattern I just cast on 18 stitches and made 3 triangles and went from there. This is my first entrelac project and I'm totally addicted. I'm about 1/3 of the way done with this scarf then I want one for myself and for Adam and for my mailman and for...........

And finally, much to his glee, I've reacquainted myself with Adam's socks. I had been frustrated with it, not quite sure how to proceed with this whole Magic Loop thing but then Cici saved me at last week's Sit 'n' Knit and by George, I think I've got it.

Yay!

I finally got into Ravelry! I'm still figuring stuff out but I can tell it's going to be eating up a lot of my should-be-studying time. My name on Ravelry is Rivka. Fun!

Making plans

Okay I swear I won't actually cast on for anything new until I've finished at least a couple of things I'm working on but there's no harm in planning out my next projects, right?

In Asheville a couple weeks ago I went to the wonderful Earth Guild where I bought some roving to try needle felting and some pretty nubbly cotton yarn that was $4.80 for 328 yards (!!!). I was wondering about the perfect pattern for this stuff and *drum roll* I HAVE FOUND IT.



It's Memories of Ukraine from the beautiful book The Natural Knitter which I bought a few days ago mainly for this pattern although there are other definite possibilities in it. The original sweater is made in linen so I thought cotton would work out well. Due to my intensely pathetic photography skills, you can't see that the sweater has a very appealing texture that I hope will be perfect with this yarn. And quite possibly the BEST PART ABOUT THIS SWEATER is that it's top down with no, that's right NO, sewing at the end. You just block it and wear it. Shazam!

Also....

I'm very into berets right now. A while back I bought some lovely Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk sport weight with the express purpose of turning it into a beret. I love Grumperina and her patterns, but the picture of her Art Deco Beret in the Fall 07 Knitscene did not excite me. Something about the variegated purple with purple beads and it looked so large. Then I saw this. Now I have decided I want this beret. I think the pale pink with purple beads will look nice, what do you think?

(sorry for crappy picture! I don't know how to improve!!)

This next one is also a beret but I'm VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I don't know if I should even talk about it before I make it since there's a very good chance it will turn out horribly. But I think it's fate...First I bought a plain wool beret at a thrift shop and decided I wanted some kind of embellishment for it. Then I bought some wool roving at Earth Guild in these colors to experiment with needle felting:



Then I saw this AWESOME IDEA in Interweave Felt (a special issue) that I had to had to make and it just happens to use the exact colors I bought.


I'll let you know how it goes. Any tips for needle felting?

Bored

I'm bored with all my projects. It's all I can do to keep from casting on for something new but then that would be, oh, 6 active projects at once and I can't handle that. Here's a glimpse of what's boring me these days...

I've finished the back and just about finished the right front of my Hideout Coat from the Fall 07 Knitscene.


It's a quick knit but it's been put on the back burner until the weather cools down more due to its largeness. Also, I have been bit in the butt by my cheapness. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. How can something that's 75% acrylic felt so easily as I'm knitting with it? Knitting this is soooo mindless but after working on it for an hour it's too big to be very portable so I pick it up during especially mind-boggling episodes of the X-Files.

Moving on.


The Chelsea Sweater from the loverly Twinkle Big City Knits. I really do like it. It fits nicely, the yarn is soft. I just hate setting in sleeves! I've done the one as you can see and the other is just sitting there patiently for me but there's just this mental block. Another issue: why, oh why, did I think that sage green and deep violet would look good as the edging on my coral cardigan? I'm thinking I'm going to have to rip out the purple and just have the green. Yes?

I've made good progress on my dad's Sinead Scarf from the Berroco website. I do like the pattern and when I actually sit down with it I can pump a good deal out. I guess subconsciously I've decided that since I'm more than halfway done and it's only SEPTEMBER I can take a break, right? I mean, see how it stretches all the way across my ugly yellow chair?



This is me thinking can I get away with it only being 50"? (It's a little over 30" now).

=-)

Apparently my lovely knitting buddies CiCi and Chelette tagged me as a !! Thanks ladies, you rock too!!!

A couple of hats

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I like making hats. They're quick, useful, and creative. This past week I made 2 fun hats from patterns that I loved. I will definitely be making more than one of each of these patterns for gifts and for myself!


Pattern: Odessa by Grumperina
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK, color 525, 1 ball
Beads: size 6
Needles: Susan Bates 16" circulars #4, #6
Started: 9/14/07 Finished: 9/18/07
Recipient: undisclosed for now :-)
Modifications: none! I love this pattern!


Pattern: Crochet Hat from Classic Elite Uptown Knitting book
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton, color 39014, 1 ball
Hook: Susan Bates 7
Started: 9/10/07 Finished: 9/10/07 (about 2 hours!)
Recipient: me
Mods: hook size

I made one of these hats for the shop one day at work (out of the lovely Classic Elite Lush that the pattern calls for) and it took me around 2 hours start to finish. I thought it was super cute so I made one for myself the next day out of some of my DB Cotton. I started it before my first class on Monday and had finished it by lunchtime!

