So sue me!

Gosh, that was awfully American. I am sorry! I would use the traditional Northern alternative to that, but I didn't want to offend*.

Anyway, what this refers to is ... ponchos. I know that some people have take the "No Poncho Pledge", and for a lot of the things on the Lion Brand site, I can see why. However, for examples like this, I can make an exception. For me, the poncho/cape/capelet/poncho-lette is a really practical garment. When I'm sitting at my desk studying, I don't want to have to worry about dipping the ends of a shawl in my coffee, it stays on my shoulders (as opposed to my arms, waist, chair) and I'm not going to loose it in a gust of wind when I'm out in the garden.

With all that in mind, I present to you the Clapotis poncho!


I always wore it like this anyway, just fastened with a brooch. The Silk Garden is just a little bit to itchy for me to wear it around my neck, but worn like this it's perfect.

I'm also a knat's whisker away from casting on for the Canadian Living/Patons Poncho (the one in the link above). I've even gone so far as to set up a project page for it!

I caved in and got myself some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport from The Knitting Zone, for the Fiddlesticks Lotus Blossom Shawl pattern I got last week.

I chose the colourway Iris Garden, because it contained the colours I associate with the lotus blossom itself:



My original plan was to get some yarn (Fleece Artist) via the Yarn Co-op on Yahoo, but that's not going through now, and I'd rather not wait for three plus months for everything to get sorted.

My Star Trek socks are motoring on (spot the mistake with the pattern near the toe on the second sock?):



and I'm almost ready to cast on for the Cabled Sandal Socks from the Socks, Socks, Socks book, as soon as I've double-checked my tension.

I lurve knitting socks! They are the perfect medium for trying out new techniques and, if you work reasonably fast, they are quick to finish.

Next time: cuppage for the Nothin' but a T-shirt, gratuitous yarn p0rn, and hopefully that blinking secret pal package will have arrived!

*highlight this next bit to see the alternative: Bugger off, I'll do what the bloody hell I like!*