There are not words for how much I love mail with yarn in it. Last skein for the Indian Floral Vest arrived today. Fellow KnitLister Margo Lynn very kindly shared her stash with me in the form of Brown Sheep's discontinued Goldenrod Cotton Fleece. I had decided to use the Cotton Fleece as a substitute for the sample yarn in this project for a number reasons, including: I am afraid of silk and said silk tallied $189 (that seemed excessive to me.) But I needed that Goldenrod! It was the perfect in-between shade for my Harvest and Banana trim (the vest is red.) One of the shopowners I talked to said it was discontinued at least a year ago.

Thank you again Margo Lynn!

I’ve noted in my regular ’net reading the consensus among KnitBloggers is the new issue of Knitter’s (expletive deleted.) I finally decided this morning what the magazine has come to suffer from most is an Extreme Dearth Of Inspiration. The saddest thing is, far removed from just not realizing it, the PTB at Knitter’s really seem to believe they ARE clever and cutting-edge.

Oh yeah, the YO heel -- I found the previous pattern I knitted with this heel and they are exactly the same. However, Priscilla's pattern in Interweave Knits clearly says how to do a YO on the wrong side at the beginning of the row and also states the YO has to be flip-flopped on the right side before it is worked. The SocksSocksSocks book did neither, and when I was a beginner I would not have been able to figure that stuff out on my own (now I probably would.) So I guess it was me, after all.

Summer issue of Knitter's arrived today. Not much in there that stays in my mind after I close the magazine. The cover sweater really caught my eye because the patterning reminds me of reptile skin. And the mitered socks are interesting. Also the Brioche Cloche.

I'm tired of the word "funky." I think it is being waaaaaaaay overused.

The heel of the Dresser Scarf Sock is a short-row heel with YOs (because it was designed by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts.) One of the first socks I ever did had a heel with YOs and I hated every minute of it, so, I've been reluctant to try Priscilla's socks because I didn't want to deal with using her heel or changing the pattern. Imagine my surprise! I have now not only completed her short-row heel, but I love it. It was easy and it looks great. I need to dig out my Socks-Socks-Socks and re-read the instructions for that sock I didn't like. I really wonder if the difference is in the heel or in me.

Have spent most of the last couple of days working my way through the sack of disposal novels I bought at the secondhand-paperback store last week -- taking it a little easy on my sore arm. For a change of knitting pace, however, I did make some progress on the first of my long-neglected Dresser Scarf Socks.

The Corset Pullover did an odd thing: one side of the neck came out three rows longer than the other side -- more than usual. All of the decreases at the armholes and the insides of the neck match, so it must because of the short-row shaping at the shoulder (on one side shaping began on the RS, and on the other, the WS). I can't leave it -- I did the back to match and one seam on the front of one shoulder and one seam at the back of the other is going to be too noticeable. As soon as I fix that, I’ll have the front and back and one sleeve done. I wonder if there is any chance I can have this done to wear on Saturday?

Been surfing the KnitBloggers WebRing, seeing what's up. I really enjoy reading other knitter's blogs, and lately many of my favorites are unofficially or officially (like Kate) on hiatus. I'm glad to see there is still a lot going on out there. I will say, one thing that makes me skip a blog is Too Much Stuff. I have mentioned here before that life on the Prairie means Way Primitive Internet Service. If any page has too much stuff on it, it takes YEARS to load. I may look calm on the outside, but I am the ADD poster-child on the inside.

Beka Tank is done but for the weaving in of ends. I showed it to my husband thinking he would like this one better than the first version, which didn't fit right. He still doesn't seem to like it.

I am really starting to worry about my right arm. I have been in pain, shoulder to elbow, for at least two weeks. In the last two days, the hurt seems to have settled permanently in my elbow. I think I know what the problem is: I sleep on my arm with my elbow crooked, I do computer work all day, and all my current knit projects are Extreme Resistance Fibers (cotton or acrylic.) Both the projects I intended to start next are cotton. SO, I will still begin the Indian Floral Vest as planned, but, instead of Core, I will start the Clock Vest as my second project. For a while yesterday I thought about using stash yarn for the Clock Vest, then I thought, "Why compromise my stash when I know Matt and Rob?"