P.S. Sorry my photography sucks. It is my goal to become a better photographer!!

9223 people are ahead of you in line

I guess that's what I get for signing up for Ravelry so late. But damn I didn't even know there were that many knitters in the world! It's just as well, though, since I really don't need yet another distraction from the things I should be doing such as school work. But I'm jealous of everyone who's talking about how much fun Ravelry is!

This weekend Adam and I are going to Asheville and Boone, North Carolina to check out a graduate school for me (Appalacian State), a Farm Festival in Boone, a Folk School, and other fun stuff. I'm planning on taking a lot of knitting and visiting some of the awesome fiber shops in the area. I'll let you know what I find!

Eating my words

Okay, can someone PLEASE tell me what the big deal about socks is? For some reason, everyone and their mother is obsessed with socks and seems to be knitting almost exclusively socks. What's the big deal? Just that they're portable? Lots of projects are portable. Why spend so much energy and hurt your hands working on teeny weeny needles when they're just going to go in a shoe? Maybe I'll change my mind and eat my words someday but right now I think there are many things more interesting than socks. Geez!

-Me, June 24, 2007

Okay, okay. Socks are pretty fun. I'm really enjoying making Adam's socks on the Magic Loop and yesterday I found myself lingering a little more than usual near the sock yarn contemplating my next pair. I'm on the heel flap now, almost to the heel turn and what can I say? I LIKE SOCKS. THERE I SAID IT, HAPPY?! Now in no way will this become an exclusively sock-focused blog like so many out there. But there is something so satisfying about those teeny tiny little stitches. Here's progress...


And I finished my mom's knitting needle holder and gave it to her yesterday (her birthday was Aug. 29). She was very excited and I was pretty pleased with it, it being one of my first sewing projects. I'm going to make some more once I get around to it. The pattern is from the first Stitch 'n' Bitch book.



Oh! And in non-knitting related news, Adam finished the AWESOME PINK BIKE he was building for me!

Giving in to peer pressure

Socks. Everybody seems to be obsessed. Why, I ask? I'm still not sure, but I have started my first pair of sock-weight yarn socks. My co-worker Pat (I feel weird calling her that since she's lightyears ahead of me) taught me the Magic Loop last night and so I'm about an inch into Adam's socks. I like this method because (1) I really dislike DPNs and (2) I only had to buy one needle! I'm using a 40" #1 Addi Turbo and I'm using the Opal Hundertwassers yarn which I gotta say I'm digging. Adam picked out the color...dark blue but with the awesome designs found in this yarn. So, so far so good. I'll keep you posted.

Last Day of Freedom

Today is the last day of my summer vacation. Tomorrow is the first day of my last semester at the University of Maryland. I'm anxious to get it over with but it means *tear* possibly less time to knit.

I've been incredibly lazy with this blog. No photos, paltry posts. So here are some pics of my progress on various projects...

The Chelsea Sweater minus crocheted edging, with one sleeve semi-set in.


My dad's scarf. No, it's not the Forbes Forest scarf, after all. It's a free pattern from the Berroco website, using the Sinead cable pattern. I was just browsing their website since I LOVE their free patterns and I found this cable so striking. Plus it's in worsted weight yarn (I'm using a bright green shade of Berroco Love It--color in photo not accurate) so it's going faster than the Forbes Forest in sport weight would. So far, I've finished one repeat of the pattern (62 rows).

I'm also showcasing my pathetic sewing skills by making my mom a knitting needle case for her birthday. The pattern is from the first Stitch 'n' Bitch book, and it's pretty easy but my sewing machine started pissing me off so I'm taking a break right now.



I visited my Grandma in Montauk over the weekend and she loved her lap blanket. I didn't have a camera so I didn't get a picture of her with it but here's a (bad) picture of it before it was totally done.

Pattern: Feather and Fan Encore 8-Hour Baby Blanket

Yarn: Berroco Comfort (50% Acrylic/50% Nylon), color 9753 Aegean Sea , 4 skeins

Needles: Clover 24" #13 circulars

Started: 8/8/07 Finished: 8/13/07

Recipient: Grandma

And there was a lovely yarn shop in Montauk called Purl by the Sea. They carried some great stuff, including Rowan and Blue Sky Alpacas which my shop doesn't have, so I bought a few skeins. 2 skeins of Blue Sky sport weight Alpaca Silk in a lovely peach color for a tam, and 2 skeins of Rowan Cashsoft DK for 2 Odessa hats (recipients undecided).

I <3 Chunky

Lotta knitting going on up in here. Unfortunately, Adam has gone backpacking with his dad until for the weekend and taken the camera with him but I will insert appropriate pictures into this blog when he returns, I promise!

