More hair pulling - I mean unknitting

I don't get it, I work on my knitting diligently but suddenly I have something screwy going on. Today I sat knitting with my friend Andre at Delany's Coffee Shop, beginning with my lace doily knit along. Made about three stitches and realized a) I was already having a problem knitting two together with the life line in the way, and b) it was too dark in the place to knit well. Since my two (no, four) cataract surgeries, I have had difficulty reading or knitting in low light. Maybe I should take one of those Itty Bitty reading lights with me in my knitting bag.

Anyway, decided it was safer to put the doily back in the pack and pull out the Heavenly Camisole. I was in the process of adding a new ball, but forgot so after getting the pattern worked out for the row I was knitting, I knit merrily along until I ran out of yarn - whoops. So I backed up, began again and got things moving - knit four rows of the first strap when I realized that back there where I had cast off four stitches for the neck, was a forlorn stitch that I'd left behind - I'm sure it felt like the little piggy that was left at home.

I was so p-o'ed that I just put the thing down and did a crossword puzzle instead. And then worked on a Sudoku. Better than swearing at a sweater that should be made with love. I'll get back at it tonight under my Ott light.

Knitting addict comes clean?

I decided this weekend that I was addicted to knitting. I didn't realize until then even though the symptoms were right out there in front of me. Had to have the needles in my hand, or if I didn't, had to be looking at a knitting book, or visiting a yarn store, or thinking about what I would like to knit. And if I didn't have knitting I was fretful and edgy. And I bit my nails. In fact I think the reason I need to knit is so that I don't bite my nails. After 56 years I need something to get over this terrible habit.

And I am not really that prolific. What about right now? I am knitting a sweater for a friend for Christmas. I have to have it finished and in the mail by December 1, because I'm leaving for Mexico for three and a half months on December 1. Mind you I started the sweater only a week and a half ago and I'm a long way. It's called Heavenly Camisole and is a design by Lucky Doan in the book Knitter's Stash which I borrowed from the library.

I'm knitting it with a Sage yarn from Lorna's Laces, in Shepherd Sport - it's probably too heavy for the design, but it does fit the guage and that's my main criteria anyway. It's a beautiful colour and I know it will be treasured by Midge. It's one of her favourite colours.

This sweater is knit on circulars - 270 stitches per row, the back half in stockinette and the front in a leafy lace pattern, with a 15 stitch repeat. At the moment I am knitting the upper front, having finished the major portion of the body. I only have about six more rows on that section and then I begin the front straps which should go nice and fast. Then I only have the back to knit, the shoulders to bind off, a couple of yarn ends to sew in and it's finished. A cinch. Not that the pattern is a cinch, I have had lots of fun working it out and correcting my errors as I go. I may be addicted, but I'm not perfect.