The fabulous Melissa has had this book for some time and we have ooohed and aaahed over it. I have wanted it for some time but just couldn't bring myself to spend the $30 on it...then through the magic of technology, there was a coupon off one item at Borders and this beautiful book made its way into my home for the magical price of $17 and some change.
OK, this is a lesson in discipline and order for me. There are some really beautiful creations in this thick tome of 150 squares and most of the squares are stockinette with a little embellishment but they make those stockinette squares very textural and interesting.
Now, I know in the past that I have wanted to start something and go completely through it and it has sometimes happened and sometimes not - OK, more times not - but I really want to do an afghan with these squares. I've already knitted a couple of them and since they are basically stockinette, they come out the same size which is 11" square so I would really need just 30 to make an impressive sized afghan.
I already know there are three squares I won't be making: the seed stitch square (can't stand the repetition of the seed stitch. I could change it to a double seed stitch.) The garter stitch - it's too stretchy which is why I won't be making the rib stitch square.
But for the most part, I want to make these squares. I definitely want to make enough of them to make the afghan. I'm not putting pressure on myself, I just think this would be a great project and it would be nice to Julie/Julia the book.
Yes, I get bored. I get distracted. Something else calls my attention and I get forgetful. But I can do this. I can focus on it --- oh look at that bird outside.
I have some rewriting to do on my Glee pattern and it's on my list as well - not that it will take me away from knitting the blocks - laser beam focus, I tell ya. I wrote it up knowing the decrease section was a little snarky and sent it off to be tested and the tester came back and said the decrease section was snarky but was a real help in getting it straight. She made some suggestions to fix it so I am going to have to redo it in my language. She was very thorough and helped a lot.
We had a full Spring like day yesterday. Odd such a gorgeous day coming on the heels of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan. Nature is quite an amazing thing - beautiful and lethal at once. I add my prayers to all who have prayed for guidance, peace, comfort and the sprinkling of blessings and miracles.
I stayed up to watch the miners pulled out of the mine and I am just recovering. I think the thing that hit me was the way they did not waste time with finger pointing and blame - at least not in public - the government took it over and called whomever they needed to call to help out and everyone did - from Africa to China to the Americas. The president of the country stayed there until all me men were out and then led them in singing the Chilean national anthem. The government also said they would be staying with the men for at least six months to make sure they recover fully and have some semblance of their life back.
The lessons to be learned are too numerous to mention and I love that NASA played a role and we said yes when we were asked to help. Instead of reciting the lessons we should learn, I think I would like to take the moment to be grateful for the lessons the Chileans did learn and teach in order for those 33 men to be with their friends and families.
Want to see something beautiful? http://www.etsy.com/listing/48487128/polaris-star-pendant-necklace
Go take a look at that necklace. Yes, I could paste a picture here but then you wouldn't go over and look at her shop and she deserves that cuz you wanna see the necklace. You should want to see the necklace. I want to see the necklace and I just saw it! There are even matching earrings! Gasp!!!
In knitting news: the pile of FO's is piling up. There's a skinny scarf, a wrap/scarf and a baby blanket. Though the baby blanket was made a while ago and I rediscovered it. I have a little over two weeks to go and there are two WIPs on the needles. The one scarf I've been working on for what seems like forever (it's been 10 days) and it's not even half done yet. There is something about the pattern that's taking forever (of course, there can be nothing wrong with me.)
I keep thinking I should be making hats (and the ripple afghan - I know!) but everything keeps coming out scarves and wraps. I suppose I should bow to superior knowledge and go with the thoughts of my head. I mean, there's no choice really when I just finished the cast on to yet another scarf/wrap. I am stash busting to a high degree with this one, using the Kertzer Marble Chunky I got in Pittsburgh. It is a thinner chunky yarn but I 
am still getting good heft using size 10 needles. I think it will come out OK - this is what I'm doing: Come on, now. Cute isn't going to describe it well enough. I am using a variegated yarn with golds, browns, and black so I am expecting great things. And I am expecting them relatively soon because it is being knit on size 10 needles. It's a pattern from Plymouth (the first thing I'm knitting from the free patterns I got during the yarn crawl.)
I am hoping to have it for the show. Can I just say this about the ripple afghan I know I'm supposed to be making?
I don't wanna....
I mean, I do wanna, I just don't want to go back to it just yet. I don't know why. But I don't. There, I've said it. And I feel like a five year old...
Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to go sit on the love seat and knit.