I ventured into my first project from Big City Knits on Friday. I cast on for the Chelsea Sweater using 4 strands of Knit Picks Shine Sport and, since I was home visiting my parents, I sat and knit for a satisfying amount of time with my mom (who, I'm pleased to announce, is nearly as addicted as I am now. She is now diving into her first project that incorporates lace). SOoOOO...after a few solid hours of knitting on Friday and a couple yesterday, I have...get this...finished knitting the entire thing! I just need to set in the sleeves (grumble) and do the crocheted edging and...I will have finished an entire sweater in about 3 days. It makes me sweat with glee. That, my friends, is one fast project. I just reeeeally hope I actually like it. About an hour into the project, I realized I don't really like this color that much. I've been very into coral lately but this color combined with a big lace pattern looks quite grandma-esque. And don't get me wrong, I usually totally love the grandma look. We'll just have to see.

Inspired by the literally instant results of the Chelsea Sweater, I swatched for and started the Hideout Coat this morning. I'm using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Navy. To all of those yarn snobs out there who scoff at Lion Brand, I thumb my nose at you. This stuff is soft and pretty and inexpensive. Not to mention, it comes in great colors that I foresee being used for more projects from Big City Knits. So what if it's mostly acrylic? It doesn't get that cold around here anyway. And it's washable!

I have a feeling that after all of these burly projects, my fingers are going to be itching for something fine and delicate. So I have my pretty pretty turquoise Lacey Lamb sitting there waiting for Eunny Jang's Print o' the Wave Stole.


I'm pretty comfortable with lace, but this is going to be my first real lace undertaking with lace-weight yarn and all that jazz. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. This project, however, will have to wait until I have a few Christmas scarves under my belt. I have the projects picked out for most people, but I was still unsure of the pattern for my dad. I was intending to do the Forbes Forest scarf from Scarf Style but after starting with some charcoal gray Frog Tree Alpaca, I just wasn't sure. Then I found Grumperina's comments about it, and she has inspired me once again to do this project. It really is such an attractive scarf. I think that my yarn choice was too dark, so I'm going to exchange it for a lighter gray, teach myself to cable without a cable needle, and get to it.

I'm going to the beach next week for a few days...does anyone have any advice for knitting on the beach without getting sand into it?

Giving some away, taking some in

This past weekend my family had a get-together at my parents' house near Gettysburg, PA. I was able to give my little cousin Sami the hat I knit for her and my Great Aunt Yetta the Sweet Pea Shawl. They both were very excited. I didn't have my camera but I think someone else took some photos so hopefully I can post some soon.

When I returned home, my Knit Picks package was waiting for me. 12 gorgeous skeins of Shine Sport in Coral, 1 each in Silver Sage and Violet, and 6 colors of Palette for a Fair Isle tam.

I'm 3/4 of the way done with my Grandma's blanket. I'm doing the Feather and Fan pattern of the Encore 8-hour Baby Blanket. I timed myself for the first half and I've gotten off track with the timing since then but the first half took me about 4 hours and 15 minutes, so I estimate that the whole thing will take me around 8 hours! I love these instant gratification projects. Recommend this pattern to anyone who needs a last minute gift.

Also making good progress on the Branching Out scarf. This is the second time I've done this pattern, but I'm using a different yarn. It's hard to see the pattern without blocking but I think it will look nice.

I've also decided against the Tear Drop scarf for my mom since she requested something else. So I ripped out what I had so far and am going to use the gorgeous turquoise Lacey Lamb for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Out of Control

Is it possible that I could have cast on for another project? Yes, yes it is. But this one is for a good reason. My grandmother had a small stroke last Saturday. Luckily it looks like she is going to make a full recovery but it was still scary. So I'm going to knit her a little something--a lap blanket since she spends most of the day in her chair and gets a little chilly. The pattern? The Plymouth Encore 8-hour Baby Blanket. Not just for babies anymore! I've been recommending these patterns to customers for a while now. Quick, fun knits with 2 strands of worsted weight and fat needles. They're the perfect size for lap blankets too. I'm using Berroco Comfort (50% acrylic 50% nylon) which is really soft and squishy--a pleasure to knit with. AND I'm curious about this whole 8 hour thing, so I'm logging in my knitting time each time I pick up the needles. So far, I'm at 134 minutes = 2.23 hours and I'm at a healthy 9+ inches which is about a quarter of the way done which MEANS that I'm right on track.

So now I'm up to 6 count them 6 active projects. That doesn't include the several projects I've put down for a while. This is 6 projects that I work on at least once every couple of days. I do not like having 6 active projects. Therefore, I will not cast on for a new one (ha ha) until at least 5 of these are done. Again, ha ha.

