First, another episode of yarn acquisition that should have been included last time:
Before I left on my honeymoon, I had a lucky windfall in the yarn department, courtesy of Lime & Violet. In their Charity archives, you’ll find this post, putting out the call for donations to help a gorgeous pit bull named Roo raise enough money for his expensive knee surgery. Being a big softie for animals in general and pit bulls in particular, I tossed in a donation, and though I would have done it even without a reward, I sent in my information for a shot at the yarn raffle just for the heck of it. And what do you know, my number came up! The result?
Three skeins of L&V Sasquatch yarn in the one-of-a-kind colorway “Roo.” At 425 yards per skein, that’s a lot of pretty pitty yarn! What I’ll make with it I have no idea, but it’s a good motivation to keep learning!
I chickened out of taking any knitting on the plane, but when I got back I was determined to get back into the groove. After all, we’re coming up on the season for wool, which I think will help me remain focused. Knitting in the apartment with the yarn sticking to my sweaty fingers was NOT appealing, let me tell you.
First up, remember my first-ever project? The garter stitch scarf that fell victim to my impatience? I finally went back and finished it. My craving for the purl stitch had been satisfied, and I was facing a potential job that would involve a lot of being outdoors in winter (which has since fallen through), so I resolved to get it done once and for all. I really wasn’t that far from the end, as it turns out. 
It’s very soft and squishy, which I like, and seems to be reasonably warm. It doesn’t have any blatant, glaring mistakes. It’s wide, which I like, although I have discovered that contrary to popular (that is, my) belief, there is a point at which a scarf may become too wide. It’s also short, which I don’t like. I have another skein of this yarn and could theoretically remedy that problem, except I’d already decided that this year I will wear a hat when it’s freakishly cold outside. This means I need a hat to go with this scarf, one that uses the same super-bulky yarn and is not your typical tight-fitting knitted cap that doesn’t fit over a ponytail and gives hideous hat hair. Oh, and if at all possible it should use garter stitch to match the scarf. That particular enough for you?
Luckily for me, the aforementioned Ysolda has apparently been reading my mind, as her Urchin Hat is exactly what the doctor ordered. Of course, it contains new challenges – a provisional cast-on, short rows, and grafting – but I’m beginning to think that Nietzsche must have been knitting when he coined the phrase “That which does not kill us makes us stronger,” as the only way to accomplish anything with this pursuit seems to be to jump in with both feet and press on come hell or high water to the finish line. You can get input, ask friends, scour the ‘net, but in the end, it’s just you and your fingers that have to sort it out.
While I wait for my 7mm needles to come in the mail and scrape up the courage to start my hat, I have two other projects to work on – an acre of purple stockinette that will eventually be something adorable for a dear friend, and part B of the mysterious gift in progress previously mentioned. Not to mention hunting up a job! I find my immediate challenges in knitting are more connected to my lack of funds to procure appropriate needles than any remaining lack of motivation.
