Knitting in Public

No stomach virus, no sinus infection, no allergies - I have no excuses for abandoning my blog for a week. Oh wait - I do have one - no air conditioning! It's like a billion degrees in Philadelphia, my airconditioner is on the fritz, and all I can say is -- I'm melting!!!! I must have lost five pounds in my own house. I had planned to do a post on how to wear the pi shawl - because figuring that one out was almost harder than knitting the darn thing - but it's too hot in my house to actually wear it. Post coming soon - as soon as the weather breaks.

Luckily, I am on vacation, so I've been doing a lot of poolside knitting. June 10th is apparently knitting in public day, and I've always knit in public, so I when I first heard about the "event" I wasn't sure what the big deal was. Lately, I've begun to understand how someone could be forced into the closet with their needles. On Saturday, before I was off to spend 12 hours with my over excitable 3 yr old niece, I decided I needed at least a good hour of quality knitting time, so I decided to knit in Rittenhouse Square. The temperature hadn't yet soared to its current unbearable level, and it was a beautiful day, lovely breeze, and there was a bench with my name on it. Well, my bench was several benches down from Michael's bench, one of the park's resident homeless guys. The homeless, the drug addled, the crazed - eh, they don't bother me - I usually get a professional daily dose. So, when Michael decided that he needed to chat about my knitting, I indulged him for a moment, and then nodded politely, and slipped on my earbuds. You're going under - yep. Ok, I won't bother you anymore. Liar. Every five minutes, he was back - to expound on the color of my yarn, about how it matched his tatoo, when he got to the part about how I reminded him of his ex-wife - the good one -- I knew it was time to abandon ship . . . I left my bench, the park, and my one hour of solitary knitting.

So, I headed to the train, and I knit on the platform. The train arrived, I boarded, and continued to knit, headphones firmly in place. Somewhere around Manayunk, two stops into my trip, there was an insane yelling in my ear. I turned, in a panic - and right in my face, like a movie image, there was this lunatic screaming in my ear about how he should have learned to knit after he had his leg blown off in Vietnam, how he would have knit anywhere, he didn't give a damn what people thought of him, I shouldn't give a damn - I should have learned, he said, again, and again. Yeah, I said, well, its never too late to learn . . . I got this bum leg, see . . . on and on. Luckily, he got off at the next stop, because there was no where to run, I was trapped.

And then, there was knitting in front of my 3 year old niece, when we had a rest from playing with princesses, swinging, singing, marching, coloring, making a project, bouncing the ball . . . why are you knitting? Because I like it. Why? Because it's relaxing. Why? . . . Why? why? why?

Some days . . . maybe its just better to leave the needles at home.

Sea of Broken Hearts Shawl

In a Sea of Hearts, it's hard to find the crooked ones -- yes, Crooked Hearted Pi Shawl is complete. Is it any wonder that I've made so many ill-advised men choices -- on first glance, all of the hearts look the same.
It's only on closer inspection that you see a heart go astray.

Amazing Lace, Team Challenge #1 - Meet the Team!

THIS SUMMER'S MOST ANTICIPATED THRILLER!!!

Maryland Sheep and Wool Revisited

Now that I've put Sheep and Wool to rest on the podcast, and I'm now in a healthy state to blog - although, I don't know about my mental health when I think of all of the yarn I bought - and then, like a lunatic, continued to buy in the 2 weeks following the festival, and the yarn I'm contemplating buying at Rhinebeck in October - it's time to revisit Maryland Sheep and Wool.

Does anyone in this motely crew look like they have a dirty little secret in their basement? Folks, as Oprah keeps reminding us everyday, there are strangers lurking among us, and those who suffer in silence - addiction is everywhere! Last night, I was invited into Merrill's nightmare. I descended the steps into her basement. With each step I took, anticipation built, mixed with eh, it can't be that bad. IT'S THAT BAD.

Boxes and boxes of Manos -- I think she has more Manos inventory than Rosie's. What were you thinking - it's not even that cold in Philadelphia!!! Skeins of Mohair, that she's allergic to? I'm not even going to talk about the Anne, the Silk Garden, the Koigu, the cashmere. Overcome, I quickly started bundling up - eBay will never be the same. Here is her test lot: 11 Skeins of Teal, both solids and multis. So far, there's 1 bid, for $64.00 - basically, half price. More lots to come. Many more - and my commission? That Anne looks lovely, or the Silk Garden . . .