Entirely Too Much Yarn

"Having an employee discount means it's your DUTY to buy too much yarn! Not doing so would anger the yarn gods. :D" -Cyn, of Half-Assed Knits fame

I suppose it was inevitable that I start going c.r.a.z.y. with the yarn purchases. Actually, my spending habits are still probably pretty tame compared to some out there but hey I'm still a college student with no $$$$ trying to save up for, you know, life? Every day at work is a constant battle to deny myself yarn. And lately there's been more giving in than resisiting.

Not only that, I've been buying yarn online. I get scolded by my bosses every time I mention it, but I can't resist the prices at Knit Picks. So I've been obsessing over the patterns in Twinkle's Big City Knits since I got in a couple of months ago, and the time is right that I start making some stuff! First project: The Chelsea Sweater


The patterns calls for 4 strands of Twinkle Cruise held together but I'm going to use Knit Picks Shine Sport, one of my favorite yarns. Can't wait for it to arrive! I also ordered some Palette (fingering weight wool) to make a fair isle beret. The Shine Sport is only $2.49/skein and the Palette is only $1.99/skein but I got...a lot...so it adds up you know?

And I've been agonizing over which yarn to use for the Groovy Sweater Dress...



...so I've decided to take the plunge and use the Twinkle Soft Chunky that it calls for, so it's going to be the most expensive project I've ever done. If you've noticed, I generally use yarns other than the ones called for in the pattern. Sometimes it's because I have a different yarn I'm dying to try or I like the thrill of the hunt for a good substitute, but usually it's because I'm cheap and I *must* be able to find a cheaper alternative, right? Well for this sweater I'm not going to unless I want it to look shitty so good bye budget! I'll make up for it by using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for the Hideout Coat. Won't be as warm as all wool but it's a decent yarn with nice color choices.

3 new projects and Grecian Plaits

I love days off from work! Today I cast on 3 count them 3 new projects:

A hat for my little cousin Sami


(Using a solid color and a variegated color of Laines du Nord Baby Cover, my own pattern)

A Fair Isle pillow


(Using Ella Rae Silkience, pattern is from a Vogue dress pattern)
Right now it looks like a jousting flag but it should look better once I get more diamonds worked up.

And a Branching Out scarf for an undecided recipient. (No photo available yet as I have literally only cast on). Using a gorgeous purple shade of Classic Elite Miracle.

And here is the finished Grecian Plaits top, still not blocked. Actually don't look too closely at the photo since I haven't even finished weaving in the ends yet.



Pattern: Grecian Plaits by Lily Chin from Summer 07 Knitter's Magazine, size Small

Yarn: Plymouth Royal Bamboo, color 23, 8 balls (93 yds/50 grams)

Needles: Addi Turbo 24" circulars, #6, #7, #8, Brittany cable needles

Started: 6/25/07 Finished: 7/31/07

Changes made: Yarn used, shortened yoke, made fewer increases, left out "side seam"

Recipient: Me!

Goal!

Well, I successfully stuck to my deadline and finished the Grecian Plaits top last night. Unfortunately, however, I didn't have time to block it so it looks like I won't be wearing it today. It's just as well, though, because I read on a few blogs that it takes days for the Royal Bamboo to dry while it's blocking so I wouldn't have been able to wear it today anyway.

It looks nice but it definitely needs to be blocked. Adam took the camera for the day so I'll take a photo tonight.

Now comes the fun part of deciding which project to start next. I've had the yarn for the Katharine Hepburn Cardigan for a while so maybe I'll start that. Or maybe I should bunker down and get serious about holiday scarves. *Sigh* So many possibilities.

Oh and starting on Saturday, A Tangled Skein is putting all of its cotton and linen on sale. I think I'm going to give myself an ulcer buying Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton and other favorites. I must admit, I've been buying a bit more yarn lately than I like but I justify it to myself because when else in my life am I going to be an employee at a yarn shop and get a discount?

Goal

Glancing at my blog, I see that I haven't had any real significant FO's in a long time. I know, I know, it's not *all about* the end results, but it does feel nice to finish something. So I have set the goal to finish the Grecian Plaits by WEDNESDAY and wear it to Sit 'n' Knit. I tend to work well with deadlines. Much like when I keep putting off that 15 page paper until the night before it's due because I just love the thrill!!

So I have only 20 rows left. Of course with the increases the rows are getting longer and longer but it's just stockinette so I can do it. It needs to be blocked too so I need to factor in that time.



I'm relatively pleased with how it looks so far. I've finally started utilizing the *wonderful* idea of using waste yarn to actually try it on instead of just going along blindly hoping to God that it fits. And so the top fits very well, and that's good. The problem is, however, that this yarn has such perfect stitch definition that any slightly sloppy looking stitch is very noticeable. At least to me.

I also want to change my blog name. (Just like Knerdy). Because I'm tired of it and it's long! I can't think of anything though. Ideas?