As the weekend approached, I realized I was experiencing some "Olympic Fatigue". i.e. as much as I was enjoying watching the various competitions, my enthusiasm was beginning to wane (confession one). How many more short track speed skating heats do I have to watch until the final A & B races? Aren't the bobsledders done yet? I couldn't even bring myself to watch the figure skating gala yet, recording it for when I'm not tired of watching these same athletes strut their stuff. I was beginning to look forward to the start of motorcycle roadracing season at the end of the month. I hadn't caught on to the fact that the weekend would see the wrapping up of the Olympics AND the start of Superbike racing until Thursday when an e-mail alert arrived in my mailbox. Maybe it's a good thing the two overlapped, giving me the fresh excitement of a different kind of sports watching to get me through the last of the old.
At the same time, I'd been tracking an order from Denmark (!) that came quickly enough to New York, but sat for days before showing up in San Fransisco where it also sat for a bit (weather?). An order that originally was projected to arrive by February 13 blew past that date, not being delivered into my mail locker until last Thursday. I was amused at how on pins and needles I was about getting it, excited when the key to the package locker showed up in my box (along with delivery confirmation e-mail), then highly frustrated when I couldn't get the key to work. A note to the postperson produced the package at my door the next day . . . at last! And what was in that package?
 |
| 3 yarn "cakes" plus a sweet treat |
Yarn! I'm not supposed to be buying more yarn until I use up what I have on hand, or at least put a big dent in the stash. But as is often the case, I was lured into the purchase partly because of a sale (confession two). It all started with my downloading of free patterns that I hoped to pair up with that yarn on hand.
I'm discovering, though, that many of the new patterns aren't designed for use with the worsted weight yarn that was popular back when I was learning to knit. But they are beautiful so I download them anyway, and in the case of this pattern called Autumn Waves, I thought it possible to substitute my worsted wool for the cotton/acrylic blend called for. And of course, since I'd downloaded this pattern from the yarn company's site (Hobbii). I started getting e-mails from them. I'd look at what they were offering (always enticing) but blanch at the prices, and eventually question ordering from them at all when I discovered they were based in Denmark. Then came the sale e-mail with the yarn for this sweater 40% off. Ok fine, I'll give them a try. And I was able to use Thank You Points from my credit card to bring the price down even more. Sold!
And at least for now, I am not disappointed. This cotton yarn is so soft, unlike the 100 percent cotton yarn I knitted into sweaters years ago. Must be that addition of acrylic which should also give it more stability than that cotton I used that produced a sweater that was not only heavy but stretched under that weight. I still marvel at my excitement waiting for this yarn to arrive. It's not like it's something I will start right away. In fact, there are at least three smaller projects ahead of it on the knitting priority list once the current socks are done. Which, by the way, are progressing in spite of all the sports watching. Sock one is at the heel turning point, and I've switched to sock two to bring it up to the same point.
My conclusion: I'm insufferable when it comes to these things! But I can't deny how they excite me. 😊
5 comments:
You deserve some pretty new yarn!
I've always enjoyed knitting and the more complex pattern the better--but unfortunately there are only about five or six days here that a sweater would be useful---I could move to where I would need them--but I really don't like playing in the snow for weeks on end. that sweater pattern looks fun--and I know you will enjoy handling that wonderfully soft yarn
I'm with you Sylvia. When I got into knitting as a teenager, it wasn't long until I was picking more and more complicated patterns. I don't think I ever considered whether or not a pattern was too advanced for me. Just like with hand quilting, I loved seeing the patterns emerge and for there to be just enough complexity to hold my interest. Have always liked a challenge!
Well Sherrie, I not sure about the deserving part (lol) but at least now I'm not just buying random yarn because it's pretty or I like the feel of it but have no idea what to make with it. As a knitting mentor recently said of her own buying habits, "Now I'm buying with intention, to find a yarn for a particular project rather than picking up "rogue" skeins." I think I've been at that phase of my fabric buying for quite awhile. We've only got so much time left to make this stuff up!
BTW Sylvia, forgot to mention that our winter up here in Idaho has been so mild that I've only needed to break out my wool sweaters a few times. Very little snow either - not good for the snow pack but advantageous for those of us who worry about slipping and breaking something!
Post a Comment