Some of the PurlyGirls and I took the ferry over to Bainbridge Island this weekend for one of the local yarn shop’s summer sidewalk sale. I did something unprecedented: I didn’t buy a single thing. I NEVER leave a yarn shop empty-handed…especially when there’s a sale on. Mind you, I’m not boasting about personal restraint. That certainly didn’t come into play. This strange turn of events was brought about by several factors. First, I have so many projects going that I’m feeling overwhelmed. The thought of buying yarn for yet another project made me break out in a cold sweat. Or was the sweat brought on by the scorching summer weather we’ve been enduring? The hot weather also had something to do with me not purchasing anything at the sale. The thought of picking up wool when even my fingers felt sweaty was enough to squelch my yarn lust.

I had no idea that was possible.

So, while the other PurlyGirls were running around picking out some great bargains, I sat in the air conditioned shop and knit. It was really quite pleasant. You’ll never guess what I’m working on…remember back at the beginning of the year I joined the Audrey knit along and then gave up because I was having so much trouble with the Calmer yarn? Well, I’m no longer a knit along drop out! Something “clicked” for me and I’m having much better luck getting the yarn to do my bidding. I’ve just run into one small problem: the fabric of my back piece keeps developing holes where I’ve worked the M1 increases. I’ve tried knitting them in a variety of different ways with a variety of tensions, but it’s just not working for me. How did the others do it? I don’t see holes in their beautiful sweaters! I may try using a bar increase, but am concerned that it would look ugly. I guess there’s nothing to lose by trying…

I bet you thought you’d see a picture of my finished everyday cardigan, didn’t you? Alas, it’s still not finished. It turned ridiculously hot around here and I couldn’t bear to work with the wool :sheep:, so I only knit about one quarter of the second sleeve. What did I do in the meantime? Start a new project, of course!

This is the Tiger Sweater from Zoe Mellor’s Animal Knits. I’m knitting it with the Rowan cotton that is called for by the pattern. Remember earlier this summer when I complained that cotton was the bane of my knitting? Well, I recant that…at least with regard to this particular cotton. It’s lovely to knit with. It’s very tightly spun, so it doesn’t split easily and my stitches are coming out very even. What’s more, the colors are so vivid and fun.

I’m having fantasies about finishing this in time for my son’s third birthday, which falls on August 10, but deep down, I know that I’ll never make that deadline. I’ll probably start another project or two before then, because I have no self control Even if I do manage to stick to just this project, I have to learn intarsia to make the tiger and I figure that’s going to require numerous frogging episodes. I’m also trying not to think about how long it’s going to take me to weave in all those ends.

Nevertheless, it’s fun to dream!

While I’m feeling a little bit better than I have been, I decided to stay home from work one more day. Like an idiot, I went in yesterday and came home absolutely wiped out. Hopefully a little rest and relaxation will restore me to my usual self. It’s so difficult being incapacitated like this when you’ve got two little ones to care for.

Anyway, while I’m at home, I’ve been doing a little bit of knitting on my Peace Fleece cardi. I’m starting to think that I should have made it one size larger than I did. What do you think? Is it too small? Or is it just right? I do have the unfortunate tendency to wear ill-fitting clothes, so I suppose my insecurity about how this is fitting could be related to that.

Try not to be too horrified at how ghastly I look. (I’m sick, remember?) And I know the unfinished cardi which has been safety-pinned together and has ends hanging out all over the place isn’t helping too much either. *sigh*

Moving on to more cheerful topics…

We had a ball last weekend. Sam attended a birthday party at the zoo on Saturday. It rained buckets while he was there, but he and his friends didn’t mind a bit. They deliberately tipped back their umbrellas so they were soaked to the skin. He really liked the baboon exhibit this time. During previous visits, he seemed more taken with the hyenas and lions.

On Sunday, we drove to Snoqualmie for a Day Out with Thomas. Sam enjoyed walking through all the train exhibits, watching a puppet show, getting a temporary tattoo rubbed onto his arm (it’s still there!), and, best of all, taking a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine. There are some pretty darn cute photos of our excursion in the new photo gallery I’ve been attempting to set up.