My kit for the Sashiko Jacket arrived from Nordic Fiber Arts yesterday. (Pretty good since I ordered it Sunday.) This Rauma 3tr (3-ply?) Strikkegarn is very nice. It's a little crunchy but not unpleasantly so, and the color is excellent. I am so looking forward to this project that I want to do it NOW, but I also want to do the Indian Floral Vest NOW, and the projects are too similar in construction type. I have to work on different things or I get frustrated (never bored.)

Stargate Watch: In Toby Keith's and Willie Nelson's duet video, Toby's cop-partner is portrayed by Corin Nemec aka Jonas Quinn. AND, when I was rewatching some Season 3 SG:1 this week, I realized where I had seen the Nietzschean Ataturk on the last Andromeda before: it's Martouf!

The Prairie is crawling with turtles. Every few yards as you drive down the gravel roads and highways there's a turtle doing its best to get across. Why does the turtle cross the road? Breeding Season! Whenever I see one I get a bit tickled at it: plodding along, slow as molasses, Looking For Love.

As I was finishing the cups of the Beka Tank, I was a little perplexed by the term "edge st." On the chart, this is a square with a dot in it, and they run, of course, along the edge. I wondered how to work the "edge stitch" and apparently I am not alone. When I used Google, I found Kersten's somewhat tart letter to someone who asked the same question. I decided to use reverse stockinette on my edge because I hoped it would curl in and under, and, even if it didn't, it was consistent with the patterning leading up to it.

Now that Buffy is over, there is one less show on TV worth watching. So, since American TV is at its best when it's ripping off British TV, I hereby submit my Star Choice for an American version of Jonathan Creek. Ready? How about Buffy alumni and real-life lovers Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof? I think it would be interesting to see Alyson combine that quirky thing she does so well with the almost-pathological ambition and aggression that is Maggie. Alexis is really too handsome, but he's done geeky before and I think he could strike the right Jonathan balance: cute, brilliant, repressed, neurotic. Hollywood, are you listening?

(Trivia Note: In the original pilot for Jonathon Creek, Jonathon's boss, Adam Claus, is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head -- Buffy's Giles! In every subsequent episode, he is played by someone else.)

Went to the Big (not really) City today to see the dermatologist and go shopping. I got the D-rings for the Corset Pullover. The first store didn't have enough silver, so I bought gold, then I bought silver at the second store. I'll decide which I like better when I have the pullover pieces done.

I also had lunch with Cousin Lana (very yummy Chinese food) and then pinned her down and forced her to look at ALL my works in progress. I wanted a second opinion of the yarn I've collected so far for the Indian Floral Vest. Hers is mine -- not sure yet. Hopefully, I'll have the last skein very soon so I can start swatching.

Buffy series finale last night was great. I have long thought that the end of Season Five was so dramatic and beautiful that it would have the perfect ending to the series, but now I am so glad they gave us the ending they did. It was such a strangely optimistic finale. Now, the ANDROMEDA season ender was a real nail-biter. I was knitting on the edge of my seat. Of course, if I had looked up the SciFi TV news on the internet before I watched the show instead of after, I would have known that was going to be Tyr’s last episode.

A hitch in the Beka Tank: there are two columns of eyelets marching up the front across each set of ribs. On the first, you YO then knit, and the second, you YO then purl. SO, my second sets of eyelets are bigger than the first sets. I should have done the wrap-it-wrong routine on the second sets to pull them up tighter but I AM NOT GOING BACK NOW. It's just not that noticeable. (Found a pic HERE, but you'll have to scroll down to the "Olive Top." Isn't my name better? Also my tank is shiny black microspun, more in keeping the Beka Space-Style.)

