The Knitting Maevan

There's nothing quite like updating one's blog on a Monday afternoon, wearing super comfy clothes and drinking some tea. I love reading week! Before I digress into reading week plans, I'll talk about this blog first. I've updated my links, my WIPs and added the knit-along I joined for Lucky. Wee :) Now, you must realize that while I work away on this little blog of mine, I'm terribly neglecting the mess-from-hell. Mess from hell? you ask. Yes, mess from hell. I'm moving. On Saturday. Yep, this saturday. As you can probably tell from my short sentences, I'm a little stressed. Very stressed. I have one week to turn this and this into an empty space, save for a few well organized boxes. Riiiight. These are my reading week plans. Pack like a mad woman (so that we're ready to go in an organized fashion on Saturday morning), write one short research paper and one much longer Lit essay. Oh, and study for a midterm I have on the Thursday I return to class in the religions class I've been neglecting. Woo! Meanwhile, I have friends from my past and present wanting to spend time with me (which, if you saw my panicked state, you'd question as well). I don't know how this is going to work, but I'm going to try my damnedest. Now, after that stress-filled update, on to knitting.

I had a very freeing moment yesterday. While at work, I ripped out the basketweave scarf. I know I said I loved how it was turning out... but I've changed my mind. It was bland, unexciting and tedious. Maybe one day, I'll return to the Mom's Sophisticated Scarf pattern, but for now, it's become:

The Irish Hiking Scarf
I am adoring this scarf! Honestly, I don't know why I was so scared of cables. Watching Lis work on Mariah had my stomach in knots. I didn't think I'd ever be able to make a cable as pretty as her's. Well, I'm feeling much more confident now. I love cables :) (Here's a better shot of my cable work. Can everyone see it ok, or should I lighten it?) As well as working on this scarf, I'm also going to try to start on Dublin today so that I can get it to Pat before the winter is up.

In other news, I'm trying to convince Pat to pick up some yarn for me online (I have hidden my own credit card away so as to avoid future maxing out) for Lucky. The knit-along starts on March 1st and I can't wait to get started. Nothing like starting your first sweater to inspire you to hide away from the world and create something pretty. This is the yarn I've chosen thanks to some suggestions on the Lucky blog:

It's Endless Summer from Elann.com. I hope I can make the guage work. I'm a little nervous about that.

I think I may be crazy, but I think I'm also going to start on Kyoto as soon as possible. While the pattern recommends cotton, I'm thinking about using Paton's Decor, as it is the right guage and the stuff is lovely to work with (according to Lis). The only think I'm worried about is the drape of the piece. From other experiences I've read, people recommend a firmer cotton so that the piece doesn't sag. Hmm. We'll have to wait and see. I'm also definitely going to lengthen the piece. I'm not fond enough of my stomach to be showing it off.

On a completely unrelated note, I adored Constantine.

I have a feeling this one won't be well recieved by most viewers, but I don't care. There was a winning formula with this one for me. I love these angels/devils/supernatural stories, add Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz and some very impressive cinematography, you get a happy Heather. The character of Gabriel was incredibly well done, in my opinion. The only issue I had with the whole thing was their portrayal of Lucifer (being a lit nut and a student of religion, I believe he should be more beautiful, young and attractive than a middle-aged unattractive creepy man with a lisp) and the demons (firstly, I don't think that they should all look the same, secondly, I don't really picture demons all looking like lanky evil gollums. They could have been alot more creative here).

I think I'm going to be able to send off my Secret Pal's first package tonight or tomorrow. :) How exciting. Meanwhile, I also managed to talk my way into a few imps from BPAL which should be sent out from their destination tomorrow. I'm getting Harlot (description from the site: Based on a Romany incense blend reputed to induce sexual dreams: Somalian rose, Moroccan rose and Bulgar rose with a sultry dribble of cinnamon), Queen Mab (Warrior, Trickster and Goddess of Magic and Poets, she is one of the Tuatha De Danaan and the Queen of the Faeries. A very complex scent, both shadowy and fierce: black orchid, sandalwood, night-blooming jasmine, osmanthus, Somalian rose, and Chinese musk) and Magdalene (A stirring yet gentle perfume. The scent of love and devotion mingled with an undercurrent of heart-rending sorrow. A bouquet of white roses, labdanum, and wild orchid). I can't wait to get them :)

Anyway, I should get back to work on the MfH.