Refrained from buying yarn!

Will wonders never cease? Today I was a speaker at the AAUW's Annual Literary Luncheon at the Surf & Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach. And directly across the street is one of my favorite LYS's, Strands and Stitches. I love the little store. Such a great selection of yarn--mostly natural fibers and a few acrylics that are nice--all arranged by color.

So after the luncheon, I went to the store. I had been thinking to pick up Rowan's Kidsilk in a deep purple that I'd seen there, for another birch shawl.

But then, the strangest thing happened. I looked at a bunch of yarns I loved, and then I didn't buy a one. I remembered the Getaway Satchel at home that's only a fraction of the way finished, and I want it for the end of April when we go to NY. I remembered my To Dye For sweater, almost finished. I remembered the clapotis I just began using Silk Garden.

And I left, with colors and textures swirling about in the spongy pathways of my brain. "When you finish what you started, you can begin again. But not until," I told myself. And my self listened.

Amazing.

Knitting schtuff

Oh, it's been a while since I blogged, I know. (Sorry, Jill!) I've been busy...knitting! Ever have days (weeks, even) where all you want to do is knit? If time is money, then I'm cash poor. I'm meeting my writing deadlines, but I just want to knit. If it's true that knitting is as meditative and relaxing as yoga, then I must need major relaxing. I do like how the kinks in my brain begin to unknot when I knit.

I've been working on a felted bag for Travis--a shoulderbag from Knitty.com. It's done except for the weaving in of the ends. Hopefully I'll get to it later today, and felt this evening.

And here's my getaway sachel. The front... and the messy back.

Also started another clapotis (at bottom) and am finishing up another To Dye For sweater.

Like I said, it's all I want to do.

Weekend Getaway Satchel

I'm making the satchel from the Fall 2005 issue of Interweave Knits and I can't wait to begin.

I just ordered from www.knit2purl2.com on Wednesday and the box arrived today (Saturday). Here it is, so much lovely yarn. As someone else said, I've never received so much yarn at once. (That's Travis outside the window, holding up the photo of the gorgeous satchel..)

I ordered the hardware from the suppliers mentioned in the pattern: Oregon leather co. for the buckles (I called them) and the bag opening and other hardware from www.ghees.com.

I can't wait to start.