In Which the Heroine Languishes

It's a funny thing when you have your heart set on a matter. I've been disconsolate over the lack of #3 needles that have prevented me from working on the Snow Drop Jacket for more than a week. I tried starting another pattern in my queue in the meantime, but every aspect of that endeavor was met with dissatisfaction and I'm resigned to wait. Instead, I've spent the interim killing dragons in Final Fantasy IV in a manner that is both petulant and spiteful. Unexplained, my needles languished in Memphis Tennessee, and through fault of Fedex, dragons perish.

A Tale of Two Swatches

It took me a while before I finally admitted I need to actually make a swatch before beginning a project. It was only today that I realized that I've been VERY lucky so far when not blocking my swatches.

I've learned my lesson, so I made a swatch. Then I used smaller needles and did it again and was spot on. Eager to see my color scheme in it's full glory, I decide to begin with a pocket. Eager to see how my silky wool yarn after it has developed, I blocked it. The pockets grew. Substantially.

While I'm at a stand still for a few days until my smaller needles arrive, I've saved myself hours and hours of work, not to mention the soul sucking disappointment of watching my perfectly fitted cardigan grow three sizes too big. Remember: Swatch. Block.

And Now a Taste of Things to Come

I'm good about going to bed at a reasonable time. I'm not so good about staying in bed until I've had a "full night's sleep," so I count myself lucky that getting up early is considered a virtue. So, I got up before most people consider decent because I'm so excited to continue work on my new project, AND I get to feel smug about it.

My current knitting project is one I'd been wanting to start for quite a long time. Unfortunately, the back issue of Vogue Knitting Fall 2008 was sold out of the website, and took three attempts to snag off of ebay for less that $12. The Snow Drop Jacket was designed by James Coviello to be sold at Anthropologie, the pattern was released to Vogue, and destined to be knit by me in my current favorite color combination of grey and yellow.

Endpaper Mitts

As if the instant gratification of a small project isn't satisfaction enough, Eunny's Endpaper Mitts let me practice THREE new techniques: Fair isle knitting, Italian tubular cast-on method, and kitchener rib bind-off. There are some small fiddly details I would change, such as the faux purl seam, but the overall rewards per square inch more than compensate.

For those curious about my recommended adjustments, see my project notes on Ravelry.