Day Two: Knitting with the gals

This evening I returned to my local yarn shop for a knit night with the ladies. I have not been able to get to the shop since late summer due to having a class on Thursday night and teaching a class right after. It was nice being able to get back to buy a little yarn and spend time with ladies who love fiber as much as I do. In my visit, I bought some Malabrigo for my Downton Abbey Mystery Knit-a-long. I need to look to see if I have the correct size needles (which I know I do, but have to get another project off of them or place it on hold). So, my shawl or whatever it is to be will be a pale green to a dark heather green. I believe it is the color of Scottish moors, which makes me so very happy. I have decided that the Clapotis I am working on just doesn't seem to be coming out nicely in the Blossom Street yarn. The yarn is coiling on itself in the pattern. I believe that it would make a better baby blanket and is just not something I would see an adult attempting to wear. I am going to rip it out tonight and place that yarn in storage. I am just not enjoying the project, so why bother? On another note, I have plans of finally picking up the stitches on my magenta vest and then blocking it. I need to tie in ends on another project so I can wear it (a beautiful purple wrap).  I can do that on a weekend and then block it out. So many of my sweaters need a little work on them to make them nice and appealing to wear. It is amazing how that little bit of work can be put off until you just don't get around to it. I need to stop doing that and just get back to completing my sweaters. Until tomorrow....

Day One

While watching the last two episodes of Season 1 of Dracula, I was continuing to knit the Clapotis scarf. It is relaxing and enjoyable to be able to knit without too much pressure from outside sources. The downside is that I don't think the yarn is the right choice for the scarf. It is curling in on itself a bit more than the other Clapotis I have knit. The silky fibers of the yarn also seem to catch and separate, causing it to snag on the stitch holders. This indicates that the item will snag on jewelry and other everyday thing through wearing it, therefore the scarf will look ratty in a matter of a month. That is not my ideal gift. I believe that my gifting will digress into pretty scarfs that are easier worn from my favorite Target. 

On a brighter note, I will join a mystery KAL for Downton Abbey Season 4. I will need to get a DK weight yarn tomorrow evening from my LYS -- hopefully a malabrigo with silk. At this point, I really don't care what color it is, as long as I get to knit this mystery. A part of me looks forward to attending the knit night once again, while another part of me dreads it. I think I dread the yarn purchase temptation over anything. I miss the ladies at the shop, and feel a little hermit like these days. I think I just got so sheltered and housed in after attending school on my normal knit nights tha I forgot what a stress relief it is. Maybe this semester will feel healthier and a little more same. Probably not with my comps and replies from the PhD programs I applied to. I will probably be a nervous wreak. Wish me luck!