It's so ironic, because of all of my knitting friends, Merrill could get by on the least amount of yarn - she's meticulous, and a perfectionist, and is constantly ripping, and painstakingly reknitting. In theory, she could probably live on one major project a year. She could sit, knit and reknit one thing ad infinitum. Anyway, with the full knowledge that she has a complete yarn store in her basement, she still purchased this Silk/Wool blend from Roz Houseknecht: And, it's just not a party to Merrill buys cashmere



Did I buy cashmere? From the money I spent, you would think that I did. I went with several projects in mind, but I actually only managed to buy yarn for one predesignated project. Clapotis has been on the web circuit for how many years, and it's finally catching on in Philly - it's the thing. So, I broke down, and decided, ok, me too - and went in search of Clapotis wool. I started at Brooks Farm, which was a madhouse, which was a particular shame to me because I wanted to interview Brooksy Jr. for the podcast. Instead, I interviewed the llama man:
These llamas live in Maryland, and when I was interviewing Llama man, I asked him how they ended up in Maryland, and he said, because we moved from Illinois. Sometimes, I think I'm speaking a different language than everyone else - how did these nonindigenous animals end up here? Whatever, never did find out that answer, or what compels someone to start a llama farm.

But, back to the Clap. The Brooks' Farm people did have a Clap knit up, and Mr. Brooks told me that it was their new Four Play, their new blend sans mohair. So, I picked up 3 skeins, and when I was just about to purchase them, he popped his head around the register, and said, ok, who did I lie to? That would be me - their Clap was actually knit up in the Duet. The line was long, I liked the skeins that I had, the woman at the register who wanted to move me along assured me that it would make a lovely Clap, so I went along with it, but in the back of my mind, I knew the hunt for the Clap was not yet over.

But before the Clap, before the llamas, there was Koigu. While waiting for Merrill and Janet, who seemed to take an endless amount of time getting a turkey sandwich at the WaWa (across the street from the Dunkin Donuts), I began to get stressed - we'll miss the Koigu! Every second that ticked away was another skein snatched out of my hands in my colorway. But, once we were on the road, I thought again - I had just bought 11 skeins of Koigu. I have plenty of Koigu. I don't need Koigu -- of course, when we got there, I threw myself into the feeding frenzy, but I just decided to buy enough for a scarf, and not take the Koigu thing to a new level of mismatched stashery. So, this modest lot will be a scarf - either in Seafoam, or something like the one knit up in the Koigu booth - in a crisscross like stitch, something Cross, I can't remember what it's called.

But, back to the clap. I met up with Robin and Ronnen. Robin already bought her piggy bank for next year's Sheep and Wool: And, her haul of Koigu is, well, er, not modest: So, I went off with Robin, and while she was searching for the perfect Clap yarn, in the back of my mind, there was an opening for different yarn, as I was not quite satisifed. I took her to Roz Houseknecht, a handweaver from whom I had bought a handdyed alpaca last year, that eventually became my feather and fan shawl. Robin went to town: And, as anyone who read 2 posts ago, I couldn't resist - And then, we were all quite exhausted: Accept for Knitty D, who was dancing around with one of her three skeins of Cherry Tree Hill Merino She forced me to buy this skein: Honestly, truly, by that point in the day, I was really done buying - and I was out of my Commerce Bank change exchange found money -- she made me do it! $40 for 2400 yds of Merino laceweight. Unfortunately, when I went to wind it, the skein behaved badly, and right now, it's taking a time out. It's not looking good - handwinding 2400 yds? See, I'll be punished. I should have known because as I was standing in line, my sinner card Mac card kept leaping out of my hands - I can't tell you how many times I dropped the card - it was quite the spectacle. And now, what do I have to show for it? If it every finds itself in a wound state, as opposed to the snarly knotty messs it is now, it will be Peacock Feathers - so my mom can wear it to her red hat society things.

And the rest of my purchases, geez - I can hardly bear to look - as I post the following pictures, I do so with my hands over my eyes, peaking through 2 split fingers - oy!

Shetland Sock yarn (why did I buy 2 skeins? Just in case it wasn't meant to be socks . . . )






Mystery mill ends (only $3 a skein, come on! at those bargain basement prices)







Kid Mohair (oh, come on, it's so pretty - you would have bought it too!):











Laceweight alpaca (Knitty D made me buy this too - well, actually, she tried to make me buy it in a different color - a midnight blue, but I put it down for a second, and snatch! it was gone - 880 yds - ideas anyone??)