Here’s what my husband thinks of the Beka Tank: “You’re going to wear a shirt under that, aren’t you?” ....Uh, no.

Had to tape the season finale of Andromeda last night (will watch tonight) because I FINALLY got an opportunity see X2. If there is anyone out there reading this nonsense, I want to know: who would YOU try to hook up with at the Mutant Singles Bar -- Cyclops or Wolverine? I'm basing this strictly on their movie personas -- not comic book or cartoon.

I forgot to record here my deliberations on the Jailbird Cardy finishing. As I inspected the inside of the steeked edges down the front after I pulled it out of the dryer, it occurred to me that I could trim the ends close and crochet an edge over them, then whipstitch that edge down. I did a few experiments and, frankly, I still like the idea, but I decided not to use it on the striped sweater. I thought the solid color edge would be too noticeable. Also, I realized that a nice grosgrain ribbon facing would be more in keeping with the Retro-Prep theme of the design. For buttons, I decided on some genuine vintage faux-bone buttons from the stash I inherited from my husband’s grandmother. In the end, all that went wrong is that the bottom edge still curls up. I think it is actually because my cast-on edge is a hair too tight. Need to remember that in future.

SciFi TV Reality Note: Michael Shanks (Stargate's Daniel Jackson) and Lexa Doig (Andromeda!) are engaged.

Watched The Making of Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron on HBO this morning because I'm fascinated by animation. They described a horse as an animator's worst nightmare. All their artists studied horses for months with a dozen experts on horse anatomy and psychology. Don't you think at least one of those experts could have told them that horses slurp water, they don't lap it like a dog?

There is a photo of the Sashiko Jacket at Nordic Fiber Arts -- and a KIT, at the very place where I had just about decided to order my kit for the Norsk Strikkedesign sweater. How's that for a kick?

May put the Corset Pullover on pause and resume the Beka Tank for an All Andromeda Weekend. Re-broadcast of last week's episode this afternoon and season finale tomorrow. (Can you believe that Andromeda Seasons 1 & 2 are only available on DVD ONE DVD AT A TIME? That makes them more expensive than the X-Files.)

One 50gm ball of Weird Green yarn made four good-sized swatches, just in case you were wildly interested.

My husband's bonus check arrived within days of the income tax refund check. I need to stake my claim on a portion of the bounty before the Great Kennel Project begins and it all disappears. Wish list: sweater design software, yarn for the Sashiko Jacket and, just for kicks, the kit for the Norsk Strikkedesign Blue Princess Sweater (in anticipation of the day when I become a Completely Insane Knitter.)

Figuring out what yarn to buy for the Sashiko jacket has been a challenge. It requires DK wool in three hues of dark blue plus Charcoal and Natural. I'm leaning toward Cleckheaton Country 8, but I took a hard look at Jamieson DK. Both met the gauge requirements, but I read once (I think it was Debbie Bliss) that when substituting one should calculate the yardage per gram for the yarn to compare actual weight (of yarns of the same fiber.) Country 8 was a lot closer, but it occurred to me that the Jamieson may be "fuzzier" and that is why it is lighter but knits at the same gauge. I'm not sure -- I've not really taken time to handle it when I've been in its presence.

Progress being made on the Corset Pullover, but there are no D-rings at Wal-Mart. That is one thing that sucks about life on the Prairie: Wal-Mart is the only general store within 60 miles. If they don't have it, you just don't get it. To finish the CP I need D-rings for the straps. I have to go to the Big City for a doctor's appointment next Wednesday but I hope to be ready for them this weekend. I could try to go Saturday, but I hate to make that trip twice in one week.

If anyone thinks I admire Hee Seop Choi just because he is big and tall and handsome, I have to say that is Just Not True.