And, the multiple views of the whole lovely lot of it! Mine! Mine! Mine!



And tomorrow my friends, what I've bought since . . . I think I'm going to be quite ill again . . .

It's been so long since I've updated the blog, I'm having trouble even starting a post. On the weekend, if I don't have brunch plans, its not unusual for me to not open my mouth all day. When I finally hear the sound of my voice, it's strange, a stranger, and it's almost as if I have to practice talking to become myself again. And, that's what it feels like blogging for the first time in a week. After the week of sinus/allergy hell, I was felled by the almighty 48 hour stomach bug. I put down my knitting needles on Saturday, and could not pick them up again until Tuesday - if I can't knit, you know I'm sick. I was so afraid, however, that my mom would think I was exaggerating, or actually had a hangover, or was simply trying to blow-off Mother's Day, that I went to my parent's house anyway. So, for Mother's Day, I not only gave my mom the Kimono Shawl - which she loved, I gave her a stomach virus too. Ooopsy. She was really funny about the Shawl. She decided that yes, in fact, it would go with the brown skirt, but that she would have to buy a cream colored top to go with it. I found it hard to believe that in all her years of clothing accumulation, she didn't have a cream top, but whatever. Then, because the house was fairly chilly, she wore the thing around the house with her jeans. That's it, I told her, you don't need the brown skirt - its the perfect casual look with denim. No, it's not fancy enough . . . Sigh. But, in honor of Mother's Day, even if a little late, I've created a link to my Mother's Chicken Soup Recipe and I'll eventually add it to the side bar. Slurp up!

In podnews, Episode 3.5 is up! I spliced it together from what felt like my deathbed, in time, or actually a bit late for Mother's Day. I called it 3.5 because I could not figure out how to compress the mp3 file in iTunes, and in order to get the file small enough to upload, I had to chop off Sheep and Wool Sluttage. I thought I would just put the S&W Yarn Sluts up as Part II the next night, but I really was wiped out from all of my trips to the bathroom, and then I decided I would just make another episode around it - look for Episode 4 sometime this weekend probably. I did get a chance to listen to Pointy Sticks podcast while on my sickbed, and she had a discussion about the vision of her podcast, not as a personal journal, but as a knitting magazine. I don't know what Knitty D and I were thinking. It was more like Andy Rooney and Judy Garland - hey kids! let's put on the show! We can use the old vaudeville costumes out of Aunt Esmerelda's closet, and use the barn as a stage! Neat-o! I guess I envisioned more of a knitting variety hour a la Sonny and Cher, like the View without Starr Jones and scientology. Anyway, I don't see our vision growing, or changing, we just try to be entertaining - although Knitty D says we don't have to try, we just are.

In actual knitting news, I did drop several rows of Clapotis - now I know what it looks like, and now, I'm over it. Feh, as grandma would say. Oh, I'll pick it up again sometime, but it's really boring!! And you know what else is boring - Icarus - but more about that later, when I get my Team Photo together for the Amazing Lace.

Speaking of the Amazing Lace, I met Theresa last night - we did the Philly yarn circuit - I exercised my bad influence over her, and she bought Koigu at Rosies, and Linen at Loop. Just what she needed, more yarn to cram in her already packed up stash. Did I have my camera to document this monumental meeting of blogs- nope, I forgot. Still braindead from the virus -- maybe it was really the bird flu. I did interview her about the Amazing Lace, though, for the podcast. When I first read the rules, I kind of scratched my head, but thought, since I was already planning a summer of lace, I'd be game and play along. Now, it's all crystal clear.

And, since I got my IRS check back, I treated myself as well -- yes, Knitty D, I bought something - more than one somethings - and you'll have to wait 'til you get back from the Cape and our next Yarn Sluts to see!

Hmmm, I wonder how many times over the next few months I can rationalize presents to myself as a result of my IRS refund?

Priorites?

Now that the rain has stopped, and the pollen has cleared the air, my brain is now prepared to not only knit, but write about knitting. You see, for the past week, I've been living like David Blayne, as if my head were submerged under water. But, I didn't see Katie and Matt knocking on my door - and I was suffering, yes siree, what about the suffering of the common folk? Sheesh.

Anyway, Mother's Day is fast approaching, and I had to put all of my
Sheep and Wool thoughts on the back burner, and concentrate on finishing Kimono Shawl. With only 3 repeats to go (based on weighing what was left of my skein, not based on the actual pattern. I have no idea how many repeats I actually did), it was still the last thing I wanted to knit. Especially when I don't think my mom is even going to like it. When I went home for Passover, she showed off the new clothes she bought for the cruise she's going on next week. She bought a brown skirt, and a few tops to go with it - a fancy top, and a not so fancy top. Then, when I blocked Highland Triangle on her dining room floor, she said, hmmm . . . it's too bad that's not brown. Well, it's not brown. But if it were brown . . . you're welcome to take it on your cruise. But it's not brown. I know, it will never be brown - and, just get it out of your head - I already started your mother's day present, and it's not brown. And, here is the not brown Kimono Shawl:

I love it, so if she doesn't want it . . . I can always make Highland Triangle again, in brown. But, by then, it will be another cruise, and another skirt she's building a wardrobe around, and she'll want Kimono. Maybe, for the next cruise, she can just build her suitcase around Kimono -- I would.

Someone recently asked me if I would consider making Kimono again. There are a lot of things I've knit that I would consider making again - either because I wasn't quite happy with the finished project (Ene - too small), I'm tired of repairing moth holes, and I would even do it in the exact same yarn, colorway and all (razor shell capelet in Kureyon), or I would just like another one because the first one didn't hold up so well (Twisty Turns - major pilling with the Silver Thaw), but I've found that my knitting is really about tackling something new - and I always have something up on deck ready to go, that I never seem to get a chance to revisit past projects. So, Kimono again - in theory, definitely. But, I kind of have my eye on that Bird's Nest Shawl from Folk Shawls, which is the same shape - so why would I do a pattern I've already done, when there's something new and exciting to cast on?

With that said, this desire to tackle the new and untried is also the source of my knitting speed. On Wednesday, at knitting circle, Robin and I both cast on Clapotis with the same yarn that we both bought from the same vendor, Roz Houseknecht, at Sheep and Wool. I had bought a skein of hand dyed alpaca from her last year, that eventually became my feather and fan shawl, which I love, and I was actively seeking her out again this year. My colorway is a brightly jeweltoned, and her's are beautiful pinks - in the coral family. Robin made it quite clear that she was not knitting a project "with" me, that it was just a happy coincidence that we were casting on at the same time, and could figure out the pattern together. I made a sad face as she teased me about how I would be done over the weekend, and I knit too fast, and it would just make her feel inadequate. I poo pooed that - this isn't my priority knitting - pi shawl is my priority. But, when I got home that night, I became obsessed - WHAT'S IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHEN I DROP THE STITCHES??? I think that's why I like knitting with hand dyed yarns so much, you're just never quite sure exactly what it's going to look like until you're done - and that's why I'm so fast - I need to know - I don't like suspense, I have to know, NOW.

So, here is Clap 2 rows away from dropping the stitches:This yarn, a hand dyed silk/merino blend, is yumm-o! I can't stop touching it. As soon as I'm finished it, I'm going to turn the air way up in my house just so I can wear it before the fall. I weighed the first part of the scarf, and determined that I had enough yarn (700 yards) for 2 extra repeats in the increase section, and I can't wait to see what it's going to look like. Because it's knit on a bias, and because the stitches are still on the needle, it's hard to tell - and the suspense is KILLING ME!!! Luckily, I'm supposed to start a homicide retrial in June, and the original trial is 7 volumes - my morning, once this post is over, will be spent plowing through Vols 5-7, and DROPPING THOSE DAMN STITCHES.


And what's up on deck - oh yeah, that pi shawl that's supposedly my priority:
Round and round - as it grows, I feel like I'm knitting a big tumor. I'm on about row 48 -- I'm not really counting rows at this point - in this 576 stitch round, the instructions say, knit 40 rounds, or until you get tired. The previous stretch was 48 rounds, so I can go up to 96 rows before I would have to increase again. I'm on the last skein of the multi for this section, and then I'm going to do a repeat of mauve, and a repeat of the celery, then I'm going to switch to seafoam and the multi to finish it off. So close!

Close enough to have the next project in mind. As soon as I saw the Interweave preview on line, before I ever got my issue in the mail, I knew I wanted to make Icarus. It reminds me of wings, and butterflies, and who doesn't want to be a butterfly? I had my eye out at Sheep and Wool, and I did buy a laceweight alpaca in Ecru that is usable, but the yarddage (875) - would make me nervous (project = 880) - would make me knit even faster to get to the end to know if I had enough yarddage. Then, I had my eye on Lilac Zephyr - a lilac butterfly. But, I CANNOT BUY ANY MORE YARN - not considering all of the wool I bought this weekend (which I will reveal over the weekend once I post the podcast tonight) - so while I have visions of purple butterflies dancing in my head, I'm going to revisit Stitches, and this hank that was originally purchased for Forest Path Stole, until I got nervous about the yarddage:
My fingers are itching to cast this on (especially since Knitty D already has, arrhh!), but I'm supposed to have my priorities . . . but I want to see what it's going to look like . . .