Internet knitting (when I can get on-line) now is Just Plain Swatches. I have 20 balls of wool I bought from eBay last year (provenance unknown -- the language on the labels may be Chinese. Or Korean. Or .....) It's a gray-green-brown color that defies description and, although the color is better once it's made up, I still think it would benefit from serious overdyeing. Hence, the swatches. I figured I'd turn one ball into as many swatches as it makes and open up a Mad Scientist's Dyeing Kitchen here sometime.

At the risk of sounding like a gadget-obsessed KnitDweeb, I bought a handy thing a week or so ago. It’s called a Page-Up. I got it at Waldenbooks where they had it displayed as a note holder, but it is great for holding up a knit pattern so I can refer to it while I’m working. It’s been a lifesaver on this Corset Pullover since I have to look at the directions A LOT and I don’t like having to drop the work to pick up the pages.

Buffy party tonight!

If there were only enough curse words.... Our electricity went off a half hour before Andromeda was supposed to start and didn't come back on until fifty minutes into the show. That's right, I got to see just enough to find out that our special guest stars tonight were Michael Shanks and Christopher Judge. DANIEL JACKSON AND TEAL'C WERE ON ANDROMEDA AND I MISSED THE WHOLE THING!

I got some more of the Corset Pullover done while it was still light enough outside. Grrrr.

Done with the first Corset Pullover sleeve -- the shaping for the sleeve cap was Tight. There wasn't any room for me to adjust the decreases for my row gauge being off. I don't know if this is going to be a big deal yet or not. When I have the back done I’ll know better how it's going to seam together. Speaking of seams, the designer of this garment specifies that the selvedge be done in garter stitch. I usually find seaming easier if the selvedge is stockinette, but I thought I'd go with it and see what happens.

I see from my Blog rounds (I managed to be on-line for over an hour yesterday) Kate is crocheting. I do love to crochet, and I've been thinking about it again lately because I picked up a copy of Crochet Fantasy at Books-A-Million the other day and found it full of CLOTHES. Back when I Only crocheted that magazine was mostly full of doilies, afghans and odd little bits of things like toilet roll covers. So I bought it because I want the tunic on the cover and the little lacey vest inside. My last crochet project, which I finished about a month ago, was this Shawl, for bud Brandy as a Graduation gift.

Woo Hoo! It's Sunday and tonight at 7 Andromeda's GOING BAD.

At last! I am on-line. Terrible time with my internet connection lately due mostly to STORMS ALL THE TIME. But, I'm lucky -- no tornadoes here so far. Getting along on the repair work to the Beka Tank and have almost finished one sleeve of the Corset Pullover. Yarn for the Indian Floral Vest is trickling in (I hate the words “back-order.”)

The Beka Tank is TOO BIG. Aaargh! Sadly, I fear that, even if it weren't too big, it wouldn't fit right due to portions of my anatomy that deviate from standard (one example -- short midriff.) So I took a bunch of measurements of myself this morning and I'm going to try some more swatching (swatching is my life) and I don't know what I'm going to end up with when this project is finished. Exciting, no?

I just can't get enough of Maroon 5.

Would be almost finished with the Beka tank by now if not for this: when I was two rows from the point where I was to start the chart for the cups, I took a break to review said chart and realized I had goofered. I had misinterpreted the chart for the YOs going up the front. I decided to drop down the stitches and crochet-hook-em-up which is a real pain on YO patterns. Only took me about 45 minutes, though. Still, I was hoping to get this done tonight and I wanted to at least cast on one of the sleeves for the Corset Pullover so it would be ready to pick up tomorrow instead of ready to start tomorrow.

At last! A new Buffy premiered this week and The Truth Is Out There: everyone decided that Buffy has become so cold, arrogant and disconnected that she is no longer fit to lead. THIS is the story they should have told last year when Buffy first crawled out of her grave and left half her humanity in her coffin, instead of wasting time on the Buffy and Spike S&M Carnival. Am I being harsh? I just don’t like where they took the characters last year. It was interesting to see Willow channeling evil, but it would have been MORE interesting if they had just let Giles go gracefully and developed Willow into the leader of the group, then had BUFFY turn bad.