Ram on!

Episode 2 has arrived! Not without techical difficulties, however. I won't go into the details of my little Audacity meltdown with you, the episode is up, and if you listen, I know you'll feel like you were there, and it was actually your fingertips burried deep in Buddy's merino ram coat, not Knitty D's. I, however, was too busy drinking my wine to actually sink my manicured hands into Alfie or Buddies thick fleece (See picture below where I pretend to pet the ram).

Our weekend started with a trip to Commerce Bank. When Knitty D's mom was in town, they took their change, and hauled off to Penny Arcade at Commerce Bank. A light bulb went off - huh, I have change. A couple of years ago, or maybe five, I did scavenger around the house for change, and came up with like $200 in quarters - that change accompanied me to the black jack tables in Atlantic City. So, while I had never exchanged any of the change lying around my house - in TEN years - there weren't that many quarters - lot's of pennies - according to my receipt - $29.00 worth. So, first I tried to put all of the change in a jar. Not big enough. Then, I got a plastic bag. Not sturdy enough. So, then I got a big tote bag. Too heavy. Finally, I put the tote bag in a wheely suitcase, and planned to meet Knitty D at 5:30 at the bank.

Fortunately for me, my day ended early (i.e., I bagged the CLE at lunch and went shopping on N. 3rd Street), and my former roommate, Carla was in town for the day. It's ironic that Carla was in town, because in collecting my change, I noticed that there was a foreign coin here and there, Swiss francs, Italian lire - from my first trip to Switerzland four years ago. I assumed that Penny would just reject the foreign money, and continue sorting along nicely.

So, Carla and I wheeled my 75 lbs + suitcase of change to Devon, a restaurant with outdoor seating right on Rittenhouse Square. We ordered a bottle of wine, and waited for Knitty D. Knitty D called, I'm on my way - I dragged the wheely bag down the block to the Commerce Bank - and eek! Penny was broken. Drat. We dragged the bag, which by now was feeling somewhat like dragging a dead body, to the Woolmobile, and went to the Commerce Bank on Broad. Penny was waiting for us. As was Officer Livewell, one of Philadelphia's finest, assigned to the bank detail. As I opened the zipper of the wheely suitcase, and pulled out the tote bag filled with change, he clearly had this look on his face that said it all - "Women, sheesh." He hauled the bag up, and onto the counter, and started dumping the change into the sorter.
Not only had I not counted on the foreign money jamming up the machine, but, I certainly hadn't expected to find stitch markers of all things in the mix. Penny wasn't happy - I gave her indigestion. But, after a tweaking her, and changing her bags, she finished counting my change.

Back to the Wool Mobile, and we were off to Loop, and the Ram in the Van tour. Beer bottles, an exchange of small objects for money, garbage - these sights are all expected on South Street, but certainly not two rams penned in around a tree rooted in cement. While we were chatting with the rams for the podcast, at least a half a dozen cars slammed on their brakes - is that a sheep? what the f-? Chaos on South, but luckily, no carnage.
And, there was talk of carnage. While I was pretending to pet the ram, I was eavesdropping on the guy who owns Morehouse Farms talking to this couple, and he was telling them how they've had a problem with dead rams, and random killings on the farm. He then went on to tell them that they could only seek compensation from neighbors if they could prove the ram was killed by a dog - and he went on to describe the physical evidence you would find if it was a dog slaughter v. a coyote slaughter. Because I'm a sicko, I tried to spark conversation about that with Margarit Loher when I interviewed her.

Now, when we talked about naming the second episode of Knitty D and the City, the Simple Life, I never really saw any similarities between me and Paris Hilton. Surely, I am a brighter girl - I have a law degree, I have a conscience, I have the smarts - but, you're just going to have to listen to the interview, because I sound like a total dumb ass. Whatever, so I'll never make it on a farm . . . I can live with that.

And now, the dilemna - how much overlap between the podcast and the blog? Before I wrote the above, I mulled it over. If Harry Potter can have a book and a movie, and Superman can have a comic strip and a movie, and Little Stevie Van Zandt can be on the Sopranos, be in the E Street Band, have his own hideous clothing line, and his own talk radio show, I can have a blog and a podcast. However, I am going to save Sheep and Wool for the next post, to give whoever wants to a chance to listen to the podcast first. And, I definitely won't be revealing my stash, and future plans, until the end of the week.

Good things come to those who wait - and there are 16,000 yards to come . . .

Crooked Hearted Shawl

So, I recently ran into a snag with my Koigu Bleeding Hearts Pi Shawl - on the last row of the pattern repeat, I discovered a little late in the game that I needed to move the beginning of the round marker back a stitch for everything to line up properly. The result of this misalignment, is a crooked heart, scattered here and there.

So, hence the dilemna - can I live with a crooked heart?

Now, I've met many a crooked heart in my day -- a duplicitous boyfriend, a villanous cop, a pandering judge, a particular evil, hardhearted client. And, when a crooked heart is corrupt, the fabric of my life is not just snared, pilled, or pulled, but is as unmendable as the jagged tear inflicted on a lapel when a religious Jew rips his clothes in mourning.

But, then there's the crooked heart, that's not corrupt, but just slightly skewed - like a boxer's nose after a fight - a heart that's been knocked around, bent, dented, but is still well-meaning, if a bit misdirected. That heart, is altogether human. And, who wants a shawl of perfect hearts - because to be a perfect heart, would be to be a cold heart, and that's not what Koigu is about. So, I'm going to live with my crooked hearts, and with a little blocking, it will be hard to tell the broken hearts from the well-knit rest.

And, in other Koigu news, I cast on a pair of socks, in preparation for the goddamn CLE I have to take on Thursday and Friday, and lookey:








It's like a thunderbolt! Hopefully, the other skein will pool the same way!

Panic in Philly

I've always had the same panic dream - I've overslept for a final, and I'm running around campus trying to figure out if I'm going to fail or not. This, is sort of, based on a true incident. I had this math class that was divided into two parts - the first half of the class was logic, the second statistics. I got a 100 on the midterm - logic, and I stopped going to class, figuring I'd just teach myself statistics. Wrong, oh so wrong. I took the final, and I knew that I had failed the minute I put my pen down. I remember calling my mother and telling her that I had failed my first exam ever. Ok, will you graduate? Sure . . . the 100 and the zero should balance out to a passing grade, right? . . . but, for a few days there, while I waited for the final grades, I was a bit of a wreck. I ended up with my one and only D ever, but I got my diploma and said goodbye to Happy Valley. But, now, whether I'm on trial, or I have a brief due, or whatever, that's my panic dream -- until now.

Now, I have a Maryland Sheep and Wool panic dream. And, I don't know why -- I'm not in a panic, I have a plan. But, back to the dream. First, I dreamed that we weren't going - that I was waiting on a park bench in Rittenhouse Square for Knitty D to pick me up, and that Merrill came by, and said, You know, we're just not going to go. I started wailing - sobbing - sobbing so loud I nearly woke myself up. But, then the scene switched, and we were in the parking lot, and there were a lot of cars trying to get into pole position to drive down to Sheep and Wool. I discover that I only have my Visa card, no cash. So, I go to the money machine, put my card in, and the machine says - SINNER CARD, SINNER CARD. The woman behind me goes, "That means you don't have any money for Sheep and Wool." That can't be, I think, and I dash to the bank right before it closes, where I try to cash a check. The teller is already closing her til, and I find myself begging for money - only to have her look at me like I'm a complete nutso - I just have to have money for Sheep and Wool . . . and the alarm goes off.

And, why am I in a panic? I have no idea. I have a plan - I'm taking my change to Commerce Bank on Friday, and I should be good to go. And, I have a yarn buying plan - I even have the yardages laid out - I need:

1610 yards of laceweight for the Shetland Tea Shawl from Gathering of Lace
3600 yards of laceweight for Frost Flowers and Leaves from Gathering of Lace
1260 yards of laceweight for Peacock Feathers from Fiddlesticks
and 600ish yards for Clapotis

Of course, that list isn't set in stone - I really think that Frost Flowers, to be economically feasible, will probably end up being Zephyr. And that's a whole lot of lace going on - I can't imagine that something in another weight won't call to me . . . and, I have been kind of jonesing to make socks . . . and, there's the Koigu . . . and I really should get the parts to fix my spinning wheel . . .

Sinner card, sinner card . . . it's a good thing my Visa will be going with me.